LLV-Does anyone has it in their flock?

[EweSheep]

Like MG and Coryza, no one is really safe. Takes one wild bird to pass the junk on our birds! Even West Nile.

I wish there is more in depth information LLV and how BAD is it, even our best vets have the information but what about accuracy? No one really knows how many of us have LLV in our flocks and not know it until we get it tested.

I wish our university is in our town but alas, all of our tests would be sent to U of I in Champaign to diagnose the results. Cost alot for money and time to get it sent. That is why I am saving up for the tests on my other Spitz girls and my Welsummers will be next to be on the safe side.

 

[Andora]

Here is the tumor.

*shudder*

 

[allen wranch]

Wow, Andora,
I have never seen an external tumor like that.

LLV is kinda like MG. Most flocks have it, but MG does not pop up unless the birds are under stress by weather, move to new pen or owner, put in with a different group of birds, lack of food or water, etc. The birds are carriers, but do not always develop the disease. A few of my birds have shown MG symptoms over the years, but I treated them and never lost a bird.

The Avian Leukosis virus is in my Spitz, but none may ever show symptoms or develop tumors.

From the Merck Veterinary Manual
Avian leukosis occurs naturally only in chickens. Experimentally, some of the viruses of the leukosis/sarcoma group can infect and produce tumors in other species of birds or even mammals. The infection is known to exist in virtually all chicken flocks except for some SPF flocks from which it has been eradicated. The frequency of infection has been reduced substantially in the primary breeding stocks of several commercial poultry breeding companies. In recent years this control program has expanded, and infection has become infrequent or absent in certain commercial flocks. The frequency of avian leukosis tumors even in heavily infected flocks is typically low (<4%), and disease is often inapparent. Up to 1.5% excess mortality per wk has been reported in commercial broiler- breeder flocks naturally infected with subgroup J avian leukosis virus.

Unless your flocks have tested clean, you may all have LLV in some of your birds (besides Spitz).

LLV tests are least expensive and easiest with drawn blood. If a bird dies, a tissue sample of the tumor will diagnosis the disease. The test to request is Avian Leukosis Virus Tissue, Blood EDTA.

I would not get in a panic over LLV unless you are losing a lot of birds to the disease. If your birds are healthy, no problem except for passing the virus to the next generation.

I was concerned enough to find out about my flock, but now I wish I hadn't.​

 

[EweSheep]

Well I am not surprised to hear what Merck's vet book had to say but how many of us DO have it????? No one knows for sure and it would be costly to find out.

Might be a good thing if one is going NPIP to have that tested too in case.

 

[allen wranch]

Andora said:
How does this disease factor into being NPIP certified? If a certified clean hatchery sells Spitzhauben, that means they must not have the disease, right?

Although the NPIP has several classifications related to freedom from various diseases, the only required classification for NPIP plan participation is "US Pullorum-Typhoid Clean" You can request other certifications under NPIP such as AI, MG, MS clean, but LLV is not one of them.​

 

[EweSheep]

bummer but worthwhile to mention or they can write it in LLV free stock as well.