Have Mareks or Newcastle Disease- Now What?

[MROO]

Thank you, I will have one tested on Monday.

Good Move! Remember not to freeze the carcass. Just refrigerate it. And GOOD LUCK!

 

[ChelsisChooks]

Thank you so much everyone. The community here is amazing. I will keep you guys updated

 

[ChelsisChooks]

Ok so ... this morning Pearl (badly effected blue OE) seems completely normal. Walking fine. (She jumped out of the tub when I went to grab dish). Lifting head fine. Ate all her food (I left her a scrambled egg, fresh oregano and raspberries). The respiratory effected GLW are still a little wee bit crusty but they have not been off feed or poofed up and are mad about being isolated. I took pics with flash of the OE eye.

Only thing I can think of is that my dogs have found 2 dead robins this week and carried them home from same side of property as the barn. Botulism? But doesn’t account for respitory issue in GLW and that the other bird at the original owners is ill. But she said she tested the bird last night and her pupils shrink and dialate with light

 

[Eggcessive]

That is great news. Hopefully, the eye issue (irregular iris making the pupil look irregular) is just a red herring, but it might be ocular Mareks. Sometimes we see colobomas which look like a keyhole shaped pupil in birds, animal, and humans, and they can look like ocular Mareks. Occasionally, Mareks lameness can occur, only to completely disappear. Later the symptoms can return or tumors can develop. Hopefully, though, it was just a temporary condition, possibly from a head injury. Please keep us updated on how she is doing.

 

[Star Creek]

Thank you, I will have one tested on Monday.

X 1,000! Squared!

Egg-zacky. We can all arm chair quarterback the problem 'til the chickens come home to roost, but knowing what is wrong when there are multiple birds involved is another thing entirely. Necropsy by a lab is the only way to know for certain. The great thing about most government funded labs is they offer necropsy for non-commercial flocks for a pittance -- $20-25 in many cases. And most "non-commercial" classifications are flocks smaller than "thousands."

I'm no where near Southern California, oh so thankfully, but I have read reputable news reports that put the euthanasia numbers for the virulent Newcastle Disease outbreak there at more than 1,000,000 birds. That's not Facebook hyperbole. That's a lot of families who lost their flocks, their beloved pets. It's absolutely horrible no matter how you look at it. https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/animal_health/newcastle_disease_info.html

This case is probably just Marek's, or some non-vND respiratory, or something contagious but not highly virulent. I would always want to know for certain.

 

[ChelsisChooks]

(Given I keep my flock entirely closed for the next 2 months or so) would you guys cull her to test on Monday or wait and see if any other birds are effected or if any of her symptoms return? My question for the vet on Monday would be on the certainty of diagnoses (for Mareks or anything else) with necropsy ($25). Or do I call him out and have blood taken for 10 different birds and tested for numerous things ($250)
I also just found a starling nest above their coop.

 

[Star Creek]

Kudos, I think that's a super question for your vet !

 

[Folly's place]

Without functioning crystal balls, we can't diagnose your bird's problems, and a necropsy is your best plan. Money well spent! Here in Michigan, the state vet lab charges a price for up to six birds, which includes histopath, or anything the pathologist thinks is necessary. Compared to the cost and misery of an undiagnosed disaster, or the joy of finding out things ain't that bad, it's worth it!
Mary

 

[Eggcessive]

You said that she is fine today, so why cull her? I would watch her for awhile, and see what happens. Here is a hen with a coloboma, and this hen did not have Mareks.

Photo by Freedom Chick

 

[FowlWitch]

I think OP is in Canada...by skimming older posts.

Glad OP isn't in California. The last time I checked the CFDA website, they said there haven't been any new detections of nNCD since June 4th, which I'm hoping means the quaantine will be lifted by December!

Edit: Looks like I hit Capslock.... do I have to retype it all?

Edit 2: fixed it lol