The use of the complete DNA sequence for the Marek’s disease virus (MDV) serotype 1 vaccine strain CVI988 Rispens in comparative
genomic studies with virulent strains of MDV has revealed the presence of a number of insertions, deletions and single-nucleotide
polymorphisms. In this study, we investigated a SNP in the H/ACA box of the viral RNA subunit of telomerase (vTR). We sequenced
vTR from four different batches of CVI988 vaccine originating from a single commercial company. The A-to-G mutation defining
the SNP in the H/ACA box of CVI988 vTR was present in only some of the batches. Thus, although this mutation affects CVI988
vTR function, it is not shared by all CVI988 isolates and may be a stochastic rather than causative event in CVI988 attenuation.