The Presence of the Virus of Visceral Lymphomatosis in Embryonated Eggs of Normal Appearing Hens

Abstract

NUMEROUS investigators have reported evidence for and against the transmission of lymphomatosis from parent to offspring through the egg. Cottral et al. (1954) recently reviewed this subject and presented evidence that the causative agent of visceral lymphomatosis can be transmitted from dam to progeny through the egg and that normal appearing chickens are carriers of this agent. Investigations on this phase of the transmission of lymphomatosis have continued at the Regional Poultry Research Laboratory. The purpose of this manuscript is to report data which give additional evidence that the virus of visceral lymphomatosis is present in significant amounts in embryos of eggs laid by normal appearing hens and that such carrier hens are much more numerous in susceptible lines of an infected population than in resistant lines of the same population. MATERIALS AND METHODS General.—The method used in testing for the presence of the virus in embryonic tissue …