A Low Incidence of Histiocytic Sarcomatosis Associated with Infection of Chickens with the HPRS-103 Strain of Subgroup J Avian Leukosis Virus

Abstract

Ten cases of histiocytic proliferative lesions in meat-type chickens associated in low incidence with infection by subgroup J avian leukosis virus (ALV) are described. Six were field cases in adult chickens from naturally infected flocks and four were from younger birds from transmission experiments with HPRS-103 ALV or the related acutely transforming ALV strains 17 and 879. The lesions were observed mostly in the spleen and in some cases in other organs. Microscopically, the lesions were comprised mainly of pleomorphic histiocyte-like cells admixed with variable numbers of lymphoid cells. More detailed studies were carried out on two birds at 4 and 7 wk of age following infection with HPRS-103 at 1 day of age. These birds had multiple small nodular lesions in the spleen, liver, and kidney that appeared similar cytologically to the more extensive lesions in older birds. Monoclonal antibodies specific for various lymphoid and nonlymphoid accessory cells were used in immunohistochemical studies to identify a predominance of cells of monocyte/macrophage lineage, and CD4- and CD8-positive lymphocytes, in the splenic nodules. Ultrastructural studies also revealed a similar mixed population of cells. Expression of ALV group-specific antigen, and gag and ALV-J env RNA, was not a marked feature of the histiocytic lesions. The proliferative histiocytic lesion is designated a histiocytic sarcomatosis.

Occurrence of subgroup J avian leukosis virus in Taiwan

“…The lesions in the female line from the GP2 farm were histiocyti c sarcoma, and the same lesion was also found at the PS ranches from that GP farm. This lesion is quite different from the ML lesion and similar to that described by Arshad et al (1997). Whether this was induced by a different virus or different environments needs further study.…”

Avian hepatitis E virus infection and possible associated clinical disease in broiler breeder flocks in Hungary

“…The diagnosis of one histocytic sarcoma raised the question of ALV-J infection (Arshad et al, 1997) but this was ruled out by PCR. Histologically no neoplastic features were identified as a flock problem.…”

Histopathological Characteristics of Spindle-cell Proliferative Disease in Broiler Chickens and Its Experimental Reproduction in Specific Pathogen-Free Chickens

“…Histopathologically, spindle-cell proliferative disease was similar to MH and HS, but clearly differed from MD, LL, RE and BLS [1-3, 5, 7, 9]. In lesions of MH and HS, the origin of the proliferating cells is the histiocyte [1,5,6]. Although we performed special staining and immunohistochemical examinations aimed at determining the origin of the proliferating cells of spindle-cell proliferative disease, we could not determine their origin.…”

“…Microscopically, MD is characterized by proliferation of various-sized lymphoid cells, whereas LL is characterized by follicular proliferation of uniform lymphoblastic cells [3,7]. Recently, multicentric histiocytosis (MH) [5,6] and histiocytic sarcomatosis (HS) [1] have been reported as similar diseases associated with enlargement of the liver and spleen. MH and HS resemble each other histopathologically, but clearly differ from MD and LL with respect to the origin of the proliferating cells [1,3,[5][6][7].…”

“…Recently, multicentric histiocytosis (MH) [5,6] and histiocytic sarcomatosis (HS) [1] have been reported as similar diseases associated with enlargement of the liver and spleen. MH and HS resemble each other histopathologically, but clearly differ from MD and LL with respect to the origin of the proliferating cells [1,3,[5][6][7]. Experimental induction of MH in broiler and specific pathogen-free (SPF) leghorn chickens has been reported [4].…”