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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #118424
Title: RETICULOENDOTHELIOSIS IN HUNGARIAN PARTRIDGE

Author
item TRAMPEL, D - IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
item PEPPER, T - IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
item Witter, Richard

Submitted to: Avian Diseases
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/1/2001
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Reticuloendotheliosis (RE), a virus-induced cancer-like disease of chickens and other poultry, is considered a minor disease problem in commercial poultry and game birds. The virus has been well studied, but very little is known about the distribution of the virus in different species of birds. The objective of this research was to determine the diagnosis of a disease that occurred in a flock of Hungarian partridges. We have determined that the likely cause of the observed outbreak was RE virus. This important information about the distribution of RE virus will help scientists in academia and industry understand the prevalence of the infection and eventually lead to better diagnosis and control of the disease.

Technical Abstract: A large commercial flock of Hungarian partridge (Perdix perdix) experienced elevated mortality associated with a wasting disease. Postmortem examination of females consistently revealed a distended crop and the presence of gray-white neoplastic tissue in the wall of the crop and thoracic esophagus. Neoplasia in male partridge was confined to the liver. Microscopic examination of the crop and thoracic esophagus revealed a transmural mass of lymphoblastoid cells with frequent mitotic figures. Similar cells were observed in the liver of affected males. Virus particles consistent in size and morphology with reticuloendotheliosis virions were observed in neoplastic lymphoid cells via electron microscopy. Reticuloendotheliosis virus was isolated from each of the four blood samples tested. This disease has not previously been reported in Hungarian partridges.