Influence of vaccination with avirulent herpesvirus on subsequent infection of chickens with virulent Marek's disease herpesvirus
Spencer, J.L.; Robertson, A.
American Journal of Veterinary Research 36(8): 1235-1239
1975
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9645 PMID: 168799 Document Number: 85976
Vaccination of chickens with turkey herpesvirus (HVT) or attenuated Marek's disease herpesvirus (aMDHV) blocked infection with virulent MDHV (vMDHV) for approximately 5 weeks after contact exposure. However, there was no apparent blockage of infection when challenge virus was administered intra-abdominally. Evidence for infection with vMDHV was based on viral isolation by in vivo assay or by detecting precipitins to "A" antigen associated with virulent virus. HVT stimulated production of neutralizing antibody against vMDHV in a high percentage of chickens, whereas aMDHV was a comparatively poor inducer of such antibody. Despite this difference, both vaccinal viruses gave protection against Marek's disease.