Molecular characterization of a Marek's disease virus strain detected in tumour-bearing turkeys. Issue 2 (3rd March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mescolini, Giulia; Lupini, Caterina; Davidson, Irit; Massi, Paola; Tosi, Giovanni; Fiorentini, Laura; Catelli, Elena
• Is Part Of: Avian pathology. Volume 49:Issue 2(2020)
• Page Start: 202
• Page End: 207
• Publication Date: 2020-03-03
• Subjects: Marek's disease -- turkey -- Gallid alphaherpesvirus 2 -- meq gene -- molecular characterization -- Turkey herpesvirus; Poultry -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Birds -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 571.918
• DOI: 10.1080/03079457.2019.1691715
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0307-9457

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Marek's disease (MD) is a lymphoproliferative disease caused by Gallid alphaherpesvirus 2 (GaHV-2), which primarily affects chickens. However, the virus is also able to induce tumours in turkeys, albeit less frequently than in chickens. This study reports the molecular characterization of a GaHV-2 strain detected in a flock of Italian meat-type turkeys exhibiting visceral lymphomas. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the meq gene revealed that the turkey GaHV-2 has molecular features of high virulence and genetic similarity with GaHV-2 strains recently detected in Italian commercial and backyard chickens. GaHV-2 is ubiquitous among chickens despite vaccination, and chicken-to-turkey transmission is hypothesized due to the presence of broilers in neighbouring pens. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS A GaHV-2 strain from Italian turkeys was molecularly characterized. The turkey strain presented molecular characteristics of high virulence in its meq gene. The turkey strain was closely related to previously detected chicken strains.