What do you need to know about Marek disease?

Marek Disease in Poultry 1 Etiology of Marek Disease in Poultry. 2 Transmission and Etiology of Marek Disease in Poultry. 3 Pathogenesis of Marek Disease in Poultry. 4 Clinical Findings of Marek Disease in Poultry. 5 Diagnosis of Marek Disease in Poultry. 6 Control of Marek Disease in Poultry.

What kind of poultry is infected with Marek disease?

Chickens are the most important natural host for Marek disease virus (MDV), a highly cell-associated but readily transmitted alphaherpesvirus with lymphotropic properties of gammaherpesviruses. Quail can be naturally infected, and turkeys can be infected experimentally.

Are there any live vaccines for Marek’s disease?

Fully productive infection and shedding of infectious virus only occurs in the feather-follicle epithelium. Vaccination of newly-hatched chicks with live vaccines has been widely used to successfully control MD since the early 1970s. However, vaccinated chickens still become infected and shed MDV.

How long does it take for Marek’s disease to become transmissible?

In ovo vaccination is the preferred method, as it does not require handling of the chicks and can be done rapidly by automated methods. Immunity develops within two weeks. However, because vaccination does not prevent infection with the virus, Mareks is still transmissible from vaccinated flocks to other birds, including the wild bird population.

How does Marek’s disease affect the chicken industry?

Marek’s disease has plagued the chicken industry, it causes $2 billion in losses annually for fowl farmers across the globe. The virus attacks the brain, spawns tumors in the birds and comes in different varieties or “strains”, which are classified as “hot” or “cold” based on their brutality.

Is the Marek’s disease virus contagious to turkeys?

To date, Chicken Marek’s disease virus (MDV) is NOT known to be zoonotic (contagious) to other commonly kept fowl or other bird species, except rarely in quail, and in some cases enclosed commercial breeding of turkeys in Europe (said turkeys had been housed in closed quarters close to infected broiler chickens).