EVIDENCES OF MAREK´S DISEASE VIRUS BY PCR IN A TUMOR DISEASE OUTBREAK

EVIDENCIAS DEL VIRUS DE LA ENFERMEDAD DE MAREK POR PCR EN UN BROTE DE ENFERMEDAD TUMORAL

Marek's Disease (MD) is economically important in poultry. It is caused by an oncogenic herpesvirus affecting several species of birds being chicken the most important natural host. In the affected animals, it causes tumors in various visceral organs and skin, and also paralysis and immunosuppression. Along with the Avian Leukosis Virus (ALV) and Reticuloendotheliosis Virus (REV), they produce severe economic losses due to the involvement of the productive parameters of flocks.

In the course of a neoplastic disease research, there were tumors in lymphoid organs and skin of the animals necropsied. Total DNA was extracted from the samples, and the presence of herpesvirus in 100% of the samples analyzed was demonstrated by nested-PCR. The presence of REV or subgroups A, B and J of ALV was not detected. ]]> These results demonstrate the movement of herpesvirus in our poultry populations. Subsequent studies should be conducted to clarify the epidemiological situation with respect to MD in our country.

Sandra Cuello*, Damarys Relova*, A. Merino**, Julia Noda**

*Grupo de Virología Animal, Centro Nacional de Sanidad Agropecuaria (CENSA), Apartado 10, San José de las Lajas, Mayabeque, Cuba. E-mail: sandra@censa.edu.cu. ** Laboratorio de Investigación y Diagnóstico Aviar (LIDA), Código postal: 19290. Ciudad de la Habana. Cuba ]]>