How does Mycoplasma spread?

[Nikitaa]

I've posted about this once or twice before and also looking into it a fair amount but I can't seem to get the answers I'm looking for. I was told;

Transmission: MG can be spread to offspring through the egg. Most commercial breeding flocks, however, are MG-free. Introduction of infected replacement birds can introduce the disease to MG-negative flocks. MG can also be spread by using MG-contaminated equipment.

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]I've 3 infected birds, they live in a totally different coop/run across the garden from my other birds. But if I touch the infected feeder, then the noninfected feeder, will that spread it? Can it get into my clothes and spread like that? Can it live on the ground where the infected birds might have walked? I would cull the last 3 infected birds but they were a gift from my uncle and my very first and the others in the coop all had symptoms but these 3 never did. So although I know they have it, they've never showed it (apparently pekins are hardyer breeds) so I decided to keep them. [/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Now I've decided to breed birds next year to sell, and I'm worried about this spreading and am thinking about culling the last 3 but I just want to know all the ways this can/cannot spread.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Thank you! [/FONT]

 

[speckledhen]

It spreads on your shoes, clothes, person and is airborne through the infected birds' respiration and sneezing/coughing, as well as on feeders and waterers (and can be passed through the egg to the chick)

There is no surefire way to be 100% sure you are not passing the germ since you cannot see it, so if you are going to breed to sell, best to cull the carriers, disinfect with a known poultry house disinfectant like TekTrol and start fresh.

 

[Nikitaa]

I didnt plan to breed until next year, so, I think I'll wait off on the culling. They arent showing symptoms and Im getting an egg a day from each of them near enough Thank you though!

 

[speckledhen]

I'd just do it months before you start up with your breeding projects. Good luck to you!

 

[Nikitaa]

Yeah, I want to make sure its all disinfected properly. Im just worried about the ground mostly and it living there and infecting new birds.

Thank you

 

[speckledhen]

When your birds are gone, heavily liming the ground can help destroy all sorts of organisms.

 

[buildingmyark]

Oxine is a great disinfectant too. Obviously, take care of your uninfected birds last. Myco can even live in your nose hairs for a short time, so be extra vigilant. Have a separate pair of shoes for each area.

 

[De Wet]

Oxine is a great disinfectant too. Obviously, take care of your uninfected birds last. Myco can even live in your nose hairs for a short time, so be extra vigilant. Have a separate pair of shoes for each area.

i agree treat your birds with oxine it will not help to cull the infected because the carrier can be healthy and walk with the desease i will say treat all your birds with oxine for 5 days. I have once a peacock with the desease and a turkey i treat it and my flock was clean. Sometimes birds will mygoplasma and you will not know it thats why to dose your birds(mine 2 times a year)

 

[NovaAman]

Oxine is a great disinfectant too. Obviously, take care of your uninfected birds last. Myco can even live in your nose hairs for a short time, so be extra vigilant. Have a separate pair of shoes for each area.

I would take care of the infected birds last. If you take care of them first, then not only should you require a complete clothing change, but a washing also. You can get some nifty medical shoe covers to put over your shoes prior to going into the infected area. Or, you could do like they do in food processing plants. A bleach water foot bath for you to stop and stand in with your muck boots before moving on. I am not sure bleach will kill myco, some one else would have to advise on the rinse.

If you are planning on breeding and do not want to cull, you could find a new home for the girls to a home WITH NO current flock. Let the perspective person know, and be preemptive and treat them with a round of tylan or denegard at the time of the move since stress will bring on the symptoms. This isn't the best choice though... Just an option. I personally would cull them at the end of this egg laying season, test ALL remaining birds, and cull as needed.

There is a young man here on BYC who has a thread about rebuilding his farm after MG. His user name is farmerboy... You may find it worth your while to check it out.

 

[buildingmyark]

I would take care of the infected birds last. If you take care of them first, then not only should you require a complete clothing change, but a washing also. You can get some nifty medical shoe covers to put over your shoes prior to going into the infected area. Or, you could do like they do in food processing plants. A bleach water foot bath for you to stop and stand in with your muck boots before moving on. I am not sure bleach will kill myco, some one else would have to advise on the rinse.
If you are planning on breeding and do not want to cull, you could find a new home for the girls to a home WITH NO current flock. Let the perspective person know, and be preemptive and treat them with a round of tylan or denegard at the time of the move since stress will bring on the symptoms. This isn't the best choice though... Just an option. I personally would cull them at the end of this egg laying season, test ALL remaining birds, and cull as needed.
There is a young man here on BYC who has a thread about rebuilding his farm after MG. His user name is farmerboy... You may find it worth your while to check it out.

You are so right. I got that totally backwards! Take care of the uninfected birds first.