Detection of reticuloendotheliosis virus infection using the polymerase chain reaction

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was shown to be a sensitive and useful method for detection of infection by members of the group of avian reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV). Genomic DNA extracted from chick embryo fibroblasts (CEFs), blood and tumours of chickens experimentally infected with the spleen necrosis virus (SNV) strain of REV was used as the target for chain elongation. Deoxyoligonucleotide primers that encompass a portion of the unique 3', repeat and unique 5' region of the long terminal repeat (LTR) served to prime chain elongation. Products characteristic of the SNV LTR were also produced from DNA extracted from CEF infected with other strains of REV, namely chick syncytial virus, duck infectious anaemia virus, and the T-strain of REV. SNV-LTR sequences were amplified from DNA of SNV-experimentally infected chicks between 5 days and 19 weeks after infection. SNV-LTR sequences were also amplified from DNA from tumours and brains of SNV infected chickens, but not from DNA from avian leukosis virus- or Marek's disease virus-induced tumours. Results indicate that PCR is a sensitive and specific method for detection of REV infection and tumours.