Mycoplasma synoviae / Infectious Bronchits- HELP!!!!!!

[steffpeck]

A month or so ago, I had a really weird egg that one of my hens layed, someone on here mentioned they thought maybe my flock had Infectious Bronchitis, for the last 8 weeks or so my roo has been walking wierd and has progressivly gotten worse. Someone on my rooster thread wondered if his symptoms sounded anything like Mycoplasma synoviae, part of it does, part of it doesn't. My question is, how would they get it?? Where would it come from?? I have a closed flock. They only chickens I have are ones that I have hatched or bought from Meyer's. I have more eggs in the bator, and I am scared to death, if there is something wrong with my chickens, to put my new babies in with them. What do I do????????

 

[gumpsgirl]

Sorry to hear about your chickens. Have they been sneezing or coughing? You would have to have those symptoms before it can be the IB or Mycoplasma. There could also be many other things this could be. Misshaped eggs can be a sign of a number of different things. I would try to contact your local Extension Office (4-H group) tomorrow and see if they can put you in contact with a poultry specialist.

You also asked how your chickens could have caught something. There are numerous ways for different illnesses to be brought into a flock. Wild birds, you bringing home something from the feed store, or another poultry person bringing it to your flock when they visit.

I would also recommend that you keep your newly hatched babies clear away from the others until you figure out what you are dealing with here.

Good luck.

 

[steffpeck]

Thanks!! No, no one has acted sick at all, other than 1 weird egg, and the roo walking weird.

 

[Pine Grove]

Quote:
With the synovitis form of M.S. you have no respiratory distress at all, Thats one of the resaons its also called Silent Airsac Disease..the synovitis form of M.S localizes in the joints and tendon sheaths, also in the ovary of the hen...With the wierd eggs, and now the rooster going lame, I'd say the two are related...Any breast blisters, or fluid filled pockets on the leg or wing joints?

 

[steffpeck]

Where on the wing joint would a fluid filled pocket be?? I don't remember which on my newer chickens I was holding, but right where the body and the wing meet there was a fluid filled pocket. I do think the rooster was walking strange before the egg was laid, if that makes a difference. Ugh, I feel like crying!!!

 

[steffpeck]

Can a blood test be done to determine if there is something infectious in my flock??


Do we need to be worried about eating the eggs??

 

[gumpsgirl]

Okay, first off, NO CRYING!!! (J.K.! I cried A LOT when my birds first got sick,

) You'll get through this. Second, sorry for the misinformation on the Mycoplasma Synoviae. I should have done better homework before I answered that one. I looked it up in my Chicken Health Handbook and here is what it says:

Mycoplasmosis encompasses any disease caused by mycoplasma bacteria, the smallest living organisms capable of free existence. A mycoplasma is about the same size as a virus, but (unlike a virus) can multiply outside a living cell. The two important mycoplasmas affecting chickens are mycoplasma synoviae , which causes air-sac disease in young birds and infectious synovitis in all ages, and M. gallisepticum , which causes air-sac disease in young birds and chronic repsiratory disease in growing and mature birds.
Diseases caused by mycoplasmas can be difficult to recognize without laboratory work, since they often occur in combination with other bacteria and with viruses. They are spread from infected breeders through hatching eggs and by direct contact with infected or carrier birds. Survivors become immune to future infection but remain carriers. The bacteria cannot survive long away from a bird's body.
At one time, all chickens carried mycoplasma and became infectious in response stress. Today, mycoplasma-free strains are available among the commercial breeds. The bacteria threaten primarily commercial operations with high concentrations of large flocks in relatively confined geographic areas. The farther your flock is from an infected flock, the lower its risk of exposure.

It also states about the eggs:

Watery whites and misshapen shells with altered texture and strength can be caused by a viral respiratory disease...

I would go ahead and contact your local Extension Office this morning and see if they can't put you in contact with a specialist who can help you. I wouldn't waste my time with the state vet. They will be in for the quick fix and tell you to cull the whole flock. You could also try contacting Dr. Peter Brown (the poultry specialist). He was very helpful to me and my flock. I will PM you with his info.​

 

[steffpeck]

Thanks gumpsgirl!!!