Mareks Vaccine

[chookaholic]

Pips and Peeps

in the early days - 20 to 30 years ago - the turkey MDV was used to produce the vaccine against Mareks in chickens and as viruses tend to be host specfic it is unlikely that the turkey virus used to vaccinate spread from chicken to chicken.

However, times have changed, more and more virulent mutations of the MDV (chicken form) are used and now MDV acquired through vaccination can spread from chicken to chicken as documented in many scientific research articles.

It's always a problem to jump onto a forum out of nowhere as I have done. There was a link to Backyardpoultry posted on a forum I frequent which I followed, then read the thread about Mareks and was astonished that on an international forum there was so much misinformation.

Everyone is entitled to believe what they want to believe, be it Santa, fairies, or viruses that don't spread if given the opportunity.

I shall now rest my case.

 

[ten chicks]

Pips and Peeps

in the early days - 20 to 30 years ago - the turkey MDV was used to produce the vaccine against Mareks in chickens and as viruses tend to be host specfic it is unlikely that the turkey virus used to vaccinate spread from chicken to chicken.

However, times have changed, more and more virulent mutations of the MDV (chicken form) are used and now MDV acquired through vaccination can spread from chicken to chicken as documented in many scientific research articles.

It's always a problem to jump onto a forum out of nowhere as I have done. There was a link to Backyardpoultry posted on a forum I frequent which I followed, then read the thread about Mareks and was astonished that on an international forum there was so much misinformation.

Everyone is entitled to believe what they want to believe, be it Santa, fairies, or viruses that don't spread if given the opportunity.

I shall now rest my case.

I tend to agree with you. The info. i have supports this claim,"Mareks disease vaccine prevents the developement of tumors,but does not prevent transmission of the virus(the vaccine is non-sterilizing)it does reduce the amount of virus shed in the dander.Vaccination does not prevent infection with the virus,Mareks disease has evolved,and consequently there is an increased resistance to vaccine."

 

[Keggen]

Pips and Peeps

in the early days - 20 to 30 years ago - the turkey MDV was used to produce the vaccine against Mareks in chickens  and as viruses tend to be host specfic it is unlikely that the turkey virus used to vaccinate spread from chicken to chicken.

However, times have changed, more and more virulent mutations of the MDV (chicken form) are used and now MDV acquired through vaccination can spread from chicken to chicken as documented in many scientific research articles.

It's always a problem to jump onto a forum out of nowhere as I have done. There was a link to Backyardpoultry posted on a forum I frequent which I followed, then read the thread about Mareks and was astonished that on an international forum there was so much misinformation.

Everyone is entitled to believe what they want to believe, be it Santa, fairies, or viruses that don't spread if given the opportunity.

I shall now rest my case.

Please don't be discouraged from sharing your information. I appreciate what you have posted and have enough background education on vaccines to understand exactly what you're saying, and honestly I'm not surprised. Vaccines are not the silver bullet that so many people think they are.

 

[gaitngirl]

Does anyone here run their flock with or alongside turkeys? Has it seemed to make a difference in outbreaks? I know there are many different strains out there but I'm just curious. I have a possible issue with it now and have new 2 month olds on the way - I don't want to take any chances but the pullets need to be moved soon. So far they have had zero exposure to me or my 2 flocks (both of my flocks are in separate coops and the newbies are 30 miles away - with no other outside chicken contact). These are chickens that I've really wanted to add for awhile (faverolles and welsummers) bit I don't want them exposed. They can stay where they are at now for 2 more weeks. I thought about housing a young turkey poult with them for a few days to help build immunity to at least the one strain . . . If that even works.

 

[chookaholic]

I do have 3 turkeys free ranging with my chooks and they are all fine.

However, in confinement, turkeys tend to get diseases like blackhead or coccidiosis if penned up with chickens so it's not recommended.

My birds were most likely immune to the turkey Mareks virus but this didn't help them cope with that new and much more virulent mutation of the Mareks virus. Also there is no guarantee a particular turkey will carry the Markes virus.

gaitngirl - if you'd like to introduce new birds to your flock, the best way to do it is to quarantine the new birds on your property without direct access to the droppings of your birds. Give them a pen that has new litter and has been cleaned to a reasonable standard. It doesn't have to be disinfected, just scrubbed clean, and ideally it should have been empty for a week or two (bacteria and viruses don't live forever).

The new birds may carry diseases your birds are not immune to and also the other way round - your birds may carry diseases the new birds are not immune to.

The best way to build up immunity to any disease is slow exposure. Just by being on your property the new birds will be exposed to small amounts of whatever you've got at your place. Likewise, your birds are exposed to small quantities of whatever the new birds might bring with them.

I always dust new birds on arrival against lice and other creepy crawlies which is just good practice. I don't worm them unless I see worms in their poos.

After 2 weeks I let new birds mingle with mine and so far I haven't had any problems.

If you buy in fertile eggs you are far less likely to bring in problems than with live birds so this would be another possibility to get the breeds you'd love to have.

 

[Nonnie195]

Maybe I missed it, but someone on a much earlier post (like back in 2011) asked about what to do if a hen is raising the chicks. Unfortunately, no one replied. It would be a bit hard to keep them separated. My chicks are due to hatch in about 5 days and I want mama hen to raise them. All of my other sweeties, eight hens and one rooster, have been vaccinated. I really don't know what to do.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Chicks are usually inoculated in a hatchery at lock down or @ 18 days and while still in the shell. This is something that is very very difficult if not impossible to do satisfactory if the eggs are under a hen.


"Marek's is caused by a Herpes virus which can survive for long times in the environment. Experimentally it is thought that in feather dust it can survive for at least 12 months and it is this problem which leads to it being so common."

http://poultrykeeper.com/nervous-system-problems/mareks-disease-in-backyard-flock

The above link discusses Mareks Disease in concise terms. You may say that Mareks Disease is the chicken equivalent of Aids or HIV in humans.

 

[Nonnie195]

I understand the severity of the disease. Should I buy the vaccine and try my best to inoculate them?

 

[Nonnie195]

I know I am replying to an old post, but I hope someone is able to answer my question. What if chicks are hatched by the hen. I am willing to "learn" how to vaccinate (I would feel bad if I did something wrong), but they usually do not all hatch on the same day and the vaccine has to be used within 2 hours. What is one to do?

 

[Eggcessive]

I know I am replying to an old post, but I hope someone is able to answer my question. What if chicks are hatched by the hen. I am willing to "learn" how to vaccinate (I would feel bad if I did something wrong), but they usually do not all hatch on the same day and the vaccine has to be used within 2 hours. What is one to do?

When vaccinating for Mareks, the chicks would need to be isolated for at least 2 weeks in an environment free of Mareks, such as a brooder, to develop immunity to the disease. If vaccinating new chicks, you would need to wait until the last chicks are hatched, then hope none are exposed while the vaccine is taking effect. This is the dilemma facing most people with home raised or broody raised chicks.