Acyclovir for mareks?

[squirlbait]

Hello! Has anyone had success with acyclovir for mareks? I have a girl that has had trouble walking since last Friday. She's been at the vet since Sunday and came home today. They said she's been improving some and I'm going to start her on acyclovir tonight.

I don't have a lot of false hope, but wanted to see if anyone else has had experience with the medication. Thanks

 

[kelck22]

That is a human herpes med so who knows. Won't cure it though.

Do you know for sure it mareks?

 

[squirlbait]

I didn't have the test done to confirm it because it wouldn't necessarily change the course of treatment. At this point, mareks is the most likely so I'm going to treat her as such. It also sounds like the tests are really new- I forget which schools but there were two and one was more accurate than the other.

Unfortunately, I know it won't cure it, but we are willing to try with the hope that she can regain use of her feet. She can get herself around it's just not the most efficient and she tends to sit on her hocks right now. She doesn't have the more common presentation of one leg stretched out in each direction (at this point).

Well, we will see what happens I guess! It's a long shot, but as long as she doesn't seem to be suffering then I'm willing to keep trying

 

[flyballgirl]

My Polish, Phyllis, has similar symptoms for about a week or so (I just posted about her again). I read recently about using St. John's Wort for Marek's and will try to find that link again. Good luck and I will keep watching to see if anyone has any help for you.

 

[kelck22]

How old is your girl?

I took a 12 week old in for a necropsy. I and many on this forum thought for sure it was mareks. Turns out he died of blackhead.

 

[squirlbait]

Oh man. Ill have to look that up, kleck. I'm not familiar with blackheads so hard to have so much guessing. My lady is 20 weeks.

Fly, they told me to give her vitamin a and e. Also, taurine. When I'm not on my phone I can give you the instructions. I have a hard time typing on my phone.

 

[kelck22]

Its probably not blackhead. Rare in chickens. I was just pointing out there are a lot of things it could be.

 

[DarkWater1929]

Hi! I came across this thread, when I ran a search for Acyclovir. I must know: How did it work? Anyone! If you have tried acyclovir, for Marek's, will you please tell me how it turned out? What dosage did you give? When I read that Marek's was a strain of herpes, I was thrilled, because I know that, in humans, acyclovir can make an inconvenience out of a nightmare! So, please, any updated information will be gratefully received!

I am 98% certain that Marek's is making its loathsome way through my flock. I had a hen (my favorite, of course) die of complications about a month ago. She suffocated, when she could not lift her head out of her bedding. She had been hanging in there so bravely! Then I lost a roo, who happened to have come in the same little group the hen came with.

I had hoped that, since they came together, and they kind of hung out together, perhaps they had not interacted with the flock enough...? But, no. Wishful thinking. I now have a really sweet young cuckoo-maran hen who cannot walk. I am so saddened! I was elated to find the information on St. John's Wort in another thread on this site. However, I was unable to find it near enough to me to obtain (I do not drive), so I ordered it on-line. I do not expect it to arrive for a few days yet. I know that there must be something else that I can do, at least to slow the progress of the disease, until my greatest hope arrives in the mail. Is acyclovir what I am looking for?

I know, I know. Most folks, including my hubby, say that culling is kindest, and wisest. No doubt that is so. But, life is life. I, myself, would rather endure as long as possible, than throw in the towel before my circumstances became unbearable. She does not appear to be in actual pain. She is just frustrated, and it shows. But life is a gift, and I will not take hers from her, until I am pretty sure that she would prefer it. Right now she is mad, but not in despair. We shall soldier on.

Ok. I will stop blabbering, and hope that one of you folks who has used the acyclovir will tell me the outcome, and how you determined the dosage. I am very grateful for any input!

Thanks!

 

[Chickenmamalizzy]

I realize this is an old thread now but I wanted to include my two bits about the lack options really for managing a mareks positive flock. I have had mixed results with acyclovir but there is research to support that its does help at least in a short term sense of extending time with and infected bird but ultimately it cant be used indefinitely without adverse effects and the inevitable result is death. There is some promising information regarding Chinese Skullcap as a way to prevent virus replication & minimize shedding of the virus. I am new to that protocol and cant say that its making a difference yet but since it can be given at both a preventative dose and critical care dose, I am hopeful that it might prove to be an effective treatment/ have long term positive results.