Serological Investigations on Reticuloendotheliosis in Turkey Flocks

Abstract

Four meat turkey and one turkey breeding flocks were surveyed for antibodies against reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV) at different intervals using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. In addition, serum samples collected from 18 flocks at different ages were also tested for antibodies against REV. No antibodies were detected in any of the four meat turkey flocks that were surveyed. In the breeder flock, 20%) of tested samples from 1-day-old poults were positive. Between the fourth and 12th weeks all samples that were tested yielded negative results. At 16 weeks of age 15% of samples yielded a positive reaction, but antibodies could not be detected 4 weeks later. Examination of serum samples from 18 different flocks at various ages revealed that antibodies could be detected in five flocks. The percentage of positive sera per flock ranged between 10 and 40%.

Semen-Derived Exosomes Mediate Immune Escape and Transmission of Reticuloendotheliosis Virus

“…REV is the etiological agent of one of the most important immune-suppression diseases with a significant economic burden worldwide. Epidemiology investigation showed that REV is highly prevalent in poultry, but the etiology for it remains elusive (14)(15)(16)(17)(18). Recently, REV was verified that it can enter the semen and transmit by artificial insemination (19), which is consistent with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (38) or Zika virus (ZIKV) (39).…”

“…Besides, these integrated into the fowlpox virus (11,12) and gallid herpesvirus-2 (13) genomes, and then generated the recombinant DNA viruses that now circulate in wild birds and poultry. Although antibodies to REV are widespread in poultry (14)(15)(16)(17)(18), the etiology of REV infection remains elusive (8). Recently, a study confirmed that the REV can enter the semen and transmit by artificial insemination, but how the virus gets into semen was still unclear (19).…”

Highlight on Reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV) in commercial chicken flocks

“…However, it might be challenging to differentiate between distinct lymphoid tumor lesions caused by different viruses based on histological diagnosis. The use of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), which is more sensitive than indirect immunofluorescent-antibody testing and ap-propriate for veal flock screening, allowed for the successful detection of antibodies against REV (Smith and Witter 1983;Hafez 2001)…”