Pullet’s iris turned Blue-grey, but pupil is normal?

[SleepyDinos]

Yesterday, I noticed my (around) 35 weeks and 5 day old Black Jersey Giant had a blue-grey eye, but from what I’ve researched the pupil is normally abnormally shaped and/or dilated with Ocular Marek’s. From what I noticed, her pupil was pretty normal. She is the only one who has it. I haven’t been able to hang out with my flock as much as I have been really busy with school and family. If I had to guess, her eye would have changed at the earliest 3 weeks ago. She’s active and eating/drinking normally, acting as a pullet her age should. I don’t have access to a “professional” vet he can do vet checks for fair though, the closest one if I had to guess is 2-4 hours away? I’m really hoping it’s not ocular Marek’s, as I breed and sell/show birds, Other than picking Jill (the pullet) up from tractor supply as a chick, I honestly don’t know how she couldv’e been exposed.

Normal eye

Both eyes (Blue eye looks a bit smaller, but its just the lighting I think)

The weird eye

 

[Rose the Legbar]

My first thought is Marek’s, however I am going to see others opinions.
@Eggcessive @Wyorp Rock

 

[Eggcessive]

The graying of the iris and the fuzzy outline of the pupil are considered symptoms of ocular Mareks. This is only an opinion, not a diagnosis. I would not worry too much at this time, since some birds with the ocular form, do not always get other symptoms. There are 4 types of symptoms including the tumors of organs (visceral,) ocular/eye, skin (cutaneous,) and neural/nerve paralysis. If you should lose her or another bird in the future, your state vet might be able to diagnose or do testing to confirm it. Hopefully, she will live a fairly normal life.

 

[SleepyDinos]

Okay thank you

 

[Eggcessive]

Here are some links to see pictures of ocular Mareks:
https://ucanr.edu/sites/aves/files/336233.pdf

 

[SleepyDinos]

Is there anything other than Ocular Marek's that it could be? And are there labs that I can send in samples from a pullet that isn't dead? If I separate her from the flock is there any chance they are safe if I clean out the coop really really really well? One last question (Sorry for all of the questions, I want make sure there is nothing I can do before I jump to conclusions) If I have a separate flock of my show/breeders/special needs chickens, its pretty close to the main coop but it is normally sealed to keep the snow and negative temps out, do they have a chance to be safe?

 

[Eggcessive]

There are labs who will test for Mareks. One I know of is RAL, a lab in TX, who sends materials to collect a blood sample from a cut toenail or other way. Then you would send that back there where they do a PCR test for Mareks. Here is a link to them:
https://www.vetdna.com/

My belief is that Mareks is pretty common everywhere, and it is spread by carriers through feather dust and dander. The Mareks virus constantly changes, and even vaccinated birds can still get it. If you show birds, they can come in contact with Mareks. Since it makes carriers of the whole flock, even though no others are showing symptoms. So, if I had a bird with any possible symptoms, I would not show any of my birds. I would close my flock to birds ever leaving the flock.

 

[SleepyDinos]

Okay, thank you. I really appreciate it.

 

[tripletfeb]

My flock has suspected ocular mareks and only one has ever gotten sick(knock on wood) but she got better. They were unofficially diagnosed over the summer and besides some funny looking eyes, you would never know it. I do keep a closed flock, knowing they can spread it if they do have it