Lymphoproliferative disease of turkeys: Pathogenesis, Viraemia and serum protein analysis following infection¹

Iron, Transferrin, and Acid and Alkaline Phosphatase in Healthy Turkeys and in Turkeys Inoculated with the Lymphoproliferative Disease Virus

“…Determination of unbound and bound plasma iron in turkeys infected with LPD virus did not reveal an alteration of these parameters 8 weeks and 1 year pi (viremic birds). Similar results were previously obtained by us 3 and 6 weeks after inoculation of turkeys with LPD virus (Zimber et al, 1983a) and the present results confirm these data and show that even prolonged viremia does not alter plasma iron levels and TIBC. Previously, transferrin levels were shown to be elevated in the plasma of chicks infected with reticuloendotheliosis virus or inoculated with minced transplantable lymphoid tumor (Fletcher and Olson, 1969;Fletcher, 1971;Torres-Medina et al, 1971).…”

“…Examination of the various organs 7 weeks pi revealed typical lymphoproliferation and tumors, most prominently in the pancreas, spleen, and thymus, as previously described by us Zimber et al, 1983a). Spleen homogenate and plasma showed similar infectivity as judged by histopathologic examination 7 weeks pi.…”

“…More data from experimentally and naturally infected turkeys are needed to evaluate the significance of serum phosphatases determinations as possible markers for LPD pathogenesis. Extending these investigations to the study of phosphatase isoenzymes and of other enzymes should prove useful in the assessment of the effects of infection with LPD virus on the function of affected tissues and in the diagnosis and follow-up of this disease in turkey flocks, because plasma virus-associated reverse transcriptase activity is not a reliable indicator of the severity of LPD lesions (Zimber et al, 1983a;Zimber et al, 1983b).…”

“…Recently, we have been studying lymphoproliferative disease (LPD) of turkeys in Israel; the disease was first described in England by Biggs et al (1978) and Mc-Dougall et al (1978). Previously, we have described the pathogenesis, viral etiology, and alterations in serum gammaglobulins (immunoglobulin G) associated with this disease (Ianconescu et al, 1979;Perk et al, 1979;Yaniv et al, 1979;Gazit et al, 1979;Zimber et al, 1983a). This communication summarizes findings on serum transferrin levels and total acid and alkaline phosphatase activity in the serum, spleen, and pancreas of turkey poults experimentally infected with LPD virus and of uninfected controls.…”

Avian oncogenesis induced by lymphoproliferative disease virus: A neglected or emerging retroviral pathogen?

“…LPDV has been demonstrated experimentally to infect both turkeys and chickens ( Gallus gallus ), although not ducks or geese (species not listed; Ianconescu et al, 1983), suggesting that the natural host range of the virus may be restricted to birds of the order Galliformes, which also includes other game birds such as pheasants, quail, and grouse; however, reports of natural LPDV infections have been limited to domestic turkeys. Under experimental conditions, viremia occurs approximately two weeks after infection and may last for up to 10 months (Zimber et al, 1983) and horizontal transmission can occur among birds in close contact (McDougall et al, 1978). How the virus is transmitted in nature (e.g., vector-borne, horizontal/vertical transmission) is uncertain.…”