ARS | Publication request: Identification of lymphoproliferative disease virus in wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) in the southeastern United States

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: September 29, 2011
Publication Date: September 29, 2011
Citation: Brown, J.D., Allison, A.B., Cartoceti, A.N., Munk, B.A., Kubiski, S., Nemeth, N.M., Keel, M.K., Fadly, A.M. 2011. Identification of lymphoproliferative disease virus in wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) in the southeastern United States [Abstract]. American Association of Veterinary Diagnosticians, September 29-October 5, 2011, Buffalo, New York. Poster #26.

Technical Abstract: The eight cases described herein represent the first reports of lymphoproliferative disease virus (LPDV) infection in wild turkeys and the first identification of LPDV in North America. Systemic lymphoproliferative disease was presumably the cause of morbidity and mortality in five of the eight turkeys. The remaining three turkeys had other primary causes of disease and it is currently not known whether LPDV infection in these birds contributed to the observed disease syndromes or if infection was silent. The gross lesions in these wild turkeys were variable and nonspecific; however, the observed microscopic lesions in these cases were consistent with LPDV infection in domestic turkeys. Additional studies are underway to genetically characterize these wild turkey LPDV strains, determine the in vitro and in vivo host range, and develop rapid diagnostic assays