Marek's testing in living birds

[rottlady]

Just an FYI
There is a test for mareks in living birds

http://vet.uga.edu/pdrc

Does them
Two types

Serologic antigen test about $6/ sample (agp) instructions at bottom

Tests for the mareks antigen
A positive is a positive
But a negative might just not have enough antibodies to be detected
Note: vaccinated birds will test positive with this test

The second test is a mareks pcr test that requires a yanked out primary feather
It tests for the actual disease and is quite accurate
But
It's $100.46 per sample

Instructions for the blood agp test
"
Please spin the blood to separate the serum from the blood clot. ONLY send the serum in an eppendorf sera tube. To perform the testing, we need .5 mL of sera, but we can get by with .25 mL on a small bird.


Please fill out our accession form in its entirety. Place the sera plus the accession form in a Styrofoam shipping container with ice packs. The package needs to be overnighted (not 2 day shipping) to the following address:


Harmony Seahorn

PDRC Diagnostic Lab

953 College Station Road

Athens, GA 30605"

ETA: Please also see post #25

 

[Wickedchicken6]

Just an FYI
There is a test for mareks in living birds

http://vet.uga.edu/pdrc

Does them
Two types

Serologic antigen test about $6/ sample (agp) instructions at bottom

Tests for the mareks antigen
A positive is a positive
But a negative might just not have enough antibodies to be detected
Note: vaccinated birds will test positive with this test

The second test is a mareks pcr test that requires a yanked out primary feather
It tests for the actual disease and is quite accurate
But
It's $100.46 per sample

Instructions for the blood agp test
"
Please spin the blood to separate the serum from the blood clot. ONLY send the serum in an eppendorf sera tube. To perform the testing, we need .5 mL of sera, but we can get by with .25 mL on a small bird.


Please fill out our accession form in its entirety. Place the sera plus the accession form in a Styrofoam shipping container with ice packs. The package needs to be overnighted (not 2 day shipping) to the following address:


Harmony Seahorn

PDRC Diagnostic Lab

953 College Station Road

Athens, GA 30605"

This is quite interesting! I'm behind in my reading.
Have you sent and had the tests done?

 

[rottlady]

No I was looking for such a test since reading it was available in the U.K.
Just found this yesterday
Had a very good long conversation with the lab

 

[Wickedchicken6]

I'm going to check into this a bit more on this side of the border.
See what I can find out.

Thanks for posting the information. It gives key information on what to ask about.
That's in itself is huge...lol.

 

[duluthralphie]

To me it is not worth the money...anyone with a fair number of birds has lost some to Mareks...why test...the virus is everywhere.....

 

[Wickedchicken6]

To me it is not worth the money...anyone with a fair number of birds has lost some to Mareks...why test...the virus is everywhere.....

Who are you and what did you do with Ralphie? I'm sure the border agents wouldn't let Mareks cross the border.

The larger cost is somewhat prohibitive. It gives a person the choice to test...perhaps to rule Mareks out if it's something else is suspected as well.

 

[JeanR]

agree! Knowing the symptoms and experiencing sudden or slow death of birds is best indicator of Marek's Disease. It is common worldwide. Since there is no treatment or CURE, the test is an unnecessary expense. Necropsy is less expensive and confirms reason for loss of bird that died suddenly without showing most common symptoms. AND since it is a long lived Virus, if you have a bird or birds with Marek's, you may always have it with any old or new chickens. Do not understand in one test, described, that vaccinated birds will show positive for Marek's. ?? The vaccine is NOT a Marek's preparation, but is a Turkey, herpes virus vaccine and cannot cause Marek's or indicate Marek's if not infected without symptoms (although like all vaccines, it may not be effective in 100% of vaccinated birds_. It is well worth vaccinating your own chicks--AT HATCH=or the small extra cost of vaccination of purchased day old chicks. Do not wish it for any one's loved and valued birds! Pullets not likely to show any symptoms until point of lay, maybe after first egg or two. Cockerels may show symptoms at about 3 months, but may carry virus silently for even a year! Lots of information to absorb--some not valid, but all is useful.

 

[microchick]

I agree 100% with @orrpeople

Also, something that caught my eye in the OP:

Please spin the blood to separate the serum from the blood clot. ONLY send the serum in an eppendorf sera tube. To perform the testing, we need .5 mL of sera, but we can get by with .25 mL on a small bird

Okay, everyone who owns a centrifuge raise your right hand........hmmmm not seeing many hands out there.

I have the feeling that this is an emerging test/technology. Will it get cheaper and easier to execute? Should. Will it be more accurate? At least the 6$ test? Should.

I think I'll wait to see what develops.

 

[rottlady]

This test has been around since 2010 it's not new

Obviously you either need vet help to Prep samples or do the washing machine centerfuge thing like my dog friends do

The blood test agp is useful and cheap
A positive is 100% positive or vaccinated a negative might be negative or just not yet built enough antibodies (this is similar to the in house tick and heartworm test your vet does on your dog it is antigen testing this is as accurate as it gets- no false positives)
If you have a closed flock and want to work to eliminating mareks on your farm you would cull all positives then retest in a month or more and do the same etc

The more expensive feather pull pcr test I can see using if you have a mareks free closed flock and want to bring a new bird in

 

[rottlady]

I just lost a bird to mareks
I had a mareks clear flock before I brought in three birds from two different breeders

I would sure have considered testing them before bringing them in had I known I could