Lymphoproliferative disease virus (LPDV) is an avian exogenous retrovirus that can cause lymphoid tumors and lesions. The virus was only recently identified, in 2009, in a wild turkey in the United States and subsequent surveys revealed a high prevalence of LPDV in wild turkeys across 17 states. With 82 percent prevalence in Maine’s turkey population, local-scale research is warranted to gain insight into the effects of infection on wild turkey health. This project (1) evaluates the prevalence of LPDV across the state, (2) assesses risk factors of LPDV infection, and (3) examines the relationship between LPDV infection and both nest success and survival to elucidate population-level impacts. Samples were collected from hunter-harvested and live-captured wild turkeys in Maine and DNA was extracted from bone marrow or blood, respectively. Infection status was determined through PCR procedures. Hens were fitted with radio-transmitter or GPS backpacks to gather data on nest success and daily survival. We found an overall LPDV prevalence of 77%, which did not significantly vary by site, study area, or sex. Adults had a significantly higher prevalence (89 percent) than juveniles (46 percent). Hens infected with LPDV had a lower weekly survival probability (0.971) compared to uninfected hens (0.994), but there was no effect of LPDV infection on hen nest success. This research will provide data not only to inform monitoring strategies and the management of disease in this valuable game bird species, but also to evaluate the risk to humans, backyard poultry farms, and agriculture.
