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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #169626
Title: VIRUS-INDUCED NEOPLASTIC DISEASES OF TURKEYS: AN UPDATE

Author
item Fadly, Aly
item Witter, Richard
item CRESPO, R - CA ANIMAL HEALTH LAB
item DAVIDSON, I - KIMRON VETERINARY INSTIT
item HAFEZ, H - FREE UNIVERSITY BERLIN

Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/16/2004
Publication Date: 1/26/2005
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.

Interpretive Summary:

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.