Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Pearce Pastures]

Please forgive me if this sounds silly, but in goats (more my specialty) some vaccines do prevent the animal from contracting the disease but can cause the animal to test positive for that disease because of presence of the antibodies the vaccine triggers. Is this ever an issue in poultry that anyone knows of?
Edited to add is that what is meant by "carrier status" or is that when an animal has the illness and can pass it on but shows no symptoms?

 

[Wynette]

Please forgive me if this sounds silly, but in goats (more my specialty) some vaccines do prevent the animal from contracting the disease but can cause the animal to test positive for that disease because of presence of the antibodies the vaccine triggers. Is this ever an issue in poultry that anyone knows of?
Edited to add is that what is meant by "carrier status" or is that when an animal has the illness and can pass it on but shows no symptoms?

Pearce, good question! I thought "carrier status" was a bit of a combination of what you describe above - that the animal can test positive for the disease but show no symptoms, but CAN pass it along to others. So, the critter vaccinated would be "clean" but it could then infect anything else around it.

 

[math ace]

Good morning, friends! I've been tied up with some work on the farm so haven't been on for a bit, so I'm once again in catch-up mode.

Anyone giving vaccines - please get a home Sharps container (you can get it at any pharmacy). It's a red plastic jug that you put needles only into. When it's full, take it to your local pharmacy & they'll handle it from there.

For sure, this is important information!! Thanks for posting, stoo!

Thanks for the tip! I didn't know this...

 

[math ace]

ILT vaccine comes in two types. One is Embryo culture and the other is Tissue culture. One produces a carrier and the other does not. You want to make sure you use the Tissue Culture Vaccine.

Ron

AND Where can we get the Tissue Culture Vaccine? ?

 

[math ace]

I am doing a little more research on ILT and stumbled accross this piece of info. It seems to confirm what Ron was saying...

​

Infectious Laryngotracheitis (ILT) is a highly contagious, respiratory disease of chickens caused by a herpes virus. ILT can occur naturally (field strain) and also from vaccines (vaccine-like strains). Over the past few years, there have been an increased number of vaccine-like strains of ILT in Washington. ILT in mature chickens may result in a drop in egg production, coughing, watery eyes, swollen sinuses, and nasal discharge. ILT infections may also result in a 1-2% increase in mortality, but may reach a 50% increase in mortality.

One way to prevent ILT infections is through vaccinations. There are 3 types of ILT vaccinations currently being used, Tissue Culture Origin (TCO) vaccine, Recombinant ILT vaccine, and Chicken Embry Origin (CEO) vaccine. The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) recommends the following to fair poultry superintendants:

1. [FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman][FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Restrict [/FONT][/FONT]poultry from showing that have been vaccinated with the CEO vaccine or have been infected with ILT in the past 24 months. Due to the infectious nature of the CEO vaccine, poultry can shed the ILT virus when stressed, resulting in other birds becoming infected.


2. [FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman][FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Restrict [/FONT][/FONT]poultry from showing that have been vaccinated with the TCO vaccine in the past 30 days. Birds that were recently vaccinated with the TCO vaccine can infect non-vaccinated birds with ILT.

3. If owners choose to vaccinate their birds for ILT, WSDA recommends that they use the TCO vaccine.

4. As a reminder, per the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 16.36.082, it is unlawful for any person with an animal having any contagious, communicable, or infectious disease to knowingly stable the animal or allow the animal to be stabled in any barn with other animals without notifying the other owners.

5. Exhibitors should be reminded that when they return home from the fair, birds that attended the fair should be separated from other birds for 2-3 weeks, and examined for signs of illness.

If you have questions, please contact Dr. Lyndon Badcoe at (360)725-5763 or [email protected], or contact your local veterinarian.

 

[math ace]

For those interested in doing more reading on ILT, here is another link

http://www.daff.qld.gov.au/27_2740.htm

This was something interesting mentioned in the article...

ILT is caused by a virus that can live for 8 to 10 days in droppings and up to 70 days in carcasses; hence correct disposal is essential. The virus may survive for up to 80 days in tracheal exudate (throat exudate) if not disturbed. This demonstrates the importance of sound clean-up procedures and high-pressure hosing.

 

[math ace]

and more from the same article...


In the past, most outbreaks have been traced to the movement of poultry, people and equipment. However, if environmental conditions are suitable, windborne spread may also be a factor.

The virus depends on a transporting agent to spread. The virus is not transmitted through the egg, so chickens are not infected at hatching. The virus can be spread via the following means:

• the introduction of infected birds. This includes the introduction of affected birds, carrier birds or birds that are incubating the disease at the time of introduction. Carriers of the wild strains of ILT can shed the virus at times of stress, infecting susceptible in-contact birds
• people and contaminated equipment. These can introduce infection into any flock. Contaminated crates and feed trucks are known sources of infection. People who are in contact with infected birds and, on the same day, with susceptible flocks may transfer the disease if they do not take suitable precautions
• Airborne spread. ILT's airborne spread depends on the prevailing conditions. There is rapid airborne transmission among birds in close contact. The virus often requires mechanical transfer to cover even short distances, such as from one building to another. However, birds in sheds close to roads may even be infected by diseased birds being transported down the road. Under conditions such as cloud cover, humidity, showers and gusty winds, the ILT virus can easily cover 500 metres and possibly much further. Small feathers and shed dust are ideal transporting agents
• Litter and manure. The ILT virus can survive in the birds´ environment for periods of time, and transmission may occur when susceptible birds are placed in a recently contaminated but uncleaned environment

This explains why it is such a "Show" issue... Diseases is the scarry aspect of showing. After spending years trying to breed towards the SOP and culling for the best... AND then... to go to a show and bring back home some BAD cootie bugs...

and then MAYBE lose the flock you worked so hard to build..

 

[snowbird]

Will just give a little info. I have tested the TCO vaccine and found here that I could put an unvaccinated bird in a pen next to one just vaccinated and it would not cross over. I know for a fact that this disease is very prevalent in the mid west and eastern. The disease description stated above does not give a very good description of the birds infected with the ILT. What kills mostly is the trachea burst and they bleed to death. I vaccinate here the first week of September before the damp cold weather comes.

 

[math ace]

Will just give a little info. I have tested the TCO vaccine and found here that I could put an unvaccinated bird in a pen next to one just vaccinated and it would not cross over. I know for a fact that this disease is very prevalent in the mid west and eastern. The disease description stated above does not give a very good description of the birds infected with the ILT. What kills mostly is the trachea burst and they bleed to death. I vaccinate here the first week of September before the damp cold weather comes.

Don,

Where do you get the TCO vaccine from?

 

[snowbird]

Don,

Where do you get the TCO vaccine from?

Lisa, I have always bought the ILT vaccine from First State. Most of the other stuff I get from Jeffers as it is cheaper.