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Abdela Bulbula,1 Bizunesh Borena,2 Biniam Tadesse,1 Abde Aliy,1 Demessa Negessu1 1Department of Bacterial Serology, Animal Health Institute (AHI), Sebeta, Oromia, Ethiopia; 2Department of Veterinary Laboratory Technology, Ambo University, Ambo, Oromia, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Abdela Bulbula, Department of Bacterial Serology, Animal Health Institute (AHI), PO Box 04, Sebeta, Oromia, Ethiopia, Tel +251 9103989, Email abdallahbulbula@gmail.comBackground: Marekâs disease virus is a devastating infection, causing high morbidity and mortality in chickens in Ethiopia.Methods: The current study was conducted from March to November, 2021 with the general objective of performing antemortem and postmortem, isolation, and molecular detection of Marekâs disease virus from outbreak cases in southwestern Ethiopia. Accordingly, based on outbreak information reported from the study sites namely, Bedelle, Yayo, and Bonga towns in southwestern Ethiopia, 50 sick chickens were sampled. The backyard and intensive farming systems of chickens were included in the sampling and priorities were given for chickens that showed clinical signs that are characteristics of Marekâs disease.Results: By clinical examinations, paralysis of legs and wings, gray eye, loss of weight, difficulty in breathing, and depression were recorded on all chickens sampled for this study and death of diseased chickens was observed. In addition, enlargement of the spleen and gross lesions of the liver and heart were recorded during postmortem examination. The death of infected chickens was observed in both vaccinated and non-vaccinated flocks. Out of 50 pooled feather follicle samples, Marekâs disease virus was isolated from 14/50 (28%) by cell culture method and out of six tissue samples, the virus was isolated from 5/6(83.30%). By Real time polymerization chain reaction technique, which was targeted to detect the Meq gene, Marekâs disease virus was detected from 18/50 feather follicles which accounts for 36% of sampled chickens.Conclusion: In general, current study showed that the circulating Marekâs disease virus in southwestern Ethiopia was caused by the oncogenic Gallid herpesvirus-2 (Serotype-1). Further research on molecular characterization of revolving virus in current and other regions is recommended for effective control of the disease through vaccination.Keywords: Ethiopia, Marekâs diseases, isolation, molecular detection, outbreak |
