Anti-Marek’s Disease antibody (ab33718)

Marek’s Disease Virus, (MDV), is an oncogenic avian double stranded DNA herpesvirus. It is highly contagious and results in aggressive T-cell lymphomas. Infection of MDV occurs via the respiratory tract, where its uptake by macrophages and dendritic cells allows it to be transported in the bloodstream to visceral organs and peripheral nerves, causing death in up to 80 percent of birds. It occurs in two main forms, depending on which parts of the body are affected by the tumours. In the nervous form the nerves, particulary the sciatic nerves, are affected. In the visceral form, greyish-white tumours are found in the ovaries, liver, spleen, kidney, heart and other organs.