Molecular and Immunopathological Investigations of Marek’s Disease in HVT Vaccinated Chicken Flocks

Background: The present investigation was carried out on poultry carcasses brought to the Department of Veterinary Pathology, LUVAS, Hisar from Herpesvirus turkeys (HVT) vaccinated chicken flocks and suspected for viral neoplastic conditions basis necropsy. Conventional molecular techniques confirmation Marek’s disease (MD) were studied. For differential diagnosis other oncogenic infections immunohistochemistry as an important tool investigated. Methods: conventional MD) done clinical signs, gross lesions histopathology proliferate lesions; lymphomatous consist pleomorphic lymphocytes. confirmatory employed detect MD virus specific Meq gene by Taqman probe real time PCR nested PCR. mixed infections, (IHC) using B T cell differentiation markers (CD79 alpha CD3) employed. Result: Specific positive in 92.5% cases; while technique gave positivity 55% cases. immunohistochemical reactivity CD3 cytoplasm membrane negative reaction CD79 cases, cases with MDV conditions, cells showed both proliferates.