Marek Disease Virus in Serbia: Detection and Molecular Characterization (2015 – 2022)

Out of 236 samples collected from clinically suspected farms and yards, the genome of Marek’s disease virus was detected in 84 (35.59 %) samples. Results showed the significant prevalence of the virus in intensive production/commercial farms (92.86 % of total positive samples) and in the flocks of extensively raised poultry/small-scale farms (7.14 % of total positive samples). Nucleotide sequence analysis of the ICP4 gene revealed that Serbian strains were classified into A and C groups of serotypes 1, showing high similarity (>98 %) with very virulent plus (vv+MDV) pathotypes of the Hungarian strains. A retrospective analysis from 2015 to 2022 showed that the Marek disease virus continually circulates in Serbia. This study aimed to detect and molecularly characterize Marek’s disease virus strain in Serbia.