Marek's Disease? Not in our chicken houses

Be it among big producers in the broiler, layer and breed segments or small farmers focused on organic production, Marek’s Disease is something many in the poultry industry have at least heard of. Easily prevented through efficient vaccination, this disease causes not only animal suffering but also severe losses to producers.

Fighting Marek’s Disease is fundamental in every farm. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), global per capital consumption of poultry meat has increased fivefold since the early 1960s. Preventing a wide range of poultry diseases means ensuring healthy animals able to offer high-quality protein in order to attend growing global demands. With our focus on prevention over treatment, we are committed to ensuring animal well-being and food security for generations to come.

Learn more! Prevention is possible!

What is Marek’s Disease?
Marek’s Disease is a common viral lymphoproliferative disease affecting poultry populations worldwide. It is named after the Hungarian veterinarian József Marek, who discovered it and first described it in 1907. The disease is caused by an avian Herpesvirus that inflicts great distress to animals through several manifestations ranging from peripheral nerve lesions to lymphomas. It is widely found in chickens all over the world.

How is it transmitted and what are the symptoms?
The Marek’s Disease virus is highly contagious, transmitted between chickens through the dust and dander of infected birds, and it can survive for long periods in farm and field environments. Actually, Marek's Disease is very complex. Clinical manifestations vary widely, depending on virus strain, bird age, condition, and other factors. It can be often difficult to differentiate from other diseases because it manifests in a variety of syndromes with wide-ranging signs. The most common clinical manifestations of the disease include peripheral nerve lesions, which may cause paralysis or persistent neurologic problems, and in tumor formation in nerve, organ, muscle and epithelial tissue. In animals not protected, clinical signs could be paralysis of the legs, weight loss, blindness or other eye abnormalities, skin lesions around the feather follicles, listlessness, wasting, and early mortality. Affected birds are also immunosuppressed, and therefore more susceptible to other infectious diseases.

Which impact does the Marek’s Disease have in the poultry industry?
Marek’s Disease is capable of causing significant economic losses in commercial poultry flocks. Young chickens, whose immune systems are still under development, are most susceptible to infection. Even in the absence of clinical signs, Marek's Disease virus can significantly damage chickens' immune system as the virus attacks T lymphocytes. The resulting immunosuppression causes poor growth and performance, significantly affecting production and economics in the poultry industry. Birds are more prone to secondary infections and less responsive to other vaccines, leading to increased medication costs.

How can the disease be prevented?
Marek’s Disease cannot be treated, and the only solution is prevention through vaccination, which was introduced first in 1970, making a great contribution. Later on, during the 1980s and 1990s, new and more virulent forms of the virus appeared, pushing for the development of newer vaccines. While vaccination can prevent infection in chickens, it does not prevent the virus from being spread - vaccinated birds may still be carriers, so good hygiene practices are also very important!

What is our role in the control of Marek’s Disease?
Being the global leader in prevention of Marek’s Disease, Boehringer Ingelheim provides a wide range of innovative solutions to keep animals safe. Our comprehensive selection of vaccines and hatchery delivery systems offers protection to poultry and supports veterinarians controlling the spread of Marek’s Disease and other poultry health challenges worldwide. These include not only vaccines against Marek’s Disease, but also all the main diseases affecting the poultry industry, like Infectious Bursal Disease, Newcastle Disease, Infectious Bronchitis, Avian Influenza and many others.

Our overall aspiration is to create the future of animal well-being through preventive care. In case of poultry, we strive to help win the battle against this and other diseases, shaping the future of poultry health through safe and effective prevention.