ARS | Publication request: LEUKOSIS/SARCOMA GROUP

Submitted to: Diseases of Poultry
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: November 8, 1996
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: The leukosis/sarcoma (L/S) group of diseases comprises a variety of transmissible benign and malignant neoplasms of chickens caused by members of a genus of avian retroviruses belonging to the family Retroviridae. These avian viruses are characterized, as are all members of the Retroviridae, by possession of an enzyme reverse transcriptase, which directs the synthesis of the proviral DNA form of the RNA virus that forms part of the retroviral life cycle, and from which the family name is derived. All members of this group of viruses have similar physical and molecular characteristics and share a common group-specific antigen. Avian leukosis virus (ALV), a member of the L/S virus group of avian retroviruses is the most common naturally occurring avian retrovirus associated with neoplastic disease conditions and other production problems in chickens. This review provides a detailed description of the etiology, incubation period, signs, gross lesions, histopathology, ultrastructure, hematology, pathogenesis, differential diagnosis and control of L/S virus- induced neoplastic diseases in chickens, particularly lymphoid leukosis.