Lymphoproliferative Diseases of Fowl: Chromosome Breaks Caused in Lymphocytes by JM-V Herpesvirus

Summary

Chromosome preparations were made of bone marrow cells and peripheral lymphocytes isolated from chicks that developed leukemia following infection with JM-V herpesvirus. Karyotypic analysis revealed a high frequency of chromosome breaks and aneuploidy, as well as some pulverization of chromosomes. The number of chromosome breaks began to increase at 2–3 days post infection, and by 5 days post infection it reached 12.7% of bone marrow cells and 17.2% of peripheral lymphocytes. Similarly, the number of aneuploid meta phase figures increased rapidly and reached 12% of bone marrow cells and 19% of peripheral lymphocytes at 5 days post infection. Some specificity was observed in the chromosomes that were affected.