Transmission of Marek's Disease with Oral Washings and Feces From Infected Chickens

Summary Marek's disease was transmitted with oral washings and fecal extracts from 4-week-old, JM-inoculated chickens to day-old chickens by inoculation. All birds inoculated with oral washings or fecal extracts by the intra-abdominal route were positive while in-tranasal instillation of these materials gave responses of 0% and 21 % respectively during a 10-week experimental period. An attempt to transmit Marek's disease by a direct transfer of oral fluids with cotton swabs from donor to recipient chicks was unsuccessful.