OCCURRENCE OF MAIN MAREK'S DISEASE GENES DURING INFECTION OF CHICKENS

摘要

The aim of this study was the determination of the occurence of ICP4, pp38, meq, and LAT genes of Marek's disease virus (MDV) and its rate of replication in internal organs of infected chickens. The genes were determined using PGR, while the virus replication was measured by real-time PGR method. The results have shown the presence of ICP4 and pp38 genes starting from the 3rd d p.i. while meq oncogene was detected from the 7 d p.i. During the whole period of the experiment, no presence of latency associated transcript gene (LAT) was found. The virus replicated most intensively in the spleen and bursa of Fabricius then in the thymus, liver, and lungs. The results imply a role of the main genes ICP4 and pp38 in early cytolytic infection of chickens, and the further occurrence of meq oncogene associated with tumourgenesis. The highest dynamics of MDV replication in the lymphoid organs - bursa of Fabricius, thymus, and spleen indicates its stringent association with lymphoid cells and tissues.