New herpesvirus isolated from geese in Poland

Abstract Neoplastic changes characteristic of Marek’s disease (MD) in the geese flock were described. The investigations were performed on White Italian reproductive geese kept on a farm where MD was previously diagnosed in broilers. Neither antibodies against MD virus (MDV) were detected by AGID method, nor MDV antigen was found by RID. The histopathological examination revealed the presence of lymphoid infiltrations characteristic of MD in all examined tissues. No lesions typical for avian leukosis or reticuloendotheliosis were observed. PCR products characteristic of meq, and ICP4 and pp38 genes were not observed, but real-time PCR for gB gene of MDV were positive in DNA samples from visceral organs. The real-time PCR results may indicate the presence of a new MDV variant or a new herpesviral infection among geese. Key words: geese, herpesvirus, glycoprotein B, real – time PCR, Poland. Introduction Naturally occurring neoplasms of domestic birds are associated with infections of either Marek’s disease virus (MDV) or avian C-type retroviruses belonging to the avian leukosis group (ALV), or to the reticuloeno-theliosis group (REV) viruses. Marek’s disease (MD) is a lymphoproliferative and neuropathic disease of poultry caused by a highly contagious, cell – associated oncogenic virus classified into the family