Preliminary Transcriptomic Insights into the Combined Pathogenesis of Avian Leukosis Virus and Salmonella pullorum Co-Infection.

Co-infection with avian leukemia and Pullorum Disease severely compromises poultry health, yet its pathogenic mechanisms remain unclear. We employed transcriptome sequencing to analyze gene expression changes and enriched pathways in kidney, spleen, and liver tissues of Chongqing Chengkou mountain chickens under single-infection (avian leukemia virus or Pullorum Disease) and co-infection conditions. Significant differences were observed in the number and pathways of differentially expressed genes between co-infected and single-infected groups. These genes were predominantly enriched in pathways involving extracellular matrix-receptor interactions, PPAR signaling, and calcium ion signaling. RT-qPCR validation confirmed significant upregulation of MAPK10 and SQLE, alongside downregulation of genes such as FOXG1. This study identifies multiple differentially expressed genes and pathways associated with immunity and tumorigenesis, providing crucial molecular insights into the regulatory mechanisms underlying avian leukemia and Pullorum Disease co-infection.