Help with Mycoplasma treatment + unusual case

[ChickenClaw03]

Hi,

I have a complicated case of illness in a 4 year old Barnevelder named Queenie, who is a beloved pet. Unfortunately, when I brought her years ago she was sick with mycoplasma. I didn’t know much about the virus, all I knew is that the person who I brought her from had healed her, so I assumed there wouldn’t be problems.

Now she’s my complex case who has been diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma on the side of her beak, who has been miraculously living for a year since diagnosis!

The problem now is that I believe signs of mycoplasma have returned since she has a weakened immune response. She’s currently on antibiotics (amoxicillin) for secondary infections from the carcinoma, however, I’m unsure if this will help with the mycoplasma.



If you are concerned I can assure you that she is still active, eating, drinking and engaging with other flock members, which is why she hasn’t been put to sleep at this stage.

 

[dawg53]

Mycoplasma is a bacteria, not a virus. Once chickens are infected with Mycoplasma Gallisepticum (MG), they remain carriers for life if they survive the disease. It means that they can spread the disease to other birds and can cause flare ups in the carrier bird as well.
MG can be treated with antibiotics including amoxicillin IF the bird hasnt built resistance to the antibiotic.
If the amoxicillin doesnt treat the MG, I recommend using Denagard also known as Tiagard.
https://farmpertise.com/denagard-chickens/

 

[ChickenClaw03]

Mycoplasma is a bacteria, not a virus. Once chickens are infected with Mycoplasma Gallisepticum (MG), they remain carriers for life if they survive the disease. It means that they can spread the disease to other birds and can cause flare ups in the carrier bird as well.
MG can be treated with antibiotics including amoxicillin IF the bird hasnt built resistance to the antibiotic.
If the amoxicillin doesnt treat the MG, I recommend using Denagard also known as Tiagard.
https://farmpertise.com/denagard-chickens/

Thanks for the reply,

She’s definitely been a carrier since I brought her. Poor thing, I wish I knew back then. I’ll look into the Denagard just in case.

 

[Eggcessive]

MG is a chronic infection that remains alive in the whole flock for the life of all birds until the last one is gone. When all of this flock eventually die off, you can start all over with healthy chicks from a hatchery. MG only remains alive in the environment for several days once the chickens are gone. Mycoplasma lacks a cell wall, so amoxicillin is not a good choice as an antibiotic in treating it. Tylosin, Tiamulin (Denagard or Tiagard), or tetracyclines are the ones more effective against the mycoplasma organism. Here is an article to read:
https://extension.psu.edu/avian-mycoplasmosis

 

[Poultrybonkers]

There’s no cure for mg meds only hide the symptoms until stress brings it back out.

 

[Eggcessive]

There’s no cure for mg meds only hide the symptoms until stress brings it back out.

Yes, it is incurable and remains in the survivors for life. But symptoms can go away with some antibiotics, although symptoms can come back again, and they remain carriers. It is best to close the flocks to birds leaving the flock for the remainder of life.

 

[Poultrybonkers]

Yes, it is incurable and remains in the survivors for life. But symptoms can go away with some antibiotics, although symptoms can come back again, and they remain carriers. It is best to close the flocks to birds leaving the flock for the remainder of life.

I’d personally cull them. Because what’s stoping them from going in their coop then going to the store in the shoes they wore in their coop…. And meds hides the symptoms until stress brings it back out so it never actually goes away.