[Use of nitrovin in feed and its effect on the development of Marek's disease in chickens]

The effect of the Czechoslovak product Nitrovin, administered at a rate of 15 mg per kg of feed mixture, was studied as exerted on the growth activity, meat quality, and the development and intensity of occurrence of patho-morphological changes ascribable to Marek's disease. An increase of weight gains and dressing percentage was recorded in the group of birds given Nitrovin, as well as in those which had Nitrovin in their feed and were infected with a highly virulent virus of Marek's disease. No significant changes occurred in the contents of dry matter and protein, but there was a much lower fat content in breast muscle in the groups of chickens infected with the Marek disease virus. Internal organs were subjected to biometrical measurements. The birds treated with Nitrovin and infected with the highly virulent virus of Marek's disease had significantly lighter hearts and heavier spleens. Liver, nervus ischiadicus, gonads and spleen were affected most intensively by the changes testifying to Marek's disease. The results are just preliminary and the investigation continues.