Marek’s Disease

Dr. Bikash Puri

M.V.Sc (Veterinary Pathology)
Lecturer, IAAS, Paklihawa Campus
 INTRODUCTION
• Most common lymphoproliferative disease of chickens
• Characterized by mononuclear infiltration of peripheral nerves,
gonads, iris, visceral organs muscle and skin.

Etiology:
Herpes virus (DNA virus)
 TRANSMISSION

–No vertical transmission

–Only horizontal transmission

possible via inhalation of feather
dust, danders, etc
–Beetles also play important role in
transmission of disease.
 PATHOGENESIS
• Virus particles are localized in feather follicles.
Although it is seen in dust and litter
• It is the air born viral disease

• The phagocytic cells leads to four phases

– Early productive phase: cytolytic changes
– Latent infection: immune development and t cell mainly affected. But
B-cell are also affected.
– Second phase: Cytolytic, permanent immuno suppression
– Proliferative- Lymphoma formation.
 PATHOGENESIS
• After inhalation of virus particles the growth of virus particle occurs
within cells of lungs
• First cytolytic phase occur within 3-4 days characterized by
destruction of lymphocytes mainly in Bursa of fabricus, thymus and
spleen. The primary target cell in all these organ are B-lymphocytes
• After 6-7 days, it is followed by latency. This phase interfer with
immune response and infect T-lymphocytes. Virus is spread
throughout the body by infected lymphocytes and is present in blood
in cell associated form.
 PATHOGENESIS
• Two weeks after primary infection second cytolytic phase occur in
feather follicles and set free virus capable of producing infection and
shed in environment in feather debris and denders.
• Proliferation of lymphocytes is the final response and progress to
tumor formation. T-lymphocytes transform into tumor cells and
proliferate in nerve and other tissue and organ. This result in
infiltration of these cells in nerves and lymphoma result. Lymphoma
consist mainly of T-lymphocytes and some B-lymphocytes.
• Death of birds from lymphoma may occur at any time 3 weeks
onward.
 SYMPTOMS
• Incubation Peroid: short 3-4 wks in some
cases but several month in other.
• Affected birds are clinically observed at
about 6 wks of age. Birds are usually
affected between 12-24 wks of age. Olders
birds may also be affected.
• Unilateral paralysis of wings and legs.
• Birds have one leg streched forward and
other backward as a result of unilateral
paralysis of leg.
• Paresis of neck leading to torticolis.
Unilateral paralysis of legs
 SYMPTOMS
• Mortality:
– Classical Mareks disease- 10-15% mortality.

– Acute Mareks disease: 10-30% Mortality.

• Loss of weight

• Paleness, anorexia and diarrhea

• Purplish discoloration of leg skin (Red Leg
Syndorome)
• Iris of eyes may become whitish (Grey eye
Syndrome) causing blindess and irregular
Ocular lesions of MD
shaped pupil.
Affected eye (right) has a discolored
iris and very irregular pupil as a result
of mononuclear cell infiltration.
 GROSS FINDINGS
–Peripheral nerves: Enlarged and loss of
striations
–Bursa: Usually atropic or some do develop
diffuse thickening
–Skin and muscles: tumor
–Tumor in all major visceral organs. Peripherial nerve enlargement
Example: Liver, spleen, proventriculus,
gizzard, kidney, heart, etc.
–Tumor in ovary (Cauliflower like in
apperance) and testies.

Cauliflower like growth in ovary

Tumor involving feather follicles Tumor involving feather follicles
 MICROSCOPIC FINDINGS
– Diffuse infiltration of lymphocytes and plasma cells in
affected organs.
– Lymphoiid cells are small and plemorphic
– In CNS, in addition to lymphoid infiltration myelin
degeneration, schwan cell proliferation and perivascular
cuffing is present
– Cell proliferation in bursa of fabricus is inter follicular.

– Mainly T-lymphocytes are present.

 Diagnosis
– Symptoms and lesions

– Polymerase Chain Reaction

– Serological test: AGPT, Viral Neutralization Test,
FAT
– Histochemical Staining:
Differential Diagnosis
• thanks