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

[seminolewind]

seminolewind,
I have the same thoughts re: turkey poop - that it is too late for the antibodies. But maybe if they haven't gotten the virus yet? this would prompt them to start building antibodies? Is exposure to and getting the virus the same thing?

I have emailed the vet and asked about whether I could get a necropsy on her included in the roosters - it is the same fee for one or multiple and I'm hoping he would be ok with this counting as a multiple although technically it isnt.

I also asked about occular form and a neuro form - I'm unclear about whether it is the same virus but each bird reacts differently or if there are different forms which are indicated by which type of symptoms. Or maybe occular and paralysis are both neuro ....feeling pretty ignorant.

I feel like I am jumping off a bridge and am not sure whether the water is deep enough: turkey poop will either a) kill the flock by exposing them to who knows what or salmonella b) make no difference, or c) help with future immunity?

The austrolorp hen was vaccinated.

Exposure and symptoms are two different things. And the vaccine covers symptoms.

If the bird is exposed and Not symptomatic or if the bird is exposed and Is symptomatic means the same. Exposed birds carry the virus and can give it to others. A vaccinated and quarantined bird has a 90% chance of not getting the deadly symptoms. But a vaccinated bird can be exposed to carriers and become a carrier and affect other birds. And still not be symptomatic. And some birds can be exposed and have enough naturally build resistance to not get the symptoms but still be a carrier.

Any chick more than 24-36 hours old is considered already exposed.
I stopped incubating in my bathroom because it's probably coated with Marek's (clothes). I now use the spare room which is likely to be the least exposed room. I use an apron, wash to the elbow, and gloves when I am in there during incubation and Three weeks after vaccination. That's the best I can do. Then the chicks move outside to my patio hutch that is disinfected and kept about 50 feet from the flock and screened in. I wash before touching and I take care of them first in the morning.

Some studies feel that the 90% of failure of vaccine may have to do more than with a poorly handled vaccine, a poor method of vaccination, or exposure prior to the vaccine increasing antibodies.

The virus , I believe, attacks the area of least resistance, whether it's nerves, brain, tumors, eye, etc. I am understanding that it's not one strain attacks eyes, and one attacks nerves. The strains are separated by vs (virulent), vvs (very virulent strain), vvvs (very very virulent strain), etc. That's what the Saif book says. I believe that the virulence of the strain seems to be that one becomes resistant to the type of vaccine, so another type of vaccine is created to combat the resistance, and so on. I don't know how one type of vaccine differs from another , what changes to make a new vaccine stronger.

The PCR is supposed to be able to distinguish between vaccination and non vaccinated Marek's positives. But I don't remember how it was explained to me.

The weaker vaccine that we can buy I feel needs a longer period of quarantine and maybe a second vaccination like a booster after a few weeks and still quarantined. I don't think the handling of the vaccine that we can buy is kept cold enough long enough. That's a problem. It might be best to buy it during cold weather .

Salmonella is bad. I would never do anything to introduce it for my health as well as others. And I love dipping toast into egg yolk.

If you jump off a bridge, you have a 90% chance of the water being VD (very deep)

 

[seminolewind]

Hi All, I am not sure where to post this but I have been reading up on Marek's the last couple of days and this seems like a knowledgeable bunch so I thought I would post here.

I have an 18 week old pullet that has been limping for at least four days. I was gone for a week with a house sitter in charge so not sure exactly how long she has been limping but wasn't limping when I left on the 4th. She is showing no other symptoms but I can find no obvious reason for the limping. She is out moving around with the others, is eating and is not lethargic.

I guess my questions is...if it is Marek's will it progress rapidly from limping to other symptoms? Or because she has been limping for several days and has no other symptoms is it likely not Marek's?

Thanks for any input. I hope I am just being paranoid but want to be prepared if I am not.

My feelings about someone posting a question about Marek's on any Marek's thread is fine with me. No matter what Marek's subject is
posted, we are still all here to help eachother.

I would think that she more likely got injured (more likely). I would keep a close eye on her weight . Most Likely a lame bird who has Marek's symptoms would progress to paralysis in under a week. Others may have seen something different. I certainly would put her on a multi B vitamin to cover a vitamin deficiency.

 

[seminolewind]

Sad news here... One paralyzed hen with funny eyes and one hen with two chicks that seems almost blind. Poor thing, she can't see her babies.

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

Quote: I feel really bad for the mama! Have to catch her and get some pictures of her eyes.

-Kathy

 

[Hbarth12]

I am so sorry for your chickens

 

[casportpony]

Mama hen's eyes:






Not like what I'm used to seeing in Marek's here.
-Kathy

 

[BuffyBugSlayer]

Thanks seminolewind for the input. I was hoping that with the amount of time that has elapsed that might be the case. I am going to watch her closely and give her a vitamin boost.

I have learned a ton about Marek's from this thread and others. Thanks all, for putting the effort into this. It is really helpful for those of us that are trying to make our way figuring out what is going on with our chickens and how to keep them healthy!

 

[lalaland]

Kathy, I'm am sorry about the hens.

I'm bringing the hen with grey eyes to the path lab tomorrow, the vet agreed not to charge for it and to consider it part of the same batch.

 

[Nambroth]

The PCR is supposed to be able to distinguish between vaccination and non vaccinated Marek's positives. But I don't remember how it was explained to me.

PCR can distinguish between serotypes (think of them like species) because it replicates and looks at actual DNA. Each serotype will have slightly different DNA. Just like our human DNA and the DNA of a chimp are similar but different.

The exception is sometimes birds that have been inoculated with the Rispens vaccine (only hatcheries can get this one) will test positive even if they have never been exposed to Chicken Marek's, because Rispens vaccine uses harmless MDV-2 which can give the PCR a positive hit.

Kathy, I'm am sorry about the hens.

I'm bringing the hen with grey eyes to the path lab tomorrow, the vet agreed not to charge for it and to consider it part of the same batch.

If you are able, and I understand if not, snap a photo of her eyes before you do. For science.
I'm sorry you are going through this.

 

[lalaland]

Exposure and symptoms are two different things. And the vaccine covers symptoms.

If the bird is exposed and Not symptomatic or if the bird is exposed and Is symptomatic means the same. Exposed birds carry the virus and can give it to others. A vaccinated and quarantined bird has a 90% chance of not getting the deadly symptoms. But a vaccinated bird can be exposed to carriers and become a carrier and affect other birds. And still not be symptomatic. And some birds can be exposed and have enough naturally build resistance to not get the symptoms but still be a carrier.

Any chick more than 24-36 hours old is considered already exposed.
I stopped incubating in my bathroom because it's probably coated with Marek's (clothes). I now use the spare room which is likely to be the least exposed room. I use an apron, wash to the elbow, and gloves when I am in there during incubation and Three weeks after vaccination. That's the best I can do. Then the chicks move outside to my patio hutch that is disinfected and kept about 50 feet from the flock and screened in. I wash before touching and I take care of them first in the morning.

Some studies feel that the 90% of failure of vaccine may have to do more than with a poorly handled vaccine, a poor method of vaccination, or exposure prior to the vaccine increasing antibodies.

The virus , I believe, attacks the area of least resistance, whether it's nerves, brain, tumors, eye, etc. I am understanding that it's not one strain attacks eyes, and one attacks nerves. The strains are separated by vs (virulent), vvs (very virulent strain), vvvs (very very virulent strain), etc. That's what the Saif book says. I believe that the virulence of the strain seems to be that one becomes resistant to the type of vaccine, so another type of vaccine is created to combat the resistance, and so on. I don't know how one type of vaccine differs from another , what changes to make a new vaccine stronger.

The PCR is supposed to be able to distinguish between vaccination and non vaccinated Marek's positives. But I don't remember how it was explained to me.

The weaker vaccine that we can buy I feel needs a longer period of quarantine and maybe a second vaccination like a booster after a few weeks and still quarantined. I don't think the handling of the vaccine that we can buy is kept cold enough long enough. That's a problem. It might be best to buy it during cold weather .

Salmonella is bad. I would never do anything to introduce it for my health as well as others. And I love dipping toast into egg yolk.

If you jump off a bridge, you have a 90% chance of the water being VD (very deep)

I've been thinking about this. If you are visited by someone with the flu, and you don't get sick, you have been "exposed" . If you have no symptoms, maybe a) your body fought off the virus or b) exposure did not equal you "getting" the virus. OR am I wrong, and the fact that you were exposed means you would test positive?
I'm trying to hope that even though I have had ill birds shedding active virus that not all the flock has taken sick, or would be positive for mareks. or am I dreaming....