DETECTION OF RETICULOENDOTHELIOSIS VIRUS BY POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION IN CHICKENS WITH TUMOR LESIONS

DETECCIÓN DE VIRUS RETICULOENDOTELIOSIS POR PCR EN POLLOS CON LESIONES TUMORALES

Dear Editor:

Reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV) is an avian C-type retrovirus which induces tumors and immunosuppression in chickens and multiple species of wild and domestic birds. REV is one of the most important avian neoplastic diseases from the commercial poultry industry. Together with Marek's disease and avian leukosis virus are responsible of high economic losses due to affect on productive parameters in the flock. ]]> During the pathological investigation of respiratory illness outbreaks were observed chickens showing tumors in liver, kidneys, skin and ovaries. Total DNA was extracted from samples of hematopoietic organ pool and tumors. Presence of reticuloendotheliosis virus was screened by PCR resulting in the amplification of the 278bp REV long terminal repeat region (LTR) in the 44.4 percent of samples.

These preliminary results evidence the circulation of reticuloendotheliosis virus in our poultry. This indicates the necessity of continuing carry out a study of the epizootiological situation of REV in our country.

Damarys Relova*, M. Colás**, Sandra Cuello*, A. Merino**, Julia Noda*

*Animal Virology Laboratory. National Center for Animal and Plant Health (CENSA), CP 32700, San José de Las Lajas, Mayabeque, Cuba. E.mail: drelova@censa.edu.cu; **Avian Diagnostic Laboratory (LIDA). Mulgoba. Santiago de las Vegas. La Habana, Cuba. ]]>