ARS | Publication request: MYELOCYTOMATOSIS: AN EMERGING DISEAE OF BROILER BREEDER CHICKENS

Submitted to: Poultry Health and Processing National Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: October 14, 1998
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Subgroup J Avian leukosis virus (ALV-J) induced myeloid leukosis has emerged as a serious cause of mortality and other production problems in broiler breeder flocks in many countries around the world including the United States. Field observations suggest that ALV-J, previously not identified in flocks in the USA, is gaining virulence, as losses in affected flocks are occurring earlier and at a higher rate. Further, ALV- infection has recently been diagnosed in commericial broiler flocks. Control of this virus infection is complicated by the lack of specific diagnostics, the antigenic and molecular variation among strains, and the unusually high rate of horizontal transmission. This paper is focused on the diagnosis, incidence and control of ALV-J infection in meat-type chickens.