Also known as Acute reticulum cell neoplasia, Runting disease syndrome
Reticuloendotheliosis occurs worldwide, but rare. It affects turkeys, chickens, pheasant, quail of all ages. Reticuloendotheliosis virus is an RNA retrovirus similar to the avian leukosis / sarcoma group. Some viruses are defective and require a helper virus to complete their replication cycle. It is spread by the hands from transovarian route to offspring, and can also spread laterally through contaminated feces and litter (although contact infection rarely results in disease).
- Causes of Reticuloendotheliosis >
- Effects of Reticuloendotheliosis >
- Diagnosis of Reticuloendotheliosis >
- Treatment & Control of Reticuloendotheliosis >
Causes of Reticuloendotheliosis
Turkeys, chickens, PHEASANTS and (rarely) quail of all ages are susceptible to this chronic disease. The agent involved in the aetiology of this disease is an RNA retrovirus similar to avian leukosis / sarcoma group. Some viruses are defective and require a helper virus to complete their replication cycle.
Mode of transmission
It is spread from infected hens transovarian to offspring. The virus can spread laterally by contaminated feces and litter (although contact infection rarely results in disease).
Effects of Reticuloendotheliosis
Acute reticulum cell neoplasia results in enlarged abdomen, weakness and death. Runting disease syndrome is seen as stunted, pale birds with abnormal feather development and lame ness.
Chronic neoplasia, lymphoma fellow chicken, turkey and multi lymphoma syndromes causes weakness, paleness and anorexia.
Post mortem lesions
Acute reticulum cell neoplasia causes large livers and spleen with focal or diffuse infiltrative lesions. Lesions are also common in the pancreas, gonads, heart and kidney. Runting syndrome causes acute hemorrhagic disease or chronic ulcerative proventriculitis, atrophy of the thymus and bursa enlarged peripheral nerves, enteritis, anemia and necrosis of liver and spleen.
Chicken fellow lymphoma causes tumors in the liver and bursa of Fabricius. Fellow non-chicken lymphoma produces tumors of the heart, liver and spleen, thymus atrophied and enlarged peripheral nerves.
Turkey lymphoma results in tumors in the liver and other visceral organs.
Diagnosis of Reticuloendotheliosis
Gross and microscopic observations of tumors are necessary. Tumors consist of large vesicular mono nuclear cells of the reticuleondothelial system. Areas of necrosis are associated with tumors. Detection of virus using fluorescent antibody test with antibodies can be done. It Simulates avian leukosis and MD.
Treatment & Control of Reticuloendotheliosis
Prevention
ELISA testing was used for selection of breeders free of the virus.
Treatment
No effective treatment.
