Deadly chicken disease: ancient DNA reveals evolution of virulence

Using genetic analyses, an international team has revealed the evolutionary history of the pathogen of a fatal disease in chickens

19-Dec-2023 - A notifiable animal disease in Germany, Marek’s disease is caused by the globally distributed Marek’s disease virus (MDV). Over the past century, the virus, which causes tumors in chickens and has a high mortality rate, has become increasingly aggressive. Combating the disease costs the poultry ...