Marek's disease tumour-specific antigen induced by the herpesvirus of turkeys in vaccinated chickens.

The herpesvirus of turkeys, a supposedly apathogenic virus commonly used for vaccination against Marek's disease, was found to induce Marek's disease tumour-specific antigens on spleen and peripheral blood lymphocytes in vaccinated chickens. Herpesvirus of turkeys may be able to induce the neoplastic transformation of lymphocytes and the consequential stimulation of an anti-tumour immune response may be an important component of vaccinal immunity.