The feather tips of commercial chickens are a favorable source of DNA for the amplification of Marek's disease virus and avian leukosis virus, subgroup J

Avian Pathol. 2002 Jun;31(3):237-40. doi: 10.1080/03079450220136549.

Abstract

Marek's disease virus (MDV), a herpesvirus, and avian leukosis virus, subgroup J (ALV-J), a retrovirus, are oncogenic viruses of poultry. The present report describes a case-report study aimed at examining the efficacy of amplifying MDV and/or ALV-J from feather-tip DNA as compared with DNA purified from liver and spleen. We show that the polymerase chain reaction for MDV and ALV-J env using DNA from feather tips was more effective for diagnosis of naturally infected commercial chickens than using the liver and spleen.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Avian Leukosis / diagnosis*
  • Avian Leukosis Virus / genetics*
  • Avian Leukosis Virus / isolation & purification
  • Chickens*
  • DNA, Viral / isolation & purification
  • Feathers / virology*
  • Gene Amplification
  • Herpesvirus 2, Gallid / genetics*
  • Herpesvirus 2, Gallid / isolation & purification
  • Liver / virology
  • Marek Disease / diagnosis*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
  • Spleen / virology

Substances

  • DNA, Viral