Feather-Pulp Lesions in Chickens with Naturally Occurring Marek's Disease Lymphomas

Feather pulps of 15-to-35-week-old chickens with Marek's disease (MD) lymphomas were examined histopathologically. Of the 64 chickens, 59 (92.2%) had lymphoproliferative (T-type) lesions in the feather pulp. The T-type feather-pulp lesion (FPL) occurred in all regions, but more frequently in the upper column of the pulp. Severe lesions were distributed throughout the feather pulp. Some of the T-type FPLs regressed to inflammatory lesions consisting of necrosis or loss of constituent cells, edema, and infiltration by small lymphocytes, heterophils, and plasma cells. The regressive T-type FPL was usually diffuse throughout the tumorous lesions, but proliferative foci were often seen concomitantly with regressive lesions. The grade and histologic picture of T-type FPLs in chickens correlated well with those of the visceral lymphomas. These findings suggest that the severity of MD lymphoma is predictable without autopsy by examining feather-pulp samples.