ARS | Publication request: VIRUS-INDUCED NEOPLASTIC DISEASES OF TURKEYS: AN UPDATE

Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: June 16, 2004
Publication Date: January 26, 2005
Citation: Fadly, A.M., Witter, R.L., Crespo, R., Davidson, I., Hafez, H.M. 2005. Virus-induced neoplastic diseases of turkeys: an update. In: Proceedings of the German Branch of the World Veterinary Poultry Association. 5th International Symposium on Turkey Diseases. p. 64-67.

Technical Abstract: Virus-induced neoplastic diseases of turkeys are caused primarily by retroviruses, namely reticuloendotheliosis (RE) virus (REV) and lymphoproliferative disease (LPD) virus (LPDV). However, Marek's disease (MD), a herpesvirus-induced T-cell lymphoma of primarily chickens, has recently been diagnosed in commercial turkey flocks in some European countries and Israel. These recent findings suggest that the host range of MD virus (MDV) has apparently expanded to include turkeys. More studies are needed to understand: a) conditions that lead to MD outbreaks in commercial turkeys, and b) economic significance of such outbreaks. LPD, a neoplastic disease of turkeys caused by a retrovirus (LPDV) unrelated to avian leukosis virus (ALV) or REV, had been reported in the past in Europe and Israel. The incidence of LPD of turkeys has always been sporadic and the disease has not been reported during at least the last decade. Because the economic significance of this disease condition in commercial turkeys remains obscure, LPD will not be discussed in this paper. This review is focused on RE and MD in turkeys.