title: Marek's disease virus-induced expression of cytokine genes in feathers of genetically defined chickens.
abstract: Marek's disease (MD) vaccines, although effective in reducing lymphoproliferation, cannot control infectious virus production in the feather follicle epithelium (FFE) which is the site of virus shedding. Therefore, we investigated Marek's disease virus (MDV) replication as well as the expression of cytokine genes in feathers of MDV-infected chickens belonging to genetically defined lines (N2a or B(21)/B(21) haplotype-resistant and P2a or B(19)/B(19) haplotype-susceptible). Though there was not a difference in MDV genome load and transcripts between feathers of these chicken lines at 4 and 10 days post-infection (d.p.i.), feathers of resistant chickens carried significantly lower viral genome load and transcripts at 21 d.p.i. Irrespective of genetic background of the chickens examined, MDV replication showed a significant positive correlation with the expression of IFN-gamma gene. The results imply the usefulness of genetic control approach in reducing virulent MDV transmission.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada.
authors.forename: Mohamed Faizal
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Abdul-Careem
authors.forename: Leah R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Read
authors.forename: Payvand
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parvizi
authors.forename: Niroshan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Thanthrige-Don
authors.forename: Shayan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sharif
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D005241:Feathers / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000276:immunology*; D008381:Herpesvirus 2, Gallid / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D007372:Interferons / Q000235:genetics*; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000235:genetics*; D008380:Marek Disease / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D019562:Viral Load; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D020382:Interleukin-18; D007372:Interferons