Proportion of T and B Lymphocytes in Lesions of Marek's Disease: Theoretical Implications for Pathogenesis

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Abstract
Cell preparations from visceral tumors and nerve lesions of chickens with Marek's disease (MD) were examined with antisera specific for avian T and B lymphocytes. In all instances examined, the large majority of lymphoid cells in the infiltrate were T lymphocytes, with only 3 to 10% of B lymphocytes present. It is suggested that the pathogenesis of this disease involves a T cell-mediated immunologic attack on virus-infected epithelial cells, analogous to that observed in lymphocytic choriomeningitis of mice.