Ma. Goodwin et al., Multi-centric histiocytosis: experimental induction in broiler and specific pathogen-free leghorn chickens, AVIAN PATH, 28(3), 1999, pp. 273-278
Seventy-five 3-day-old broiler chicks and twenty specific pathogen-free leg
horn chicks were injected with 0.5 mi of a homogenate, prepared from organs
from broilers diagnosed with naturally-occurring multicentric histiocytosi
s (MH), Equal numbers of uninjected broiler and leghorn chicks (controls) w
ere maintained in adjacent pens. Ten weeks later, nine broilers had well-de
veloped gross and microscopic MH lesions. The distribution and histological
appearance of lesions in these experimental chicks was similar to lesions
described in naturally occurring field cases. Six leghorns had gross lesion
s similar to those found in their broiler counterparts; however, in the leg
horns, the cellular masses contained more lymphocytes and, additionally, ma
sses were found in the gizzard musculature, One gizzard contained a sarcoma
, Broiler chickens with MH weighed less than their control counterparts and
were more likely to be anaemic,
Sequences specific for reticuloendotheliosis viruses (REV) were found in th
e MH homogenate, in organs from most affected experimental leghorns and bro
ilers, and in organs from a control broiler, However, REV were not isolated
from these tissues, nor were specific antibodies for REV or avian leukosis
/sarcoma viruses (ALV) found in chick serum, Leukosis/sarcoma viruses were
isolated from some MH-affected experimental leghorns and broilers. Sequence
s specific for Marek's disease herpesvirus were not identified by polymeras
e chain reaction. The aetiology of MH remains unknown.