I wish I knew.. DO YOU KNOW?

[orrpeople]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/mareks-testing-in-living-birds.1206105/

What do you all think?
@duluthralphie @casportpony @microchick @rebrascora
I'm still skeptical. And wondering about its usefulness...

 

[Engine823]

I called and expressed my doubt to regarding testing for Marek's on a live chicken and they assured me that it is possible. With that said, they were happy to explain it to me and to be honest it was all foreign to me

Her test came back negative for what it's worth.

It was a stretch, I am nursing a 3 year old sick hen that has been in the house for 8 weeks, got better and took turn for the worse and has now become weak and very unsteady on her feet. After I first brought her in I seen one worm and treated right away!

I took her to see a avian vet and he ruled out parasites, worms, not egg bound vent is good. He took x-rays and there was a tiny shadow below her ovaries. He said he normally finds much larger tumors in avian reproductive issues however, he quoted it was very "small". To me, it appeared to be her unused ovary . $300 later, we went home with Loxicom for inflammation and pain (today marks 5th day on it and no sign of improvement) I asked for a ANTIBIOTIC he said he didn't feel anything was presenting itself to justify a antibiotic.. This coming from the same vet that over a year ago had a casual conversation with me about being anti-antibiotic in backyard chickens because of the "superbug" I respect that however, she is NOT a meat bird she is my PET

Everything has been removed off the shelves the last 2 years that actually works and is worth anything to treat them without a prescription. After a $300 bill and the stress if caused traveling with her to and from the vet, I can't afford to find another vet and only hope they will actually truly try to TREAT HER!!!

I'm so sorry. I just went through the same thing with my hen Emily. I ended up having to put her down. I had a necropsy done and they confirmed either Marecks or Avian Leukosis

 

[microchick]

I posted on the link's site but I'll just add here that I share your skepticism also @orrpeople. Plus the 100$ is cost prohibitive for most small flock owners not to mention people having access to the type of blood collection equipment and centrifuge needed to prepare the blood/plasma sample.

This smacks of a new technology to me and new technology usually has a few bugs in it to be worked out.....both result wise and cost wise, especially when many labs/veterinarians charge less than that for a necropsy.

It is sortakinda developing a test to see if humans have been exposed to the herpes simplex virus that causes cold sores. Most of us have but not everyone develops cold sores.

And as @Engine823 just pointed out, their results was Marek's or AL. They mimic one another so closely except I think AL doesn't end with the victim developing tumors..please somebody correct me if I'm wrong here. It's late and my brain is already tucked in for the night. Is the test guaranteed not to report a AL case for a Marek's and vise versa?

 

[Sunshine Flock]

This is such an interesting discussion.

Is there a way to add Merek's as the first word in the title?

"Merek's: I wish I knew . . . DO YOU KNOW?"

 

[orrpeople]

This is such an interesting discussion.

Is there a way to add Merek's as the first word in the title?

"Merek's: I wish I knew . . . DO YOU KNOW?"

I'm not sure if the OP can change the title, but they can tag it so that when folks search for Marek's, this thread pops up. Although, this thread should pop up anyway because practically every post has the word in it... @mquadem - what do you think?

 

[Engine823]

I posted on the link's site but I'll just add here that I share your skepticism also @orrpeople. Plus the 100$ is cost prohibitive for most small flock owners not to mention people having access to the type of blood collection equipment and centrifuge needed to prepare the blood/plasma sample.

This smacks of a new technology to me and new technology usually has a few bugs in it to be worked out.....both result wise and cost wise, especially when many labs/veterinarians charge less than that for a necropsy.

It is sortakinda developing a test to see if humans have been exposed to the herpes simplex virus that causes cold sores. Most of us have but not everyone develops cold sores.

And as @Engine823 just pointed out, their results was Marek's or AL. They mimic one another so closely except I think AL doesn't end with the victim developing tumors..please somebody correct me if I'm wrong here. It's late and my brain is already tucked in for the night. Is the test guaranteed not to report a AL case for a Marek's and vise versa?

Actually the vet called me after the diagnostic results were in and said in his medical opinion it was more likely Avian Leukosis because she had a large external tumor as well as smaller tumors in her lungs, spleen, etc....
But you are correct, even that was his opinion. There was no way for them to distinguish between the two even with a Necropsy