Comparative study of three methods for detecting avian leukosis viruses.

Abstract

This investigation was designed to compare detection limits for avian leukosis viruses after infection of chicken fibroblasts with decimal dilutions of Rous-associated virus type 1 (RAV-1). At 5, 9, 14, and 19 days postinfection, cells were examined for group-specific (gs) antigens by microtiter complement-fixation (CF) tests for avian leukosis viruses and by radioimmunoassays (RIA) for the major gs antigen having a molecular weight of 27,000 (p27). Culture fluids, collected at the same time periods, were also assayed for reverse transcriptase activities. We found that minimally infected cultures expressed virus proteins within 9 days postinfection regardless of method used. Although p27 RIA..