A gross lymphoproliferqtive lesion similar to that of Marek's disease (MD) was observed in the peripheral nerves of chickens inoculated with reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV). Induction of these nerve lesions by REV stocks from 4 different sources and substantial cross neutralization between neurotropic and viscerotropic REV stocks were evidence that the lesions were specific for REV. Nerve lesions induced by REV were characterized by abundant plasma cells, but they could not always be differentiated from lesions of MD. However, the absence of contact spread and the high susceptibility of line 6 chickens were some obvious characteristics distinguishing the REV-induced syndrome from that of MD. No antibody against REV was detected in 5 commercial flocks of chickens with extensive MD losses, and evidence was lacking that REV infection was of economic importance. However, adventitious contamination with REV could be a potential hazard in the conduct of experiments on MD.
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Witter et al. (1970) studied this question.