PATHOMORPHOLOGICAL STUDIES ON FIELD OUTBREAK OF MAREK’S DISEASE IN LAYER FLOCK

S.S. PATEL¹, R.S. PARMAR², S.P. ANTIYA³*, A.C. PATEL⁴, J.G. PATEL⁵, M.D. SHRIMALI⁶, S.P. MODH^7
1Department of Veterinary Microbiology, College of Veterinary science & Animal Husbandry, Sardarkrushinagar, 385506, Kamdhenu University, Gandhinagar, 382010, India
²Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary science & Animal Husbandry, Sardarkrushinagar, 385506, Kamdhenu University, Gandhinagar, 382010, India
³Department of Veterinary Microbiology, College of Veterinary science & Animal Husbandry, Sardarkrushinagar, 385506, Kamdhenu University, Gandhinagar, 382010, India
⁴Department of Veterinary Microbiology, College of Veterinary science & Animal Husbandry, Sardarkrushinagar, 385506, Kamdhenu University, Gandhinagar, 382010, India
⁵Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary science & Animal Husbandry, Sardarkrushinagar, 385506, Kamdhenu University, Gandhinagar, 382010, India
⁶Department of Animal Biotechnology, College of Veterinary science & Animal Husbandry, Sardarkrushinagar, 385506, Kamdhenu University, Gandhinagar, 382010, India
⁷Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary science & Animal Husbandry, Sardarkrushinagar, 385506, Kamdhenu University, Gandhinagar, 382010, India
* Corresponding Author : sejal97antiya@gmail.com

Received : 10-10-2022     Accepted : 28-10-2022     Published : 30-10-2022
Volume : 14     Issue : 10       Pages : 11799 - 11801
Int J Agr Sci 14.10 (2022):11799-11801

Keywords : Marek’s Disease, Histopathology, Herpesviridae, Lymphoid Tumours
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : Authors are thankful to Department of Veterinary Microbiology; Department of Veterinary Pathology and Department of Animal Biotechnology, College of Veterinary science & Animal Husbandry, Sardarkrushinagar, 385506, Dantiwada, Kamdhenu University, Gandhinagar, 382010, Gujarat, India for providing the support and facility for carrying out the research work
Author Contribution : All authors equally contributed

The present study was aimed to investigate the pathology of Marek’s disease in chickens by correlating various clinico-pathological changes. A 15-week layer flock showed various clinical signs like inactivity, anorexia, weakness, paralysis and blindness. Necropsy examination of suspected dead birds revealed variable sized multiple greyish to yellow tumour like nodular lesions on visceral organs such as liver, spleen, kidney, ovaries etc. Unilateral or bilateral enlargement of nerves particularly sciatic nerve in few birds. Histopathological examination showed infiltration of numerous pleomorphic proliferating lymphoblast in tumorous lesions of various organs. The present flock showed the total mortality rate of 59.02% which is gradually increased from 15 to 26 weeks and then decrease after 26 weeks to 38 weeks of age. Based on clinical signs along with gross and histopathological studies of tumorous lesions the incidence has been diagnosed as Marek’s disease. In filed condition clinical signs and gross examination of carcass at necropsy can be considered as a reliable and inexpensive aid for routine diagnosis of Marek’s disease in chickens. Mortality may be high in unvaccinated flock

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