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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Athens, Georgia » U.S. National Poultry Research Center » Avian Disease and Oncology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #300299
Title: Avian oncogenesis induced by lymphoproliferative disease virus: a neglected or emerging retroviral pathogen?

Author
item ALLISON, ANDREW - Cornell University
item KEEL, KEVIN - University Of Georgia
item PHILIPS, JAMIE - University Of Georgia
item CARTOCETI, ANDREW - University Of Georgia
item MUNK, BRANDON - University Of Georgia
item NEMETH, NICOLE - University Of Georgia
item WELSH, TRISTA - University Of Georgia
item THOMAS, JESSE - University Of Georgia
item CRUM, JAMES - West Virginia Division Of Natural Resources
item LICHTENWALNER, ANNE - University Of Maine
item Fadly, Aly
item ZAVALA, GUILLERMO - University Of Georgia
item HOLMES, EDWARD - University Of Sydney
item BROWN, JUSTIN - University Of Georgia

Submitted to: Virology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/25/2013
Publication Date: 2/1/2014
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/58567
Citation: Allison, A.B., Keel, K.M., Philips, J.E., Cartoceti, A.N., Munk, B.A., Nemeth, N.M., Welsh, T.I., Thomas, J.M., Crum, J.M., Lichtenwalner, A.B., Fadly, A.M., Zavala, G., Holmes, E.C., Brown, J.D. 2014. Avian oncogenesis induced by lymphoproliferative disease virus: a neglected or emerging retroviral pathogen? Virology. 450-451:2-12. Available: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.virol.2013.11.037.

Interpretive Summary: Lymphoproliferative disease virus (LPDV) is a virus that can induce cancer-like disease in some species of birds, particularly turkeys. Historically, outbreaks of LPDV have been reported from Europe and Israel, while the virus has never been detected in North America. In this manuscript, we report on the widespread distribution, genetic diversity, pathogenesis, and evolution of LPDV in wild turkeys in the United States. Molecular characterization of the LPDVs isolated in the United States indicated that the majority of viruses fell into a single group termed North American linage. However, a small subset of LPDVs isolated from South Carolina grouped with the Israeli prototype virus. These results suggest that LPDV was transferred between continents to initiate outbreaks of disease, although the route (New World to Old World or vice versa), mechanism, and time frame of the transcontinental spread currently remain unclear.

Technical Abstract: Lymphoproliferative disease virus (LPDV) is an exogenous oncogenic retrovirus that induces lymphoid tumors in some galliform species of birds. Historically, outbreaks of LPDV have been reported from Europe and Israel. Although the virus has previously never been detected in North America, herein we describe the widespread distribution, genetic diversity, pathogenesis, and evolution of LPDV in the United States. Characterization of the provirus genome of the index LPDV case from North America demonstrated an 88% nucleotide identity to the Israeli prototype strain. Although phylogenetic analysis indicated that the majority of viruses fell into a single North American lineage, a small subset of viruses from South Carolina were most closely related to the Israeli prototype. These results suggest that LPDV was transferred between continents to initiate outbreaks of disease. However, the direction (New World to Old World or vice versa), mechanism, and time frame of the transcontinental spread currently remain unknown.