MULTIPLEX REVERSE TRANSCRIPTION POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION FOR CHICKEN TUMOR VIRUS DETECTION

Abstract

Tumor diseases occur frequently in chickens causing a great economic loss. Infected chickens’ pathological lesions are not pathognomonic. This study developed an accurate diagnosis for tumor diseases in chickens. Specific primers to reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV), avian leucosis virus subgroup A (ALV-A), avian leucosis virus subgroup J (ALV-J), and Marek’s disease virus (MDV) were combined into one tube with a single step multiplex reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (mRT-PCR) performed to amplify the genes from each virus. A total of 117 sample pools containing blood and tissues were collected from chickens. Three of these pools (2.6%) showed REV positive, 22 (18.8%) ALV-J positive, 1 (0.8%) ALV-A positive, and 3 (2.6%) MDV positive. A total of 268 blood samples were used to compare the viral RNA detection from plasma using RT-PCR and provirus DNA from buffy coat using PCR. The result showed no difference from both tests. In conclusion, the present mRT-PCR could be used for tumor virus detections in chickens.