Not an Emergency...Marek's in the Flock

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Bossom-hen said:
Well I have read that most types of parrot can get it, I have also read that parrots can't get it. Obviously wild birds can carry it
hmm.png
I think I will have to ask my avian vet who should be able to tell me for sure.
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All of my research has pointed that this is NOT zoonotic to birds outside of Galliformes (chickens, turkeys for MDV-3, possibly but rarely quail), and possibly- but not likely- Anseriformes (ducks, waterfowl).

Wild birds carry chicken dander-- the dust that Marek's travels on-- in their feathers. They are not actually infected with the disease!

I have 5 parrots and their health is of the utmost importance to me. I researched carefully and consulted my vet and several experts. All were of the opinion that it poses NO threats to Psittacines(parrots).
You should still practice good husbandry, of course, and hand-washing routines, but Marek's is not one of the diseases you should worry about transferring from chicken to parrot.

Where did you hear that parrots CAN get it?? Parrots can get some of the other diseases of poultry (such as Exotic Newcastle's disease, etc) but I have never seen or heard that they can get Marek's virus.
 
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Interesting reading about the wild birds carrying the dander. Not good here because the sparrows love going in my coop. I take the food out during the day but the sparrows like it in there and there is no way to keep them out. shoot!
 
seminolewind said:
Bossom Hen, what kind of chicken is that in your avatar?

I had a few "iffy's" the past few months, I think they get skinny when they molt. God only knows why they had to all molt in the winter!
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Bantam mille fleur Cochin?


Ooops!!! Was going back and reading the other posts since yesterday and noticed the answer to that was given earlier.
 
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Bossom-hen said:
This is the only reference I found which said that parrots could get mareks.
http://www.justanswer.com/bird-vet/...ine-month-old-chicken-bluebell-developed.html
It sounds like he could be wrong, if so I'm really pleased :)
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Thanks for the link! I had never heard of this before and I did a bit of digging. The last thing I would want is to spread misinformation-- I like to know if I'm wrong!!

I think maybe that vet that answered the quesions had mixed information, or maybe he was told it was so, but I could not find a lead to a connection between MVD-1 (what causes Marek's disease in chickens) and Avian Bornavirus, which causes the Proventricular Dilatation Disease in parrots that Dr. Bob said was caused my Marek's virus....
In fact the one article I read suggested that it's a very unique virus (ABV is, I mean):

Quote: Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080730140943.htm

Perhaps he mixed them up because the disease presents in similar ways, such as neurological problems and leg paralysis...?

Either way I will keep my ear to the ground, so to speak, on this issue. As (sadly!) common as Marek's disease is, and as many of us chicken loving people ALSO keep parrots, I would think that if it was a known issue or causing a lot of problems in parrots that we would see more literature on it. But, again, I will keep my eyes peeled for any new info just in case.
 
Nambroth said:
Thanks for the link! I had never heard of this before and I did a bit of digging. The last thing I would want is to spread misinformation-- I like to know if I'm wrong!!

I think maybe that vet that answered the quesions had mixed information, or maybe he was told it was so, but I could not find a lead to a connection between MVD-1 (what causes Marek's disease in chickens) and Avian Bornavirus, which causes the Proventricular Dilatation Disease in parrots that Dr. Bob said was caused my Marek's virus....
In fact the one article I read suggested that it's a very unique virus (ABV is, I mean):


Perhaps he mixed them up because the disease presents in similar ways, such as neurological problems and leg paralysis...?

Either way I will keep my ear to the ground, so to speak, on this issue. As (sadly!) common as Marek's disease is, and as many of us chicken loving people ALSO keep parrots, I would think that if it was a known issue or causing a lot of problems in parrots that we would see more literature on it. But, again, I will keep my eyes peeled for any new info just in case.
Click to expand...
The pathologist I work with says that any bird can get it, but I didn't push him on the subject. Maybe I will the next time I speak with him.

-Kathy
 

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