Marek's disease in turkeys. I. A seven-year survey of commercial flocks and experimental infection using two field isolates.
Marek's disease virus (MDV) causes immunosuppression and tumors in chickens, but the turkey is an unusual host for the virus, and tumors caused by MDV in turkeys are unique. We describe the prevalence of turkey tumors in Israel between 1993 and 2000, their molecular diagnosis by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the natural distribution of herpesvirus of turkeys (HVT). Most clinical cases with tumors in commercial turkeys were diagnosed as MDV. The reproduction of Marek's disease (MD) in turkeys by two turkey MDV strains, Ar and La, was analyzed, and it was shown that these strains can induce tumors in experimental trials. The severity of experimental disease differed from those features of the original outbreak, since a less severe disease was recorded.
Davidson
Irit
I
Division of Avian and Fish Diseases, Kimron Veterinary Institute, Bet Dagan, Israel.
Malkinson
M
M
Weisman
Y
Y
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D002645:Chickens; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D008381:Herpesvirus 2, Gallid / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D007668:Kidney / Q000821:virology; D008099:Liver / Q000821:virology; D008380:Marek Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D015995:Prevalence; D013154:Spleen / Q000821:virology; D014422:Turkeys; D014774:Virulence
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral