Gallid or avian herpesvirus 2 is a highly infectious viral disease in chickens, caused by the virus, Gallid herpesvirus 2, or GaHV-2. This disease may also be referred to as Marek’s Disease, and the virus as: Marek’s Disease Virus, or MDV.
Avian herpesvirus 2 infects the healthy cells, nerves, and organs of chickens, causing eye bulging and abnormalities, internal tumors or nodules, lesions, paralysis, and even death. There are several forms of Marek’s Disease in chickens, as follows:
Neurolymphomatosis: Chickens experience difficulty breathing andparalysis to the legs and/or wings. Tumors and lesions may occur in theskin, muscles and organs.
Ocular lymphomatosis: Chicken disease of the eye. Iris turns grey in color, followed by blindness.
Cutaneous: Chickens experience round lesions on their skin, at the feather follicles.
Immunosuppression: Chickens experience loss of disease and illness fighting ability, becoming highly susceptible to other diseases. The bursa of Fabricius shuts down completely, including egg production, and normal urinary and bowel functions.
The GaHV-2 virus is highly contagious and spreads from infected chickens to healthy ones through contact and inhalation of their skin dander.
Marek’s disease Signs:
– Paralysis (loss of muscle function) of wings, characteristic dropping of limb.
– Nodular skin lesions (abnormal growth of skin).
– Solid nodular lesions formed by abnormal growth of skin around the feather follicles.
– Twisted neck (torticollis).
– Enlarged liver with diffuse grayish nodules formed by abnormal growth of tissue.
Treatment:
– None
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Prevention:
– Vaccinate chicks at the hatchery.
– Birds with clinical signs of disease will not recover and must be culled.