California - Northern

[farmhand]

UCD released this months CAHFS report. There was an interesting case int there. Notice that a flock of pullets that had been vaccinated for mareks had mareks kill a lot of the flock:

Quote: This seems kinda big to me if vaccinated birds are getting mareks. The whole industry could be turned upside down quick.

 

[chrissyr]

I have heard that about sparrows.    I can't believe how many people fall for the raccoons though.  We have so many people up here who purposely feed them dog food.

Very cute!  The fast feathering/tail for pullets seems to work often for me in guessing, but I wouldn't put money on it.  I will leave the guesses on the rest for others.

Aww....I am so glad she found her sea legs.... She is a cutie!

Squeeee! Yay!

thanks ladies she's so pudgy!!

 

[chrissyr]

UCD released this months CAHFS report. There was an interesting case int there. Notice that a flock of pullets that had been vaccinated for mareks had mareks kill a lot of the flock:

I talked to the vet at the lab who said the vaccine hatcheries use is more efficient than what backyard owners get.
But even still , it's not to the effect that we imagine.
So is it a case of vaccine failure due to human error or is it just
that all mareks vaccines aren't very effective?
I thought you said Ron that it helps with symptoms but they can still get tumors.

 

[Sylvester017]

UCD released this months CAHFS report. There was an interesting case int there. Notice that a flock of pullets that had been vaccinated for mareks had mareks kill a lot of the flock:

Quote: Quote:
The whole issue about vaccines for chickens is so frustrating. Viruses mutate so a vaccine that worked once may not work a 2nd time. Now I understand from someone that there are at least 5 different strains of Marek's now so the Marek's vaccine doesn't guarantee a chicken won't contract the disease depending on what strain they're exposed to. Poor chickens have so many viruses that can hit them other than Marek's. Now we have AI to worry about again. Seems to be a wave of some malady every few years! Every time I see a wild bird in the yard I wonder "Is THAT the wildlife that's carrying AI or worms or lice into my backyard?"

 

[ronott1]

I talked to the vet at the lab who said the vaccine hatcheries use is more efficient than what backyard owners get.
But even still , it's not to the effect that we imagine.
So is it a case of vaccine failure due to human error or is it just
that all mareks vaccines aren't very effective?
I thought you said Ron that it helps with symptoms but they can still get tumors.

The vaccine that we can use is a live vaccine--it gives the chicks a mild case of mareks to help them build resistance. The hatcheries get a dead vaccine which is based on the strain that is most destructive.

From what I have read, the vaccine will lower mareks cancer by about 3% so instead of 6% of two year old hens dying of cancer, 3% die of cancer. Either way, a home flock will have hens die of cancer.

The whole issue about vaccines for chickens is so frustrating. Viruses mutate so a vaccine that worked once may not work a 2nd time. Now I understand from someone that there are at least 5 different strains of Marek's now so the Marek's vaccine doesn't guarantee a chicken won't contract the disease depending on what strain they're exposed to. Poor chickens have so many viruses that can hit them other than Marek's. Now we have AI to worry about again. Seems to be a wave of some malady every few years! Every time I see a wild bird in the yard I wonder "Is THAT the wildlife that's carrying AI or worms or lice into my backyard?"

The best we can do is keep our flock healthy and try to use resistant breeds and lines.

Chickens just die sometimes and they are not particularly long lived.

 

[chiqita]

Well, Maraks is more like HIV in terms of mutations . There ARE different types, but not radically different ( like MG, which can be so mild you don't notice to deadly) But for it to even have a CHANCE of working, the chicks have to remain unexposed to any type for 2 weeks. That is much much tougher then you would think!

 

[fowlman01]

Mareks is airborne, so it is virtually everywhere. Best prevention is to have resistant birds. Vaccinating helps for the moment but not in the long run.

Walt

 

[casportpony]

From the March CAHFS newsletter:


-Kathy

Edited - OOps, I see it was already posted.

 

[PetRock]

From the March CAHFS newsletter:


-Kathy

Edited - OOps, I see it was already posted.

I want to point out that this report says Merek's was the "probable" underlying factor. I had a report come back last fall that said that the condition of the bird was suggestive of Merek's. I culled 3 large Langshan cockerels due to one or two hock joints going out. The results for the one that I sent in to Davis came back suggestive of Merek's. He had no internal signs of Merek's. There have been no problems since then and no signs of Merek's in any of my flocks. (I do not vaccinate for it.) Does anyone know if they actually test the blood or tissue for Merek's or just give a probable diagnosis based on the case history and what they actually find when doing the necropsy? The wording that they use in some reports that I've seen makes me wonder if the diagnosis of Merek's is not definite but their best educated guess.

 

[Audio51]

Quote:
The one I sent in stated as follows:

Marek's disease presumptive;
- Lymphoid neoplasia disseminated in the liver, lung, spleen, proventriculus, peripheral

Neoplastic disease consistent with lymphoproliferative diseases of chickens is noted as the cause of the demise. The age and
clinical signs are most consistent with Marek's disease, microscopic exam is pending.
There are ascarid parasites found in the intestines in small numbers, most likely incidental. Influenza and salmonellosis testing
are also pending for health check.