Five-month old Australorp suddenly lame. Update: Now another pullet going lame!

[azygous]

Still waiting on the pathology report.

 

[azygous]

Just got through with a long conversation with Dr Niles. The short of it is, it's leaning toward being the leucosis virus.

The long story is June was a mess. She had tumors on organs, she had salpingitis, she had an inflamed brain, she had an inflamed shell gland, fat deposits everywhere unlike the first pullet Jules who had no fatty deposits or tumors I could see.

But Jules may have had mostly her brain affected by lymphoma as did June. The brain cancer likely was responsible for the lameness.

We discussed the puzzling occurrence and remission of symptoms, especially May's amazing recovery. This is not how things usually go. A bird gets symptomatic and goes pretty much down the chute to acute illness in a pretty steady fashion.

Dr Niles is curious as am I about this facet of this disorder. He's going to converse with the pathologists to see if they can' tweak their lab tests to come up with something more definitive. Maybe by Friday we will have more information to hang our hats on.

As it stands, it may be Marek's, but it's more likely lymphoid leucosis.

 

[Kiki]

Just got through with a long conversation with Dr Niles. The short of it is, it's leaning toward being the leucosis virus.

The long story is June was a mess. She had tumors on organs, she had salpingitis, she had an inflamed brain, she had an inflamed shell gland, fat deposits everywhere unlike the first pullet Jules who had no fatty deposits or tumors I could see.

But Jules may have had mostly her brain affected by lymphoma as did June. The brain cancer likely was responsible for the lameness.

We discussed the puzzling occurrence and remission of symptoms, especially May's amazing recovery. This is not how things usually go. A bird gets symptomatic and goes pretty much down the chute to acute illness in a pretty steady fashion.

Dr Niles is curious as am I about this facet of this disorder. He's going to converse with the pathologists to see if they can' tweak their lab tests to come up with something more definitive. Maybe by Friday we will have more information to hang our hats on.

As it stands, it may be Marek's, but it's more likely lymphoid leucosis.

What do you feed your birds?

 

[ZedikerStation]

Just got through with a long conversation with Dr Niles. The short of it is, it's leaning toward being the leucosis virus.

The long story is June was a mess. She had tumors on organs, she had salpingitis, she had an inflamed brain, she had an inflamed shell gland, fat deposits everywhere unlike the first pullet Jules who had no fatty deposits or tumors I could see.

But Jules may have had mostly her brain affected by lymphoma as did June. The brain cancer likely was responsible for the lameness.

We discussed the puzzling occurrence and remission of symptoms, especially May's amazing recovery. This is not how things usually go. A bird gets symptomatic and goes pretty much down the chute to acute illness in a pretty steady fashion.

Dr Niles is curious as am I about this facet of this disorder. He's going to converse with the pathologists to see if they can' tweak their lab tests to come up with something more definitive. Maybe by Friday we will have more information to hang our hats on.

As it stands, it may be Marek's, but it's more likely lymphoid leucosis.

Will Lymphoid Leucosis stay on the property, or can it be eliminated? (If this is even how it is transmitted)

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

Glad to know you had opportunity to discuss Jules' and May's cases with Dr. Niles too. Based on what you now know, do you think it was pure coincidence that June's lameness APPEARed to reverse twice with tylan treatment? Also, you had previously mentioned a nerve in the thigh that if inflamed would signal Mareks. Findings showed no nerve issues in legs at all? Do you now think ALL 3 pullet's lameness issues were due to brain involvement, not peripheral neuropathy? Good to know he is going to dig deeper; you definitely presented him with a perplexing case.

 

[azygous]

The leucosis virus is not long lived in the environment as is Marek's, which lasts from several months to several years in the soil.

While similar in symptoms, both cause tumors, chickens can develop resistance to leucosis. Most of my flock has developed resistance. Many of my chickens have lived long lives, and currently I have hens in the nine to thirteen year age group.

As far as contagiousness, both are very contagious, passed through dander in the air, feces, sexual activity, and contact with the soil. Leucosis is passed from the hen to chicks via the egg where Marek's does not. Yet, probably Marek's is the worse of the two overall.

You don't want either in your flock. To prevent it, don't wear the same footwear in your run and coop that you wear when shopping at the feed store as these viruses can be brought home on the soles of your shoes.

 

[azygous]

Thanks for bringing up the nerve in the thigh. No. That nerve was not enlarged. It's not conclusively not Marek's, but it pushes the diagnosis over into the leucosis column.

The Tylan may have worked on secondary infections to relieve certain symptoms.

 

[azygous]

Here's the necropsy report for those who wish to suffer through such things.



CSU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory – Rocky Ford Branch CO
Phone: (719) 254-6382 Fax: (719) 254-6055





Report Date: 4/15/2021 1:01:54 PM Sent By: Allison Watson





Case Coordinator: Allison M. Watson, DVM, DACVP



Associated Parties

Animal Information

Taxonomy Count

Avian 1

Diagnosis/Case Summary

DIAGNOSIS(ES):



Accession No:

Date Received:

Owner: Owner/Producer:

Phone: Email:



R21-0032514 4/9/2021




Preliminary Report

University Rocky Ford Diagnostic Lab Submitter

Report To Rocky Ford Diagnostic Laboratory Dr. Gene Niles

1. Heart, brain, spleen: Suspect lymphoproliferative disease, Marek's or avian leukosis (please see "remarks").
2. Oviduct: Moderate granulomatous and heterophilic salpingitis with yolk coelomitis.
3. Crop and proventriculus: Mild lymphoid follicular ingluvitis and gastritis.

REMARKS:

Although mild and present in few organs, proliferation of round cells resembling lymphocytes in the heart, brain, and spleen, are suggestive of either Marek's disease or Avian leukosis. The kidney and sciatic nerves are apparently normal with no evidence of inflammation or lymphoid proliferation. Inflammation was also present within the oviduct with abundant yolk material surrounding the oviduct and within the omentum surrounding the intestine sections. Egg yolk coelomitis may have also contributed to clinical decline and death.

HISTOPATHOLOGY:

Slide 1.
Lung: Vasculature is diffusely congested.

Spleen: Lymphoid follicles are mildly hyperplastic and coalesce.

Oviduct: The lumen is filled with abundant yolk material. Yolk lines the serosa outside of the lumen and is surrounded by epithelioid macrophages and scattered heterophil's.

Accession Number: R21-0032514 Preliminary (4/15/2021 1:01 PM) Page 1 of 3







Kidney: No apparent microscopic abnormalities





Peripheral nerve: no apparent microscopic abnormalities

Trachea: No apparent microscopic abnormalities

Slide 2.
Liver: Rare multifocal aggregates of extra medullary hematopoiesis expanding the parenchyma.

Heart: The epicardium: Scattered small lymphocytes and intermediate sized lymphocytes expand the epicardium focally. The myocardium is expanded by aggregates of adipose.

Kidney and liver: No apparent microscopic abnormalities

Slide 3.
Ventriculus and proventriculus: There are scattered follicular aggregates of small lymphocytes within the deep mucosa. Mild numbers of heterophil's separate lymphocytes.

Crop/esophagus: Minimally to mildly increased numbers of lymphocytes, plasma cells, and few heterophil's are within the lamina propria.

Intestine: Within the surrounding omentum and mesentery, abundant yolk material surrounded by scattered macrophages and fewer heterophil's separate adipocytes.

Slide 4.
Sciatic nerves: No apparent microscopic abnormalities.

Brain: Multifocal vessels are surrounded by variable layers of pleomorphic lymphocytes.

Allison M. Watson, DVM, DACVP

This report was generated with dictation software. Minor typographical and grammatical errors can occur and may be confusing or misleading. Please call if you have any questions.

Pending Tests

Test/Panel Pending UnReviewed





Avian Diagnostics Necropsy and histo - poultry 1



0

Date Sent

4/15/2021 1:01 PM





(To be Performed at FC)

Client Report History

Report Type Delivery Method

Preliminary Email



Sent To






Accession Number: R21-0032514


Preliminary (4/15/2021 1:01 PM)



Page 2 of 3







Bulletin(s)

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-Thank you for choosing CSU for your diagnostic services. If you have any questions about test interpretation, we are happy to provide assistance. Please consult a licensed veterinarian regarding treatment options and management decisions.





Accession Number: R21-0032514 Preliminary (4/15/2021 1:01 PM) Page 3 of 3

 

[azygous]

My birds are fed fermented Purina Flock Raiser.

 

[HiEverybirdy]

It's validating that the doctor finds this worthy of deeper research.

Hearing how bad off June was makes it extra meaningful she held on long enough to shine her light on what's been going on.