Protective efficacy of a MEQ deleted BAC clone of Marek's disease virus

Authors: Silva, Robert; Lee, Lucy; Heidari, Mohammad; Dunn, John

Submitted to: American Veterinary Medical Association Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/19/2008
Publication Date: 7/19/2008
Citation: Silva, R.F., Lee, L.F., Heidari, M., Dunn, J.R. 2008. Protective efficacy of a MEQ deleted BAC clone of Marek's disease virus [abstract]. American Veterinary Medical Association Convention Notes. 145th AVMA Annual Convention, July 19-22, 2008, New Orleans, LA. 2008 CD-ROM.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: We deleted both copies of the MEQ gene in a Marek's disease virus (MDV) bacterial artificial clone (BAC). The MEQ deleted BAC was inoculated into susceptible chickens and shown to be completely attenuated. To evaluate whether the deletion mutant could protect chickens from a virulent MDV challenge, we inoculated day-old chicks with the BAC mutant and challenged the chicks five days later with a vv+ strain of MDV. We will report on our findings by comparing the protective efficacy of the MEQ deleted virus with other Marek's disease vaccines.