Lymphoid leukosis viruses and GS antigen in unincubated chicken eggs.

Lymphoid leukosis viruses and viral group-specific antigen were found in albumen of unincubated chicken eggs stored at 8 degrees C. Infectious virus was detected for up to 22 days and antigen was stable for 63 days. Tests for virus were conducted on albumen withdrawn from eggs prior to incubation and on extracts of embryos from the same eggs. When albumen was from eggs stored no longer than 6 days, virus was isolated from 20% more albumen samples than embryo extracts. The techniques described should be useful in programmes to eradicate lymphoid leukosis viruses from commercial poultry.