Abstract
There is an increasing trend to use molecular approaches to the study of Marek’s disease virus serotype 1 (MDV-1), the causative agent for the neoplastic syndrome of chickens known as Marek’s disease. The meq gene is of particular interest as it is the principal oncogene of the virus. This study aimed to characterize the meq gene of field strains of MDV-1 circulating in Kampung and Arabic chicken farms in Sukabumi, West Java, Indonesia during 2014. This study detected circulating MDV-1 strains in Kampung chickens in extracts from feather, blood and dust samples. In comparison only the MDV-1 vaccine strain CVI988/Rispens was identified in Arabic chickens in feather samples. Although the MDV-1 field strain, SMI14-KampungCk was detected in healthy Kampung chicken. Its meq gene is identical with Marek’s disease virus causing outbreak in layer farms in North Sumatera in 2013. Our result shows that the meq gene of Marek’s virus field strain from Sukabumi has the closest proximity with G2, a very virulent Marek’s disease virus from China. The molecular analyses of the meq gene indicated that SMI14-KampungCk has pathotype trait of virulent or very virulent.
Highlights
Marek’s disease is a neoplastic disease in poultry (Gallus sp.)caused by Marek’s disease virus serotype 1 (MDV-1), which is called as Gallid herpesvirus 2 (GaHV-2)
This study aimed to characterize the meq gene of field strains of MDV-1 circulating in Kampung and Arabic chicken farms in Sukabumi, West Java, Indonesia during 2014
Sequencing of meq gene of MDV-1 was successfully accomplished for 14 samples of those 73 positive samples with MDV-1 from the Mardivirus screening test (Figure 1)
Summary
Caused by Marek’s disease virus serotype 1 (MDV-1), which is called as Gallid herpesvirus 2 (GaHV-2). This double-stranded linear DNA virus belongs to Mardivirus genus, Alphaherpesvirinae subfamily (Davison 2010). The clinical signs of Marek’s disease are related to T cell tumorigenesis in several tissues that can be manifested into several appearances, including neurologic, visceral, ocular and cutaneous forms (Schat and Nair 2008). In the past this disease caused massive economic loss; vaccination programs have reduced the outbreaks significantly (Biggs and Nair 2012).
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