Graphic neropsy picture. Update: Coccidiosis is BACK!! HELP!!

[SeramaLife]

I had two chicks, ages 11 weeks. One was a Serama, the other is a huge mixed breed. I noticed Saturday that they weren't as hyper as they normally are. I held them Monday and they were thin and listless with fluffed feathers. I found the Serama dead an hour ago, with the mixed breed chick still trying to snuggle it. I got some new chickens Thursday. They were accidentally exposed to the two chicks in question. Is it possible for the new ones not to show any symptoms? What can I look for in the remaining chick? I have the poor little Serama (one of my favorites) in the fridge. Do I need to do a necropsy?
They lived on pine shavings. They ate medicated chick starter for the most part, although they have eaten layer feed for the past 5 days,because we were out.
If it is Mareks, how can I contain it? These two have had possible exposure to other chickens. We have a flock of about 100. No symptoms elsewhere yet. HELP!!!!

 

[chickenlady]

What symptoms did you notice that you are saying its mareks? no one here can positively identify what killed your birds. A necropsy would be your best bet. In such a young bird it could have been cocci, worms, fungus/mold, mareks and I'm sure there are others. Sorry you are having troubles. Best of luck with the rest.

 

[SeramaLife]

I will be doing a necropsy today. What exactly do I look for?

 

[SeramaLife]

I did it. Pictures:

Normal?

Closeup of the gizzard. This doesn't look right to me. Of course, I don't know much.

Either the small or large intestines. Are they supposed to be brown?

Lungs. They got a bit bloody after we poked and prodded and finally gave up at getting them out.

Inside of crop. It was empty.

Intestines, heart, gizzard, liver(with normal gallbladder on it) and a spleen?

Sciatic nerves, accidentally partially cut. Same size, color, and shape. Now I am assuming it is not Mareks.

Thumb is pointing to unknown organ.

Help!?

 

[speckledhen]

I can't really help you with this one, but I did find this:

The sciatic nerve located on the interior upper thigh (located under muscle) should be exposed on both legs. The nerves should be the same size bilaterally with no swellings. Enlargement of this nerve can be an indication of Marek's disease

No idea what it looks like, though. Also found this article about diagnosing Mareks:
http://medycynawet.edu.pl/pdf2009/022009/20090200990101.pdf

When you do a necropsy looking for a certain thing, you need to know what an organ will look like when a bird has this or that disease. For that, you need pics of the right things and I only know the stuff associated with the oviducts in order to check for egg peritonitis/internal laying. Wish the veterinarians that I know are members here would help with this one.​

 

[SeramaLife]

Quote:
No idea what it looks like, though. Also found this article about diagnosing Mareks:
http://medycynawet.edu.pl/pdf2009/022009/20090200990101.pdf

When you do a necropsy looking for a certain thing, you need to know what an organ will look like when a bird has this or that disease. For that, you need pics of the right things and I only know the stuff associated with the oviducts in order to check for egg peritonitis/internal laying. Wish the veterinarians that I know are members here would help with this one.

That quote is from the guide I used to do this necropsy. I found further information confirming that this is not Mareks. Whoohoo!

 

[Rocky Top Chick]

Would the layer feed at 11 weeks hurt a chicken? Even at just for five days?

 

[chickenzoo]

Most of the time when mine get thin & fluffed up it is coccidia...............

 

[Margot]

What is the symptoms of coddidia? I had a roo that became lack luster, fluffed up, off feed, oomb and waddles pale. I wormed him...still the same. Gave him some baby vitanins and he coughed. In the am when I went out he was dead..there were little flecks of blood amoutn 1/2 to 1 in long around on the inside of cage. Almost like he was caughing blood. Total time from slow down to death 8 days.

Any idea what could have happened? No of the others who he ran with showsed any signs.

Thanks

Margot

 

[speckledhen]

Coughing blood sounds like Infectious Laryngotracheitis (ILT), a very serious disease. If you put this on a separate thread, Margot, you may have more answers.