2 week old cough

[SarahLadd]

I sure can... he's apparently the head of the research and diagnostics lab. Any specific questions you want me to ask I'd be more than happy to do that.

 

[Eggcessive]

I am mainly interested in mycoplasma testing. My friend the micro guy, once had mycoplasma (MG) himself, and he ran a test once on one of my chickens. It was negative. But he said that it is very hard to test for it and get a positive result. He told me they send cultures off to a reference lab nowadays for DNA testing. I would just like to know if we can get testing, and know whether or not it is usually an accurate test.

 

[SarahLadd]

Here's his page... https://www.vdl.umn.edu/bio/veterinary-diagnostic-laborato/rob-porter

 

[SarahLadd]

Okay, I just met with the professor. He gave the babies eye and throat swabs and says the test is called "mycoplasma PCR". https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real-time_polymerase_chain_reaction The test checks CT values to make a positive or negative diagnosis specifically and only for mycoplasma, and he says it's very sensitive. If there is any chance my birds have it, this test will tell. I will know by Friday at the latest, but sooner is likely. I will keep posted when I hear back.

In other news, I haven't seen eye bubbles in a full day, and the frequency of her cough is down to a once every 15 minutes affair. She still is very inactive, though. She spends nearly all her time sitting down with her eyes closed. She's still eating and drinking, but never playing or exploring, and because the other bird follows her every move, she's copying her behavior and laying down to sleep with her, too.

 

[Eggcessive]

Thank you for that information. We are all learning.

 

[SarahLadd]

You're very welcome. The test itself is being done at a lab built new in 2016 in Willmar, it's specifically a poultry diagnostics lab that was made to track the spread of bird flu, primarily. So the samples are being couriered today to Willmar, he said they'd emphasize that the samples are from living babies and try to expedite the process. He says it's very unusual that someone cares enough to ask questions first before shooting, typically they would collect samples from a group of culled birds. He was very kind. I do wonder what to do if the results come back negative... oh, the test was also $39 for both birds.

 

[azygous]

I wish all of us had the access to such testing. But the thing that leaves me god-smacked is the reasonable cost. I've availed myself of the state ag lab a hundred miles away and received exorbitant bills of a couple hundred dollars for simple fecal float tests and tests for pathogens such as salmonella.

 

[SarahLadd]

I found it unusual myself. Diagnostic testing aside, veterinary care is not particularly cheap here.

I would wonder if this is something that a qualified veterinarian may collect the sample and ship to this university for the lab to do the test. I had something similar done for my collie when, as a wee pup, she had a ferocious case of mange and had a sample sent to the University of Washington to be tested for the MDR1 gene that would have made treatment with Ivermectin fatal. Apparently only UofW tests for the gene markers.

 

[Nambroth]

The important thing about the bacterial respiratory diseases, is that mycoplasma, a bacterial-like organism, and coryza will only remain viable on surfaces, clothes, shoes, hair, equipment, etc. for about 3 days. Viruses can last longer, especially in frozen droppings.

Nambroth, so glad to see you posting again. I haven’t read your posts in ages.

Absolutely right, I had a brainfart about mycoplasma being a bacteria. I think I was thinking of Infectious Bronchitis. I apologize for my misinformation! That said, the Odoban works on bacteria too.
I did look up IB and it's a coronavirus, which if I understand correctly, does encapsulate.

 

[Nambroth]

I wish all of us had the access to such testing. But the thing that leaves me god-smacked is the reasonable cost. I've availed myself of the state ag lab a hundred miles away and received exorbitant bills of a couple hundred dollars for simple fecal float tests and tests for pathogens such as salmonella.

Agreed. I spent hundreds and hundreds getting Marek's and Avian Leukosis PCR tests run! I'm glad to see this affordable test available to home chicken keepers.