ADDITIONAL INFO: Ugh. My Margo. Again.

[micstrachan]

From the parts that I read, the only parts that I saw as evidence of Marek’s was:



Tumors and/or changes to peripheral nerves are typical to Marek’s, though there are other forms. I know it’s troubling to read this report; Marek’s is such a boogeyman to so many... We have Marek’s too. I wonder how many people would find Marek’s if they really looked for it... It took us three necropsies before we were able to confirm Marek’s. I’ve had necropsied almost all chickens that died or were euthanized and now that our lab knows to look for it specifically in our flock, they find it in a majority of cases.

Thank you. The Mareks is bad news, but it also sounds like Margo was just a mess in other ways, too! Poor thing!

Edited to add: Wow! Majority!

 

[Mo'sMenagerie]

Well that preliminary report sure put us off guard, huh?
Guess when we get a necropsy, you get more info than you ever asked for. What is it, this is more than we ever wanted to know. I'm going to have to read that report many times.
Aren't you glad you know though.
So, remember. How many times have you read on this site about how common Marek's is in chickens? I think "endemic to the species" and "possibly present in the majority of flocks" is used quite a bit, right? And these are from people who have significantly spoken to professionals, and across the country. There's millions of people who have it in their flock and never know it.
This could be any one of us. This is no death sentence, this is accomplishable. You have everything at your disposal to handle this.
You said this is your worst nightmare. But there could be many worse things.
You know this.
That was my pep talk.
I know this is a shock. I'm really sorry, especially when the big news is completely unexpected. I really wish I was there to give you a big hug. Big <virtual> hugs.

AMEN!

 

[micstrachan]

Sorry to be carrying this thread on so long, but I told you I’d call the feed store today. And I did. I had an in-depth conversation with a girl who has her own backyard flock and also works at a local avian vet. She was very interested in my story, and took down details to share with the owner, since the owner is adamant about having the chicks vaccinated for Mareks. So there you have it. I’m going to share this with the doctor working on Margo and make sure she is certain Margo had Mareks. The feed store is going to check their records on where they sourced Margo and reach out to that hatchery. (They have one main hatchery, but use a couple others occasionally, as well.)

In the mean time, I’m still working on slimming down the flock, cleaning the coop, and trying to learn more about Mareks, especially how long it can live in the environment.

 

[Kathy Golla]

Very interesting. My feed store also says the chicks are vaccinated.
Ask the pathologist how your bird could have had Mareks if she was vaccinated.
I know vaccines aren’t 100%, but then, what’s the efficacy of the vaccine?
I have to imagine Davis deals with a tremendous amount of Mareks.

 

[AmyJane725]

Sorry to be carrying this thread on so long, but I told you I’d call the feed store today. And I did. I had an in-depth conversation with a girl who has her own backyard flock and also works at a local avian vet. She was very interested in my story, and took down details to share with the owner, since the owner is adamant about having the chicks vaccinated for Mareks. So there you have it. I’m going to share this with the doctor working on Margo and make sure she is certain Margo had Mareks. The feed store is going to check their records on where they sourced Margo and reach out to that hatchery. (They have one main hatchery, but use a couple others occasionally, as well.)

In the mean time, I’m still working on slimming down the flock, cleaning the coop, and trying to learn more about Mareks, especially how long it can live in the environment.

Sometimes they mess up when the vaccinate and miss the target, so they get a shot, but it doesn't work...

 

[Kiki]

Sorry to be carrying this thread on so long, but I told you I’d call the feed store today. And I did. I had an in-depth conversation with a girl who has her own backyard flock and also works at a local avian vet. She was very interested in my story, and took down details to share with the owner, since the owner is adamant about having the chicks vaccinated for Mareks. So there you have it. I’m going to share this with the doctor working on Margo and make sure she is certain Margo had Mareks. The feed store is going to check their records on where they sourced Margo and reach out to that hatchery. (They have one main hatchery, but use a couple others occasionally, as well.)

In the mean time, I’m still working on slimming down the flock, cleaning the coop, and trying to learn more about Mareks, especially how long it can live in the environment.

It can live for Years in the environment...Virkon is a product (expensive) that can kill the Marek's virus.

 

[Kiki]

Very interesting. My feed store also says the chicks are vaccinated.
Ask the pathologist how your bird could have had Mareks if she was vaccinated.
I know vaccines aren’t 100%, but then, what’s the efficacy of the vaccine?
I have to imagine Davis deals with a tremendous amount of Mareks.

The vaccine is only suppose to prevent some of the 'bad' symptoms of Marek's..it does not prevent the disease.

 

[Kiki]

Sometimes they mess up when the vaccinate and miss the target, so they get a shot, but it doesn't work...

No...but also if the chicks are vaccinated and moved to their new home too quick, and the new home has the virus already, the vaccinated chick's vaccine doesn't have time to protect said Christmas ck from the 'bad' symptoms to begin with.

And... A vaccinated bird can still shed the virus.

 

[Kiki]

For what it's worth...I would never vaccinate for Marek's.

 

[Kathy Golla]

The vaccine is only suppose to prevent some of the 'bad' symptoms of Marek's..it does not prevent the disease.

Oh I did read that somewhere..tx Kiki.
Well at least that is hopeful, Michelle.