Leukosis and Marek's Disease Viruses of Feral Red Jungle Fowl and Domestic Fowl in Malaya2

Abstract

The incidence of Marek's disease virus (MDV) and avian RNA leukosis viruses (ALV) was studied in Red Jungle Fowl and domestic fowl in Malaya by assays of sera for specific antibodies to the viruses and by assays of embryonic tissues for congenital infections. Antibodies to MDV were found in all fowl populations (in 100% of domestic fowl but in less than 10% of Red Jungle Fowl). Antibodies to ALV of subgroups A and B were widespread among both domestic and Red Jungle Fowl. One congenital infection with subgroup A ALV was found in a domestic fowl embryo. The type specificity of antisera to A and B ALV varied among major locations. Red jungle Fowl carried a genetically transmitted viral genome of subgroup E specificity which could be activated from embryonic cell cultures by infection with ALV or by treatment with 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide. The Red Jungle Fowl embryonic cells synthesized group-specific antigen and were able to complement defective Rous sarcoma virus. Red jungle Fowl cells were susceptible to all ALV subgroups. The significance of these findings to the ecology and evolution of avian tumor viruses and their hosts is discussed.