EYE INFECTION - It's Not Always Mycoplasma - UPDATE w pics!

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I agree with Kathy that getting her tested for MG would be beneficial for you to know whether or not she or the other birds could be carriers. Since she started out with bruising around the eye, it could be an injury. Call your state vet and ask how to go about getting tested. The steroid eye drops may be expensive since most any eye drops are just outrageously priced, but they could help her. I also wouldn't worry about what medicines the vet gives, because almost any drug has an egg withdrawal time. If it turns out to be mycoplasma, the organism can only survive in the environment (on feeders, waterers, on your shoes, clothes, in the soil) for only 3 days maximum. So if you just do a thorough cleaning and disinfection of equipment, you will be free of it. Then I would wait a few weeks for good measure. Here is a link to read about that:
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps034
http://umaine.edu/livestock/poultry/mycoplasma-gallisepticum-faq/
 
@casportpony , now that you mention it, I find it odd she didn't suggest a blood test. She tried prying the poor bird's eye open for forty five minutes with no luck (I was squirming as bad as the chicken, poor thing), and pretty much had a conversation about the worst case scenario. I have a call in to the USDA testing center... I am waiting on a call from Dr. Stanley VanHousen (sp?) to give and get more information on what to potentially do next. I absolutely DO want a positive diagnosis before I put the axe to any chickens, so to speak.

If a test does come back positive, there is some hope that we quarantined her quickly enough that it didn't spread, though I understand this is unlikely.

I had a nice conversation with the woman from who I got the pullets, and she said that she had mycoplasma that wiped out 250 of her birds about a year ago, but after doing some due diligence, she reported no recurrence of the infection.

I also conversated with the breeder where my four big birds came from... They were vaccinated. I almost CRIED with relief. At least they have some protection (I'm unfamiliar with this, so I don't know if it gives total immunity or not). She's been breeding for MANY years and has seen her fair share of chicken ordeals... She recommended I isolate the sick bird (which I've done), treat the rest with Tylan shots, and wait and see.

Again, I'd like to stress that this might NOT be mycoplasma... But it appears likely from my vet's visual diagnosis. She couldn't find anything else wrong with her, nor were there any wheezes or coughs that she heard. It could be that she got pecked. I will do my best to get a current picture up for you tonight, so you can see where we are as of today.

We will hope for the best case.

MrsB
 
UC Davis has a respiratory panel that they do and it checks for MS, MG and a few other things. Cost for CA residents is about $9, and I think I read somewhere that the fees for out of state folks is twice what it is for residents.



-Kathy
 
@Eggcessive , after speaking to the breeder, I have calmed down quite a bit. She said that, since the bird exhibits ZERO respiratory distress, that (unless the disease progresses), it doesn't sound like mycoplasma... It sounds more like an irritated injury, as you said.

If my vet didn't draw blood, immediately jumped to the conclusion of mycoplasma, and started talking to me as if I should prepare to destroy my whole flock, well... I feel some steps were missed here. :\

I believe my vet was fresh out of med school.

MrsB
 
I'd also like to add that upon further reading, it appears that mycoplasma is a "reportable" disease. So if they sent blood off to be tested, and it came back positive, the Big Brother of poultry could fly in and destroy my whole flock (including the vaccinated ones).

So perhaps my quick assessment of my "fresh" vet is unfair. It's possible she's trying to save me the grief and let me deal with it on my own.

Unknown at this point, but I will return with updates and a picture.

MrsB
 
MrsBrooke said:
I'd also like to add that upon further reading, it appears that mycoplasma is a "reportable" disease. So if they sent blood off to be tested, and it came back positive, the Big Brother of poultry could fly in and destroy my whole flock (including the vaccinated ones).

So perhaps my quick assessment of my "fresh" vet is unfair. It's possible she's trying to save me the grief and let me deal with it on my own.

Unknown at this point, but I will return with updates and a picture.

MrsB
Click to expand...
I don't think any states cull for mycoplasma. Here in CA it's reportable, but they just monitor it. They may suggest culling, but I don't think they come kill your flock.

-Kathy
 

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