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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #59717
Title: A NATURALLLY OCCURRING NEUROPATHY OF CHICKENS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH MAREK'S DISEASE

Author
item Witter, Richard
item Bacon, Larry

Submitted to: American Veterinary Medical Association Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/12/1995
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: A peripheral neuropathy (PN) characterized by neurological signs and enlargement of peripheral nerves in 6-12 week old Leghorn chickens of a commercial strain was provisionally diagnosed as Marek's disease (MD). Lesions occured more frequently in B**2B**19 than B**2B**21 chickens. The syndrome was reproduced by inoculation of white blood cells of affected chickens into chicks of the commercial strain but not by inoculation of an MD-susceptible laboratory strain. However, MD virus was not isolated from field or experimental cases and vaccination against MD provided no protection against experimental induction of the syndrome. The pathogenesis of PN differs from that of MD, and may involve autoimmune responses.