mareks question

[RoscommonPekins]

If adult birds were living with a chick that had mareks and died, does this mean I can no longer bring those birds to shows/sales etc? Thank you.

 

[Eggcessive]

Any bird who has actual Mareks disease, will cause all other birds in the area to become carriers and be infectious. It is carried in the dust, dander, and by direct contact. Some chickens are resistant to Mareks either naturally or by vaccination, but they still will be carriers if they have been exposed to the disease. That is why, while many diseases can look like possible Mareks, it can be difficult to know for sure unless a necropsy or a Mareks PCR test is performed. Chickens attending shows should be vaccinated for Mareks as a precaution, since it may be almost anywhere. Here are a few articles to read with more information:
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/poultry/neoplasms/mareks_disease_in_poultry.html
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq
http://www.chickenvet.co.uk/health-and-common-diseases/mareks/index.aspx
http://animalsciencey.ucdavis.edu/avian/mareks2.pdf