mcmurry sick chicks please post here

[PennySue]

I lost another GW this morning. We froze it and I'm calling my local Vet tomorrow to ask for help to find out for sure what the heck is going on. The Ag. vet I talked to yesterday agreed that these are defenitely signs of Marek's disease, but then told me MD only has to be reported in shell fish. However, if you go to the USDA website, it's right there under avian. Somebody is wrong, so I'm going to try and have my vet sort this out. But right now I'm even more worried about my parrots. The loss of these chicks is hard enough, but my parrots are family.

 

[max13077]

understandable

Hope they're OK

 

[amaliayosa]

I came across this post on a list I subscribe to. Worth checking into!

"Last week my order from McMurray arrived. It contained quite a few
chicks that seemed to have trouble walking and with very little provocation
would flip over on their backs and be unable to right themselves--just
struggled and kicked their legs in the air. My research led me to what Pat
mentioned--a vitamin deficiency--Vitamin A in particular. I added the
powdered vitamins to their water (had lost 5 chicks by then) and by the next
morning the problem was gone. Even chicks that had been having trouble were
doing fine and I have had no further losses. I am thankful to have followed
someone's advice and had the package of vitamins on hand."

 

[MNKris]

This isn't Marek's from what I have read. The incubation period is 3-4 weeks and ours are getting sick much earlier than that...

Definition/Introduction:

Marek's disease (MD) is one of the most common lymphoproliferative diseases of chickens which causes mononuclear infiltration of one or more of the following cells: peripheral nerves, gonad, iris, muscle, viscera, and skin. MD has been called by several names including "range paralysis", "neural lymphoma" and "skin leucosis".

Causative Organism: MD is caused by herpesvirus, which can be differentiated from other lymphoid neoplastic diseases. There are three serotypes of MDV which have many common antigens and are distinguished by serologic tests.

Pathogenesis: There are four phases of infection: 1) degenerative changes caused by early productive-restrictive virus infection, 2) latent infection, 3) another phase of cytolytic infection associated with permanent immunosuppression, and 4) nonproductive infected lymphoid cells that may or may not progress to lymphoma formation, a "proliferative" phase. The route of infection is inhalation. The virus then replicates in the lungs (in non-lymphoid cells). An acute phase of the disease can be seen within 72-96 hours where the lymphoid system, primarily bursa and thymus, undergoes cytolytic changes. Infected birds normally recover from the acute phase of the infection after 6-7 days and become latent. Infected lymphocytes carry the virus throughout the body, causing cell-associated viremia. Eventually, virus will be shed in the environment via feather debris and dander after the secondary cytolytic infection occurs in the feather follicle epithelium (~2 weeks post infection).

Transmission: MDV can be transmitted by direct and indirect contact between birds. Transmission is primarily by airborne route as the virus is shed in epithelial cells of the feather follicle, dander, chicken house dust, feces and saliva. The virus has a long survival time in dander since viable virus has been isolated from houses that have been depopulated for many months. (Historically, prior to vaccine availability, control in broilers was based upon early brooding exposure to used broiler litter and dander, marketing survivors versus poorer results with the thoroughly cleaned and disinfected brooder houses). Transmission by egg has no significance (i.e., chicken hatched and reared in isolation will be free of MDV.

Clinical signs: MD commonly affects pullets between 12-24 weeks of age, but can infect broilers as early as 6 weeks of age. The incubation period ranges from 3-4 weeks to several months. Signs may vary according to the nerve or nerves affected. Asymmetric progressive paralysis of one or more of the extremities can be seen. Wing involvement is characterized by drooping of the limb. Torticollis of nerves controlling the neck are affected. Vagal involvement will lead to dilatation of the crop and/or gasping. If the iris is involved, eyes will lose their ability to accommodate light intensity and blindness may occur (once called "grey eye"). Many birds die suddenly without symptoms. There are nonspecific signs such as weight loss, paleness, anorexia, and diarrhea.

Pathology: Macroscopic lesions: Nerve lesions can be seen as grayish, edematous, two or three times the normal thickness, and loss of the normal striated white glistening appearance. Nerves commonly affected include the brachial and sciatic plexi, celiac plexus, abdominal vagus and intercostals nerves. Nerve enlargement may not always be seen in affected birds at necropsy, although characteristic lesions may be found histologically. Also, tumors such as lymphoma occur in the ovary along with the nerve lesions. Macroscopic appearance in affected viscera, with the exception of the bursa of Fabricius, are indistinguishable from leukotic lesions induced by other agents (e.g. lymphoid leucosis virus). Organs are enlarged with diffuse grayish discoloration.

Microscopic lesions: There are two main types of lesions in peripheral nerves. Type A is interpreted as neoplastic in character, consisting of masses of proliferating lymphoblastic cells. Sometimes, demyelination and proliferation of Schwann cells are seen with these lesions. Type B is inflammatory in nature and is characterized by diffuse infiltration of lymphocytes and plasma cells, edema, and sometimes demyelination and Schwann cell proliferation. Lymphomatous lesions in visceral organs are more uniformly proliferative in nature. Deposition and diffuse proliferation of small to medium lymphocytes, lymphoblasts, and primitive reticulum cells are seen. Plasma cells are rarely present.

Skin lesions are mostly inflammatory and can also be lymphomatous. Inflammatory cells are localized around the infected feather follicle. With small lesions, the integrity of the skin is maintained, but disruption of the epidermis leading to ulcer formation may occur with massive proliferation.

Herpesviruses replicate in the bursa of Fabricius and the thymus which results in degenerative changes in these organs. Atrophy of the thymus can be severe and involve the cortex and medulla. In some cases, lymphoid proliferation in the thymus was seen. Arterial lesions may occur in the aorta, coronary, celiac, gastric and mesenteric arteries which may show fatty proliferative changes.

Diagnosis: Since there is no truly pathognomonic gross lesions of MD and because MD lesions can closely resemble those of lymphoid leucosis (LL), the clinical diagnosis of MD has been considered difficult in practice. Infection of MDV, not necessarily accompanied by the clinical disease, can be detected by virus isolation or agar gel precipitation tests of viral antigen in feather tips or antibody in serum. These are useful features to differentiate Marek's disease from lymphoid leucosis.

Treatment: There is no effective practical treatment for MD.

Prevention: Vaccination: Vaccines are extremely effective (90%+) in the prevention of Marek's disease. There are three serotypes: Serotype 1 which is available commercially as attenuated virulent or attenuated mildly virulent, Serotype 2 vaccines which are naturally non-pathogenic strains of MDV, or Serotype 3 "Herpes Virus Turkey (HVT) which are effective against virulent MDV but less effective against very virulent MDV. HVT was standard for the poultry industry throughout the 1970s, starting at over $.05/dose to as low as $3.00/1000 doses in the late 70s. It was developed at the Regional Poultry Research Lab in East Lansing , MI, now known as the Poultry Disease and Oncology Lab. Progress in the USA is due largely to USDA scientists.

Bivalent and Trivalent Vaccines: Synergistic effect and good protection can be achieved by combining the serotype vaccines 1,2, or 3 as bivalent or trivalent vaccines. These have become standard for the layer chick hatcheries, administered subcutaneously at hatching. Broiler chicks are given vaccine in ovo at the time of egg transfer.

Genetic selection: MD resistant chicks are obtained.

FAPP (filtered air positive pressure) ventilation: Biological filters to keep out airborne viruses are used.

For the commercial chick (layer and broiler) today, Marek's disease is not common due to vaccine use. For backyard operations, ease of vaccine handling and effective administration remains a challenge.

- by George Khalil, ECFVG Student

- edited by Dr. Tom Bryan, ADDL Poultry Diagnostician

References

Diseases of Poultry, Calnek, B.W. ed., 9th and 10th editions

Harrison and Harrison: Clinical Avian Medicine and Surgery.

Jordan, FTW. Poultry Diseases, 4th ed.

Poultry Health Handbook, Pennsylvania State University, 3rd ed.

Boden E. Poultry practice.

 

[MNKris]

Quote:
Thanks for the tip, but most of us already have vitamins/electrolytes in the water.

 

[carousel]

How about a vet?

I started on chick that was sitting on hocks more and a buddy I thought was resting more on vitamin supplement on friday.
they are positivly no worse, and maybe a hair better, one jumped on the edge of the brooder when I changed their water.

I also put the 2 in my hospital brooder back on paper towels.

I'm pretty sure we are going to drop off any chicks acting odd with the Avain vet 45 min away on tuesday, she said she would take a look at them if we can leave them for the day. And one of our options is to euthaize the worst chick, do a necopsy and see if we can figure it out - or if one dies before then we will necopsy it....

to be honest, until I know what I'm dealing with, - working with a univiersty or a vet - and not just based on what I can search and find on the web I don't expect a thing from McMurray.

Maybe I'm lucky to have a vet or maybe I'm just willing to toss money at this to figure out what is going on. I want to know and avoid future problems.
I have chicks coming from Ideal in less than 2 weeks, I do not want to have more sick chicks so I WANT to know what I'm dealing with. If I don't I will cancel the order.

CS

 

[carousel]

DO NOT FEEZE a chick you hope to necropsy!
put it in the refrigerator NOT THE FEEZER!!!

CS

 

[sclanimals]

I have lost a few. One was a frizzle, 1 marans, and 1 black giant. Some more of my black giants are getting the leg problems now. I ordered 40 birds. I got them on feb.18th.

 

[amaliayosa]

Is anybody losing chicks to this mystery illness that were NOT vaccinated for mareks?

Also were most of the sick chicks 'off' from the start or did this seem to develop later on (around two weeks)

 

[coloradochick]

sclanimals I PM'd you