Mareks experience needed. prelim results pg 9

[kelar]

These birds are very young for Mareks - possible, but a bit unusual. Of course a lot can go wrong during vaccination - improper storage, mixed too long etc etc etc. Some birds will get the virus in spite of vaccination. Is it possible they have cocci? Coccidiosis can also knock a bird down with Mareks-like paralysis and these are young enough it's the first thing I would suspect aside from a poisoning of some kind. Hopefully you will be able to obtain a necropsy on one of the birds and get a firm diagnosis. NPIP does not test for Mareks - in our state, just AI and Pullorum.

 

[kelar]

I should correct to say that there is no test I know of that can be done for Mareks on a living bird. The diagnosis is obtained through either gross necropsy or histopathology on a deceased bird.

 

[klf73]

I wrote a huge response then my computer made it go away, so frustrating
anyway, no, nothing unusual. I get my food and bedding in paper, inspect each for water damage. food is easy, it clumps even after it dries (my son has left some out in a previous year

). the bedding you can tell too because of water staining on the package.
no exposure to flies
I am at a loss...
the brooder from my flock has had no losses...I don't vaccinate(yet,will this week) and they were separate from these...

 

[klf73]

no bloody poop, not hunched, on medicated feed...not cocci
what would poisoning be coming from? the same feed gets split between my brooders. they were indoors, in the house until recently. I was going to cull one of the live birds but don't want to do it until I know how they want it stored

 

[kelar]

Birds can have cocci without showing bloody droppings or any of the other more typical signs. Medicated feed will not prevent it. Have they been losing weight/wasting? You will probably want to prepare the bird for necropsy shortly before you send it or take it down. Here, they ask you to immerse the body in ice water to cool as much as possible and then store in frig or on ice prior to shipping via ups. I use a styrofoam cooler to ship with the bird in plastic and those ice packs (they are not ice, some kind of refrigerant) packed around the body. Our facility requires a form be sent with the body which they can email to you. Just so you know in case one of the birds dies before you can make arrangements to ship. So sorry you are going through this - they look like beautiful birds and heartbreaking to see them down like that.

 

[kelar]

Just to add - it does not sound like poisoning is possible given the circumstances - it's just that botulism causes mareks-like symptoms.

 

[klf73]

Yeah, I have only found the "split" indicated Mareks

, if you have a link that gives me info showing it could be something else I would love to see it. I am reaching for anything right now

 

[seminolewind]

Ive also been reading about EEE and Aspergillus. THE Aspergillosis is a mold found everywhere. From one hatch of 10 I've had/have 3 with the drunk walk,stagger,or can't walk, and a silent gasp. But it's hard not really knowing what the cause is. And the silent gasp doesn't really look like a respiratory sign, there is no respiratory illness.

 

[klf73]

mine don't have the gasp or anything respiratory...

 

[kelar]

I sure don't have any brilliant ideas, but wondered about their condition other than being down. Are they interested in eating/drinking with assistance or are they down because they are feeling so bad? With Mareks, you often have a bird that is alert, has an appetite and seems perfectly normal except for the paralysis. With assistance, they can go on for a very long time.