[non-emergency] Marek's Homeopathic Treatment - Video

[pips&peeps]

Maybe tomorrow....

 

[O.C.Chick]

Here are the results...She was diagnosed with a type of "Lymphoproliferative disorder; with aggregates of homogenous lymphoid cells that have mild anisocytosis and
anisokaryosis with severe multifocal lymphoproliferative meningitis and perivascular encephalitis of the brain and spinal cord. The cause for the severe neurologic progression and cellular proliferation is attributed to a neoplasia-producing virus" similar to but not typical of LL or MDV:


ID ID Type Taxonomy Gender Age
S p e c i m e n D e t a i l s
CAHFS Internal ID Chicken Female 21.00 Weeks
Adult hen; history of recurrent, progressive neurologic condition:
Microscopic Findings:
1. Severe lymphoid cellular infiltration of brain and spinal cord meninges and blood vessels, liver, spleen, small
intestine, lung, thyroid gland, skeletal and smooth muscle, pericardium.
Gross Findings:
1. Multiple small firm, pale nodules in liver.
2. Solitary transmural thickened nodule in small intestine.
Test Results:
1. Bacteriology/parasitology:
a. Large number coccidia oocyts found in colon/cecum contents.
b. No pathogenic bacteria isolated from internal organs, intestine.
2. Virology:
a. Negative for Avian Influenza virus by qRT-PCR.
3. Toxicology:
a. Slightly elevated zinc level in liver.
b. Adequate, non-toxic additional minerals levels.
L a b o r a t o r y F i n d i n g s / D i a g n o s i s
Final Report (02/13/10): Severe lymphoproliferative cellular infiltrates were found in the meninges and vessels within the
brain, spinal cord, and multiple internal organs. The sciatic nerves and brachial plexus nerves were normal. The cause
for the severe neurologic progression and cellular proliferation is attributed to a neoplasia-producing virus.
C a s e S u m m a r y
Report 4(q)-CAHFS Standard Report- 2/10/2010 Page 1 of 4
CAHFS Final Version February 14, 2010
Additional tests - Negative for Avian Influenza virus by qRT-PCR. Liver zinc concentration slightly elevated but
non-toxic. No pathogenic bacteria isolated from internal organs or digestive tract. Testing is complete for this case.


G r o s s O b s e r v a t i o n s
Necropsy of an 880 gram black and white spotted adult hen began at 11:30 am, February 5, 2010. The specimen is
submitted live, and humanely euthanized. The specimen exhibits neurologic disorder clinical behaviour, whereby the
head is poorly controlled by the neck musculature, the head drops and twists, and the neck twists irregularly. The
specimen is mildly obtunded.
The specimen is markedly thin, with prominent keel bone exposure. Feather coat is clean and full. Internal fat reserves
are depleted. The liver contains multifocal pale tan firm plaques to nodules, up to 5mm in diameter, that are scattered
throughout the liver parenchyma and surface capsule. There are > 20 nodules. There is a focal solitary nodule of the
duodenum within the duodenal loop, approximately 15mm in diameter, where the duodenal walls are markedly
thickened by firm homogenous tissue. There is scant feed within the crop, proventriculus and gizzard. The small
intestine contains scant dark green mucoid digesta. The ceca and colon contains dark green pasty to semifluid digesta .
The ovary is small and inactive. The spleen is of expected size. The brain and cranium are unremarkable. No additional
lesions are noted in remaining organ systems.
B a c t e r i o l o g y
Animal/Source Specimen Specimen Type Date Resulted
Salmonella PCR and Culture
Results
1 Intestinal Tissue Pool 10-Feb-2010 No salmonella detected
Animal/Source Specimen Specimen Type Date Resulted
BACTERIAL AEROBIC CULTURE
Results
1 Liver Tissue 09-Feb-2010 No growth after 48 hours
1 Lung Tissue 09-Feb-2010 Mixed flora Rare
B i o t e c h n o l o g y
Animal/Source Specimen Specimen Type Date Resulted
Avian Influenza matrix gene qRT-PCR
Results
Chicken Cloacal Swab - VTM 10-Feb-2010 Negative
1 Pharyngeal Swab -
VTM
Chicken 10-Feb-2010 Negative
Report 4(q)-CAHFS Standard Report- 2/10/2010 Page 2 of 4
CAHFS Final Version 1 February 14, 2010
H i s t o l o g y
Tissues sampled: brain, liver, kidney, lungs, spleen, ovary, sciatic nerves, brachial plexus, trachea, larynx, heart,
proventriculus, gizzard, small intestine, pancreas, cecum, colon.
Findings:
1. Lymphoproliferative disorder; with aggregates of homogenous lymphoid cells that have mild anisocytosis and
anisokaryosis, and 1-2 mitotic figures per high-power field:
a. Brain: severe, multifocal lymphoproliferative meningitis and perivascular encephalitis.
b. Spinal cord: severe, multifocal lymphoproliferative meningitis.
c. Additional organs - liver, spleen, thyroid gland, kidney, lungs, skeletal muscle, smooth muscle, small intestine.
No additional lesions are noted in remaining examined tissues.
P a r a s i t o l o g y
Animal/Source Specimen Specimen Type Date Resulted
FECAL EXAM - FLOTATION
1 Feces 05-Feb-2010 Coccidia oocysts Lge#
T o x i c o l o g y
The submitted liver had the listed metals in acceptable, non-toxic concentrations for chickens. Please note that the zinc
concentration is slightly elevated, but non-toxic.
Reporting limit (Rep. Limit): The lowest routinely quantified concentration of an analyte in a sample. The analyte may be
detected, but not quantified, at concentrations below the reporting limit.

 

[NewHobbyForMe]

So sorry OC, how are you doing with the results and how are your other chicks doing?

I am keeping up the prayers all are well.

 

[O.C.Chick]

Thanks Melinda, I sent you a PM

How are the rest of your babies doing?

 

[pips&peeps]

I sent your findings to Peter Brown to ask if he thought they should have went with the LL diagnosis on this, since they really offered you no diagnosis.

I hope to hear back from him by tomorrow.

 

[O.C.Chick]

Thank you Jean. I have spoken to Peter before (Alan Stanford recommended him) and he's a pretty brilliant guy with a wealth of information, so thank you.

Here's how I understood what the vet told me when we spoke: Nothing was present in the nerves to indicate Marek's and no tumors in the Bursa to indicate LL...Several other conditions regarding the nature of the meningitis and liver tumors were very atypical, and the diagnosis is done visually, so this was under the same umbrella of viruses as both and could have been a combination of viruses. She explained that there are permutations of the existing viruses that are being discovered all the time, but there are not enough cases of these variations to diagnose them in all cases..She did say that it could have been exacerbated by a genetic defect in her immune system, but she said there was no way to determine that conclusively.

So if Peter has any additional light to shed on this that would be great, but I feel VERY confident that the pathologist found everything that could be found...She even consulted with another pathologist that is a poultry specialist. I can't emphasize enough how much time she spent and wonderful she was at explaining everything to me in layman's terms...AND THIS WAS ALL FOR FREE!!!! I WISH MY OWN VET WAS SO THOROUGH!

 

[FowlPlayFox]

How interesting this all is. I don't really know what all that means. Is it too simplified to summarize that she caught an unidentified virus that took advantage of her system (perhaps weakened genetically) and caused swelling of the brain and spinal cord - and that is what killed her? I wonder what this means for all your other chickens? Or future chickens? Well if it was a virus I guess you don't have to feel bad about things you could have done differently; not much you can do in those situations. Especially if it isn't one you have the option of vaccinating against.

I can't believe all that laboratory work was free. What a wonderful service, but a shame it was needed in the first place.

My hen was standing up last night when I went in to check on her! I haven't seen her standing in weeks so maybe she really is on the mend. I took her out, and tried pushing her around a bit but she was reluctant to walk.

 

[O.C.Chick]

FowlPlayFox: That's encouraging news about your hen..I hope she continues to get better!

As far as the diagnosis, I'm inclined to think it was something hereditary...As some have said on this forum, the Appenzellers "carry" the LL virus. Although this was not diagnosed as LL, it is definitely closely related. She had been very sick in December along with several of the others, but made what seemed to me a full recovery. It is possible that in her vulnerable state, the cancer was able to take hold and she started showing the signs a month later...I won't know for sure, but at least I have more information than I did, and like you mentioned, know I did all that I could. And we ruled out things like lead, botulism, bacteria, and a few other things I had suspected.

As far as the other hens, I am mostly concerned about the sister and brother (brother's now at my friend's farm) but so far they seem fine. I'm assuming it's like humans carrying the breast cancer gene, you are more vulnerable to getting it but it's not inevitable. I'll just be very observant and keep my fingers crossed.

Good luck & thanks for your support!

A

 

[Robin'sBrood]

Oh gosh, I've read over this thread and watched the videos of that poor girl and now I'm getting scared for the hen that is currently in my bathroom. She "went down" day before yesterday, very suddenly. I found her leaning against the outside of the coop at dusk, unable to walk enough to get inside. She had to use her wings to balance herself enough to walk. I put her inside the coop and she spent the night beside the feeder (she started eating as soon as I put her inside.) The next morning I brought her inside and started trying to figure out what is going with her. Her appetite is great. Her poops look normal. I've soaked her in the tub both yesterday and today and felt for eggs/masses in her abdomen. I've checked her vent both days. Nothing. She just can't walk normally, seems to have trouble balancing, has a pigeon toed stance, keeps her tail down and keeps her body in an upright "penguin" looking position. This hen is a hatchery BR, about 10 months old, that I got from TSC as a chick last spring. Could this be the beginning of Marek's, or something similar?

 

[O.C.Chick]

Robin'sBrood: Assuming it's not a leg or head injury, It could be something as simple as a vitamin deficiency

You should go back through this thread and look for DLHUnicorn's links on things that can cause the same symptoms...Lot's of great information!

One thing I learned is...eliminate all of the curable options, make sure she gets enough to eat, and hope she gets better. In my case, I tried everything and later found out that there was nothing I could have done. No consolation, but better than finding out it was something simple I had overlooked!

Good luck to you and keep us posted!