So even -30 degree temps don't kill this virus? I mean if I did cull my birds (don't want to) clean/disinfect coop and let sit all winter it won't kill it? It doesn't need a host? I love in Northern Wi and sometimes it gets -40 here! Just wondering...
About the temps......Marek's virus has been shown to be alive
in a lab at extremely low temperatures. In a lab, there is no radiation from the sun and no other outside influences to further weaken the virus. Another thing I always think about, at extreme temps., even though still alive, just how virulent would it be? Common sense has to rule here. People have culled and then left their houses empty for a couple of years and then gone on to bring chickens back into them. They've had no further problems with Marek's virus. This tells me that Marek's isn't with out a shelf life. I am not sure if there has been studies to prove this or not.
My thoughts are these, Marek's is much more prevelent than any of us ever though and I'd bet most have some form of it in their flock without symptom or their knowledge. Not all birds who get Marek's will die, shed the virus, or in any way let you know they have it. I did come across a study done on this, but will have to post the links later.
Marek's research is constantly changing and being updated. There is a lot of antiquated info out there and each study, paper, etc., has to be looked at with a healthy dosing of common sense. Does it apply to the home operation you have? Was this study completed in a lab only, or was there field study done as well? Was the study or testing done on differing varieties of chickens?
Keep one thing in mind when it comes to temperature and Marek's, as I said, testing done in a lab is controled. Normal backyard operations aren't. We get extremes in temps. and also the drying from the winds, radiation from the sun and moisture from rain, snow, fog.....it just isn't the same thing at all. While we all want an answer for what has happened to us and our birds and we scour the net and any other places of knowledge we can find, sometimes, in the end, we will find that any answers have to be found on an individual basis.
