ARS | Publication request: CURRENT METHODS FOR DETECTION OF EXTRANEOUS AVIAN RETROVIRUSES IN LIVE VIRUS VACCINES OF POULTRY

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: March 6, 2006
Publication Date: March 6, 2006
Citation: Fadly, A.M. 2006. Current methods for detection of extraneous avian retroviruses in live virus vaccines of poultry. In: Proceedings of the 7th Scientific Conference of the Egyptian Veterinary Poultry Association, March 6-9, 2006, Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. p. 54-62.

Technical Abstract: Various in vitro and in vivo assays are used for detection of extraneous avian retrovirus in live virus vaccines of poultry. The presence of avian leukosis (ALV) or reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV) in live virus vaccines of poultry is confirmed by the demonstration of viral antigen or provirus in chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEFs) or in specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chickens inoculated with vaccine. Using polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies, CEFs inoculated with vaccines can be examined for ALV or REV by immunofluorescence or immunoperoxidase staining methods. Cell lysates from such inoculated CEFs can also be used for detection of avian retroviral major group-specific antigen (p27 for ALV, and p30 for REV) by an enzyme-linked immunoassay. Detection of proviral DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays has been shown to be a sensitive and specific method for detection of contaminating retrovirus in infected CEFs or in blood of SPF chickens inoculated with contaminated vaccines. Vaccines can also be tested directly for contamination with avian retroviruses using reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) assays. This paper reviews the most common methods used for testing live virus vaccines of poultry for contamination with avian retroviruses, namely ALV and REV.