Avian sarcoma leukosis virus

The avian leukosis virus ( ALV) (from the Latin avis " bird" and ancient Greek λευκός leukos "white" ), and avian leukemia virus or avian leukosis virus is an RNA virus belonging to the family of retroviruses. It belongs to the genus Alphavirus retroviruses causing B- cell leukemias in chickens, but can also infect other animals. ALV is closely related to RSV, Rous sarcoma virus.

Already in 1908, the Danish researchers Ellermann and Bang showed that leukemia was transmitted by blood in chickens and that the infectious agent could not be a bacterium.

In the 1960s, the chicken leukemia was a growing problem in the keeping of laying hens, and have therefore been developed tests that infected chickens could be detected.