{"id":29043,"date":"2026-10-23T11:07:25","date_gmt":"2026-10-23T04:07:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.poultryindonesia.com\/?p=29043"},"modified":"2026-10-23T13:45:46","modified_gmt":"2026-10-23T06:45:46","slug":"mareks-disease-a-recurring-threat-to-poultry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.poultryindonesia.com\/en\/mareks-disease-a-recurring-threat-to-poultry\/","title":{"rendered":"Marek\u2019s Disease: A Recurring Threat to Poultry"},"content":{"rendered":"
Marek\u2019s Disease is not merely a deadly disease, but also a hidden threat that can gradually erode flock performance.<\/em><\/h6>\n
Marek\u2019s Disease (MD) is not a new disease in the poultry industry. However, it remains a challenge, even when vaccination programs have been implemented. Caused by Marek\u2019s disease virus (MDV), the disease can affect chickens and cause a range of problems, including paralysis, immunosuppression, and the formation of tumors or T-cell lymphomas in various organs.<\/h6>\n
One characteristic that makes MD difficult to control is the virus\u2019s ability to spread and persist in the environment. The virus is primarily shed through dust and dander, or feather debris from the feather follicles of infected chickens. These particles can then serve as a medium for transmission between chickens and spread through various activities within the farm environment.<\/h6>\n
According to Dr. Lidya Ester, Senior Technical Service at PT Sehat Cerah Indonesia, MDV infection does not always mean that chickens will develop clinical signs. Infection can occur without necessarily producing symptoms or tumors. Therefore, the number of clinically apparent cases in the field may not reflect the overall level of viral exposure within a chicken population.<\/h6>\n
Furthermore, the primary route of MD transmission is respiratory. Chickens can become infected by inhaling dust and dander particles containing the virus. Once infected, chickens can shed the virus through the epithelium of their feather follicles, potentially causing continued contamination of the poultry house environment.<\/h6>\n
\u201cThe problem is that contamination does not spread only through direct chicken-to-chicken contact. Dust and litter can also become part of the virus transmission chain. The same applies to equipment, clothing, footwear, human activities, and vehicles that carry materials from poultry houses.\u201d<\/h6>\n
Lidya added that because MDV is known to persist for long periods in the environment, poultry houses previously occupied by infected flocks can become sources of exposure for subsequent flocks if cleaning and disinfection are not carried out thoroughly. This means MD control cannot focus solely on the chickens currently being raised. The poultry house environment must also be considered part of the disease transmission chain. To reduce the risk of exposure in subsequent flocks, farmers must pay attention to dust control, sanitation, litter management, and downtime between flocks.<\/h6>\n
Another important consideration is that the impact of MD does not end with the death of affected chickens. Even when mortality is relatively low, the disease can still affect flock productivity.<\/h6>\n
\u201cMD can reduce chicken growth, worsen feed efficiency, lower egg production, and increase the number of birds that must be culled. The immunosuppression it causes can also make chickens more susceptible to other diseases. Ultimately, these conditions can increase the costs of treatment and flock health management.\u201d<\/h6>\n
The economic losses caused by MD comprise several components. They include not only mortality but also reduced production performance, vaccination and biosecurity expenses, secondary diseases, and the loss of potential production that the flock should otherwise have achieved.<\/h6>\n
Recognizing Marek\u2019s Disease<\/h6>\n
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MD can manifest in several forms. One of the most widely recognized presentations involves neurological disorders. Chickens may develop leg weakness, paralysis affecting one or more limbs, impaired coordination, or even an inability to stand.<\/h6>\n
\u201cIn the visceral form, the effects may be evident in deteriorating body condition, poor growth, reduced production, and death due to tumor formation in internal organs. During necropsy, changes in peripheral nerves and tumors may be found in several organs, including the liver, spleen, kidneys, heart, proventriculus, and ovaries,\u201d Lidya explained.<\/h6>\n
This article is an excerpt from the Health section of the October 2026 issue of Poultry Indonesia magazine. Read the full article in the <\/em>October 2026 issue of Poultry Indonesia magazine<\/em><\/a>. For subscriptions or further information, contact <\/em>WhatsApp<\/em><\/a> or email <\/em>sirkulasipoultry@gmail.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/h6>\n
Get more information about Indonesia\u2019s poultry industry by joining the <\/em>Satwa Media Group WhatsApp Channel<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/h6>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Marek\u2019s Disease is not merely a deadly disease, but also a hidden threat that can gradually erode flock performance. Marek\u2019s Disease (MD) is not a new disease in the poultry industry. However, it remains a challenge, even when vaccination programs have been implemented. Caused by Marek\u2019s disease virus (MDV), the disease can affect chickens and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":29021,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false},"categories":[51],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n