Dual virus maturation of both pathogenic and apathogenic Marek's disease herpesvirus (MDHV) in the feather follicles of dually infected chickens.

Infectious cell-free viruses of both pathogenic and apathogenic Marek's disease herpesvirus (MDHV) were detected in feather-tip extracts of chickens dually infected with both MDHV isolants either by inoculation or by contact exposure. This indicated concurrent viral maturation of both pathogenic and apathogenic MDHV isolants in the feather-follicle epithelium, resulting in possible double shedding of the two isolants.