Isolation and characterization of a recombinant avian leukosis virus subgroup E from a commercial layer farm in Eastern China

Avian leukosis virus (ALV) is a dangerous pathogen in poultry, causing high mortality and decreased fertility due to tumor formation. Generally, the ALV subgroup E (ALV-E) strains are typically low in pathogenicity and tumorigenicity. In this study, we isolated and identified a ALV strain JS1208 fro...

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Main Authors: Guige Xu, Lei Bei, Mingrui Zhao, Hui Yan, Huajie Zhang, Shijin Jiang, Ruihua Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-05-01
Series:Poultry Science
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032579125002925
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author Guige Xu
Lei Bei
Mingrui Zhao
Hui Yan
Huajie Zhang
Shijin Jiang
Ruihua Zhang
author_facet Guige Xu
Lei Bei
Mingrui Zhao
Hui Yan
Huajie Zhang
Shijin Jiang
Ruihua Zhang
author_sort Guige Xu
collection DOAJ
description Avian leukosis virus (ALV) is a dangerous pathogen in poultry, causing high mortality and decreased fertility due to tumor formation. Generally, the ALV subgroup E (ALV-E) strains are typically low in pathogenicity and tumorigenicity. In this study, we isolated and identified a ALV strain JS1208 from an AL-like tumor case in a commercial Hy-Line Brown layer flock in China. Immunofluorescence assays and transmission electron microscopy revealed that the JS1208 strain replicated in chick embryo fibroblasts (CEF). Complete genome sequencing and analysis identified JS1208 as a recombinant strain, with a major parental backbone from ALV subgroup K (ALV-K) and a minor contribution from ALV-E. Infection of specific-pathogen-free chickens with JS1208 induced typical clinical signs and tumor-like lesions similar to those observed in the original infected flock. To our best knowledge, this is the first report of a recombinant ALV-E strain containing an ALV-K backbone and an ALV-E gp85 gene, resulting in a novel circulating ALV-E variant. These findings will contribute to a deeper understanding of ALV epidemiology.
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institution OA Journals
issn 0032-5791
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publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Elsevier
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series Poultry Science
spelling doaj-art-37fccacd75ef49a999018ef60fd385102025-08-20T01:51:41ZengElsevierPoultry Science0032-57912025-05-01104510505310.1016/j.psj.2025.105053Isolation and characterization of a recombinant avian leukosis virus subgroup E from a commercial layer farm in Eastern ChinaGuige Xu0Lei Bei1Mingrui Zhao2Hui Yan3Huajie Zhang4Shijin Jiang5Ruihua Zhang6Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Shandong Taian 271017, PR China; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, Shandong Taian 271017, PR ChinaDepartment of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Shandong Taian 271017, PR China; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, Shandong Taian 271017, PR ChinaDepartment of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Shandong Taian 271017, PR China; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, Shandong Taian 271017, PR ChinaDepartment of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Shandong Taian 271017, PR China; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, Shandong Taian 271017, PR ChinaWeihai Animal Disease Prevention and Control Center, Shandong Weihai 264200, PR ChinaDepartment of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Shandong Taian 271017, PR China; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, Shandong Taian 271017, PR ChinaDepartment of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Shandong Taian 271017, PR China; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, Shandong Taian 271017, PR China; Correspondence author at. Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271017, PR China.Avian leukosis virus (ALV) is a dangerous pathogen in poultry, causing high mortality and decreased fertility due to tumor formation. Generally, the ALV subgroup E (ALV-E) strains are typically low in pathogenicity and tumorigenicity. In this study, we isolated and identified a ALV strain JS1208 from an AL-like tumor case in a commercial Hy-Line Brown layer flock in China. Immunofluorescence assays and transmission electron microscopy revealed that the JS1208 strain replicated in chick embryo fibroblasts (CEF). Complete genome sequencing and analysis identified JS1208 as a recombinant strain, with a major parental backbone from ALV subgroup K (ALV-K) and a minor contribution from ALV-E. Infection of specific-pathogen-free chickens with JS1208 induced typical clinical signs and tumor-like lesions similar to those observed in the original infected flock. To our best knowledge, this is the first report of a recombinant ALV-E strain containing an ALV-K backbone and an ALV-E gp85 gene, resulting in a novel circulating ALV-E variant. These findings will contribute to a deeper understanding of ALV epidemiology.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032579125002925Avian leukosis virusPathogenicityPhylogenetic analysisRecombinant analysis
spellingShingle Guige Xu
Lei Bei
Mingrui Zhao
Hui Yan
Huajie Zhang
Shijin Jiang
Ruihua Zhang
Isolation and characterization of a recombinant avian leukosis virus subgroup E from a commercial layer farm in Eastern China
Poultry Science
Avian leukosis virus
Pathogenicity
Phylogenetic analysis
Recombinant analysis
title Isolation and characterization of a recombinant avian leukosis virus subgroup E from a commercial layer farm in Eastern China
title_full Isolation and characterization of a recombinant avian leukosis virus subgroup E from a commercial layer farm in Eastern China
title_fullStr Isolation and characterization of a recombinant avian leukosis virus subgroup E from a commercial layer farm in Eastern China
title_full_unstemmed Isolation and characterization of a recombinant avian leukosis virus subgroup E from a commercial layer farm in Eastern China
title_short Isolation and characterization of a recombinant avian leukosis virus subgroup E from a commercial layer farm in Eastern China
title_sort isolation and characterization of a recombinant avian leukosis virus subgroup e from a commercial layer farm in eastern china
topic Avian leukosis virus
Pathogenicity
Phylogenetic analysis
Recombinant analysis
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032579125002925
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