TURKEY HERPESVIRUS AND MAREKS-DISEASE VIRUS - A COMPARATIVE APPRAISAL

Turkey herpesvirus (HVT) is widely used as a vaccine against Marek's disease (MD) in chickens and prevents lymphoma induction, but not infection, by the virulent MD virus (MDV). HVT and MDV have several features in common, but the in vivo responses to these viruses differ depending upon the host and viral factors. MD immunity, either natural or vaccinal, is directed against both the viral and the tumor-specific antigens and is mediated by the cellular immune mechanisms. These properties, and the host-virus interactions leading to lymphoproliferation due to infection with the virulent MDV and immunity with HVT and attenuated MDV give an insight into the pathogenesis and immunology of herpesvirus-induced neoplasia. In this review, an attempt has been made to bring together some of these features of HVT and MDV and to make a critical appraisal. © 1979.