Causes: 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 transovarian route from hens to offspring, and can also spread laterally via contaminated faeces and litter (although contact infection rarely results in disease).

Effects: 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 lameness. Chronic neoplasia, chicken bursal lymphoma, turkey lymphoma and multi-syndromes cause weakness, paleness and anorexia.

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.

It is spread transovarian from infected hens to offspring. The virus can spread laterally by contaminated faeces and litter (although contact infection rarely results in disease).

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 lameness.

Chronic neoplasia, chicken bursal lymphoma, turkey lymphoma and multi syndromes causes weakness, paleness and anorexia.

Acute reticulum cell neoplasia causes large livers and spleens with infiltrative focal or diffuse lesions. Lesions are also common in the pancreas, gonads, heart and kidney. Runting disease syndrome causes acute hemorrhagic or chronic ulcerative proventriculitis, atrophy of the thymus and bursa enlarged peripheral nerves, enteritis, anemia and necrosis of liver and spleen.

Chicken bursal lymphoma causes tumours in the liver and bursa of Fabricius. Chicken non-bursal lymphoma produces tumours of the heart, liver and spleen, atrophied thymus and enlarged peripheral nerves.

Turkey lymphoma results in tumours in the liver and other visceral organs.

Gross and microscopic observations of tumours are necessary. Tumours consist of large vesicular mononuclear cells of the reticuleondothelial system. Areas of necrosis are associated with tumours. Detection of virus using fluorescent antibody test with antibodies can be done. It simulates avian leukosis and MD.

ELISA testing is used for selection of breeders free of the virus.

No effective treatment.

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