Can Mareks autopsies be wrong?

[HuskerHens18]

Might be worth checking other labs. I think I remember
Reading that Maryland had affordable out of state necropsies.

Good to know, I'll look into that, thank you!

 

[jucat60]

I have about 45 chickens. I have a separate group of Plymouth Rock I had 5 young pullets 3 hens and 2 roosters. Two weeks ago one of my Plymouth Rock Pullets looked very unwell took her to vet who thought she had an injury she could feel her rib cage misaligned. The next day she died. Last week another one of the pullets started hobbling at times and standing alot not pecking, Went to another vet who thought it could be Mareks suggested that she be euthanized and have an autopsy. The result came back probable no bloods where taken that I know. There are no other chickens sick and the remaining 3 are really healthy. Could they have got it wrong?

I just got another report they did further tests and it came back as a rare neoplasm type of cancer not MAREKS no known cause just a very rare type of avian cancer that they had not seen before.

 

[rottlady]

Just for future FYI to all in the USA
Most states have some sort of a direct to farmer necropsy service that’s affordable
Here in nh it costs around $40-50 for a chicken necropsy through the state lab at unh

 

[Kiki]

I just got another report they did further tests and it came back as a rare neoplasm type of cancer not MAREKS no known cause just a very rare type of avian cancer that they had not seen before.

"Marek's disease of chickens was the first neoplasm proven to be caused by a herpesvirus and it remains the only neoplastic disease for which an effective vaccine has been developed and deployed."
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00071669208417439

 

[Kiki]

Just for future FYI to all in the USA
Most states have some sort of a direct to farmer necropsy service that’s affordable
Here in nh it costs around $40-50 for a chicken necropsy through the state lab at unh

Here is a list of each state's lab:
Necropsy and disease testing lab info

 

[orrpeople]

As for the question: how could they have gotten it? ( I realize you stated you don't have Marek's, but I will still answer that question just for information's sake.)
It is spread by chicken dander, or dander in or on anything (poop, feathers, clothing, hair, etc.)
*wild birds
*the wind
*poultry shows, fairs, etc.
* your local Tractor Supply, feed store, or anywhere anyone might track chicken poo.

Just to name a few...

A 30 day bio-security quarantine of new birds will most likely not identify the Marek's virus, as @rebrascora stated, it can remain dormant for the life span of the bird.

Our UC Davis Avian pathologists believe it is present in every flock to some degree or another.

 

[casportpony]

Just for future FYI to all in the USA
Most states have some sort of a direct to farmer necropsy service that’s affordable
Here in nh it costs around $40-50 for a chicken necropsy through the state lab at unh

Some people in the US have reported that their state labs do *not* accept submissions from non-veterinarians.

California does accept them. Fee is $20 for 1-2 and they will provide their FedEx account number which makes shipping affordable.

 

[casportpony]

Here is a list of each state's lab:
Necropsy and disease testing lab info

Kiki, how much does Texas charge for necropsies? I think AZ and or NM are something like $250 each.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Many if not most or all agricultural universities or Land Grant Colleges provide free or reduced cost necroposities to residences of that state.

Here try this link on for size.

https://nifa.usda.gov/land-grant-colleges-and-universities-partner-website-directory

 

[casportpony]

I just got another report they did further tests and it came back as a rare neoplasm type of cancer not MAREKS no known cause just a very rare type of avian cancer that they had not seen before.

That's good news. Do you think they would be willing to to forward the report to the pathologist I use at UC Davis? He's very interested in stuff like this (rare).