Testing and management of a specific pathogen free chicken flock with special reference to avian leukosis virus infections.

A specific pathogen free (SPF) chicken flock was reared in isolation under laboratory conditions during five years and continuously tested for presence of specified avian pathogens. The potential occurrence of avian leukosis virus (ALV) was most thoroughly examined. The RIF and neutralization tests were unequivocally negative. Radioimmunoassay was used for detecting the presence of the major protein (gs-a) of the group-specific antigen of avian onoorna viruses. This test seemed to he well suited for checking ALV infections in chicken flocks whereas the COFAL (complement fixation avian leukosis) test was considered unreliable for this purpose. Yolk and serum from SPF chickens were negative for anti-gs-a antibodies measured by the radioimmunoassay; immunized or naturally infected birds showed anti-gs-a amounts correlating with the neutralizing titre. Besides, the flock was regularly tested for presence of seven other contagious avian pathogens. There was no evidence of infection. SPF chicken flock; avian leukosis; laboratory diagnosis of avian leukosis virus infections.