Help!! Marek's Disease??

[Frizzlefraz]

Interesting about the silver stuff. I got an autopsy done on my chicken showing some symptoms and the vet informed me yesterday that it was indeed Mareks that she had. He found tumours all through her body. So now I'm trying to track down vaccine for my day olds so I can continue selling them.

 

[Nambroth]

Interesting about the silver stuff. I got an autopsy done on my chicken showing some symptoms and the vet informed me yesterday that it was indeed Mareks that she had. He found tumours all through her body. So now I'm trying to track down vaccine for my day olds so I can continue selling them.

Please be aware that the vaccine does not keep them from getting Marek's. It only gives them a chance to build resistance to the deadly tumors. They still get and can shed the virus once exposed. You can assume that the virus in on your property and in your flock now. If you sell birds you are almost guaranteed to spread the virus to others. Some keepers might not mind but others might....
It would be very sad to spread it to an unexposed flock.

 

[seminolewind]

Yea, I hatched eggs and ended up with 7 total rooster that I keep because of Marek's. So , I can't hatch anymore, I love roos but each one requires a separate pen.

 

[Nambroth]

Yea, I hatched eggs and ended up with 7 total rooster that I keep because of Marek's.  So , I can't hatch anymore, I love roos but each one requires a separate pen.

That is my problem too... I'd love to hatch someday but what to do with extra roos? I can't give them away and I know I wouldn't have the heart to process them as they would be sweet Cochin boys. Can't afford to build new pens either.... So no hatching for me.

 

[ChickCrazed]

Not sure if anyone is watching this thread any longer but I would like some advice from the pros. About a month ago I had a 14 week old cockerel lose most of the mobility in one leg and had weakness in the other. I tried nursing him for about 3 weeks. The Paralysis seemed overnight, not progressive and never got worse. I tried vitamin therapy, had him separated and in a sling in a hospital suite. He gradually stopped eating and I had him put down. I sent him for a necropsy about a week ago to Purdue University. They opened him up last Friday, no tumors and no lesions. I am STILL waiting on a final report and they won't give me a definitive answer but the student I talked to when I called yesterday said she suspected Mareks but told me there was no real "test" for Mareks (which is false since there is a blood test that I don't think they've done). I am still waiting on a call back from a doctor with more experience and am hoping for a better report. i just wanted to find out what the pros think. My cockerel had no tumors and no lesions, his paralysis was sudden but only partial and he had strength and movement in both legs all along. No pupil or eye changes. No bright green poop. I am not sure I am satisfied with branding him with the scarlett "M" with so little evidence and worry they are just giving the easy diagnosis.

24 of my 30 remaining birds are in the "danger age" of being very susceptible to Marek's and I am terrified for them. But no one else has shown any symptoms. It has been a bit over a month since my cockerel started having the paralysis, shouldn't I have seen another bird with symptoms by now?

Most of my birds have not been vaccinated, so I am looking into doing so now. Better late than never if it could help. I am curious about the Turkey thing as well. Would getting a couple turkey hens help? I have been interested in them anyway and if it could help build some sort of natural immunity in my birds I am really interested in that concept.

Sorry, not much POINT to my post, just frustrated and scared and looking for some support and insight into my situation!

 

[Nambroth]

Hi! I am not a pro, but I am a weirdo that has researched into Marek's quite a bit. I have it in my flock.

My first rooster that tested positive for Marek's (genetic markers via PCR test) did have the tumors, but no lesions. Even under microscope, his nerves did not show the typical Marek's lesions. And he did have total leg paralysis on his final days.

My second rooster is still alive, so he has not been internally examined. He came back as negative on the PCR test (I am investigating if it's possible to get a false negative via blood PCR- I don't know for sure). He had a very typical case of "Marek's" leg paralysis and eventually over the period of months, got better enough that he can walk around. He's not 100% but he can live a normal chicken life again. We still do not know what caused it.

So, to answer your question... it is possible it was Marek's even without the leisons or tumors. Did they find any of the organs to be abnormal (even if not tumors were present)?

That said, unless you see symptoms in your other birds (and/or get a PCR test result back.. they can send tissue samples by the way, it does not have to be blood), it might be important to investigate other causes. In my signature I have a link to my Marek's FAQ, and there is a section on other diseases that look like Marek's. You might want to read through and see if anything seems to 'fit'. If nothing else, it can prepare you in case you see one of your other birds acting off.

 

[ChickCrazed]

Hi! I am not a pro, but I am a weirdo that has researched into Marek's quite a bit. I have it in my flock.

My first rooster that tested positive for Marek's (genetic markers via PCR test) did have the tumors, but no lesions. Even under microscope, his nerves did not show the typical Marek's lesions. And he did have total leg paralysis on his final days.

My second rooster is still alive, so he has not been internally examined. He came back as negative on the PCR test (I am investigating if it's possible to get a false negative via blood PCR- I don't know for sure). He had a very typical case of "Marek's" leg paralysis and eventually over the period of months, got better enough that he can walk around. He's not 100% but he can live a normal chicken life again. We still do not know what caused it.

So, to answer your question... it is possible it was Marek's even without the leisons or tumors. Did they find any of the organs to be abnormal (even if not tumors were present)?

That said, unless you see symptoms in your other birds (and/or get a PCR test result back.. they can send tissue samples by the way, it does not have to be blood), it might be important to investigate other causes. In my signature I have a link to my Marek's FAQ, and there is a section on other diseases that look like Marek's. You might want to read through and see if anything seems to 'fit'. If nothing else, it can prepare you in case you see one of your other birds acting off.

Thanks! I've been combing these threads and the internet for information. I read through your whole article a couple of times this week (and this morning again) to educate myself. To me the only symptom my bird had was the paralysis, and I thought that the marek's tumors and/or lesions CAUSED that paralysis, so I am stupified as to how Purdue is saying mareks caused the paralysis without tumors or lesions. I don't believe they have run a PCR, but their communication has been so poor maybe they have and just didn't tell me. They said his organs looked fine, the only thing they mentioned from the physical exam was that a couple of nerves looked very slightly bigger than expected, but since it was symmetrical on both sides she said it could just be him or his breed (he was a Bielefelder and they are very big birds). I appreciate your response and all the research you have posted. I will continue to look for signs in my other birds and continue to harass Purdue for SOMETHING.

 

[Nambroth]

Thanks! I've been combing these threads and the internet for information. I read through your whole article a couple of times this week (and this morning again) to educate myself. To me the only symptom my bird had was the paralysis, and I thought that the marek's tumors and/or lesions CAUSED that paralysis, so I am stupified as to how Purdue is saying mareks caused the paralysis without tumors or lesions. I don't believe they have run a PCR, but their communication has been so poor maybe they have and just didn't tell me. They said his organs looked fine, the only thing they mentioned from the physical exam was that a couple of nerves looked very slightly bigger than expected, but since it was symmetrical on both sides she said it could just be him or his breed (he was a Bielefelder and they are very big birds). I appreciate your response and all the research you have posted. I will continue to look for signs in my other birds and continue to harass Purdue for SOMETHING.

I was also confused about the lack of visible lesions on my Marek's confirmed rooster, especially on the sciatic nerve, but he was definitely paralyzed in his legs, so that plus my reading suggests that the presence or lack of neural lesions by itself can not be an accurate diagnostic for Marek's disease. I guess not all birds that succumb present the lesions, or at least not in the sections sampled for exam. The nervous system of animals is actually fairly delicate, and even small changes can have serious impacts, so while you are correct that the lesions cause the paralysis, it is possible that they are either not large enough to be found with an exam, or the nerve itself is damaged in another more subtle way. My rooster's sciatic nerves were also larger than expected, but he was also a very, very large bird (he was the biggest cochin I'd ever seen).

I know that this presents more questions than it answers. I know your frustration! I'm sorry.

 

[seminolewind]

No pros here. But I have the same beliefs as Nambroth. In the nerves, sometimes you just see an enlarged nerve, not an actual tumor on it. I recently had a chicken who was 6 years old , and a super suspected Marek's flock. She had a pcr that came back negative. Which I don't understand. I believe she had some lesions internally. She was positive for Aspergillosis.

 

[ChickCrazed]

No pros here. But I have the same beliefs as Nambroth. In the nerves, sometimes you just see an enlarged nerve, not an actual tumor on it. I recently had a chicken who was 6 years old , and a super suspected Marek's flock. She had a pcr that came back negative. Which I don't understand. I believe she had some lesions internally. She was positive for Aspergillosis.

I asked Purdue to look into sending a sample to Texas A&M for a PCR. They said they don't do PCRs at Purdue.... My luck they didn't keep the samples necessary to send out. I feel like I am the one that is the expert suggesting this stuff, the doctor at Purdue didn't even know Texas A&M was an option and I feel she should have been the one mentioning it to me. She also seemed irritated that I keep calling wanting an answer. This is a pretty serious disease and it has been a week already. I just want to know one way or the other for sure and the PCR seems the best way to get a diagnosis. We will see if it is possible at this point. I definitely feel like I wasted my money on this necropsy and would not recommend Purdue to anyone. Ship your birds ANYWHERE else.