Virulent Newcastle Disease or VND, Lots of Anguish, Little Solutions Offered

[IamRainey]

A recovered animal can't test negative while shedding active virus,because the test either checks for the virus directly (example, HIV-PCR) or antibodies made in response to it (example, HIV-Oraquick test).

I will confess to being woefully challenged to read the science but if a "recovered" bird is still shedding virus (which, apparently they can do for 4 months) (and which I take to mean that they can still contaminate another bird and/or the environment birds share) ARE they "negative" in any practical sense?

 

[Animalfisherwoman]

Responsibility goes all ways.

We know VND case factors include 1)flocks over 20; 2)>50 percent roosters; 3) presence of gamebirds. We know that humans transmitted it to commercial flocks, and we all but know that the patient zero was smuggled in.

The larger rooster flocks are over 90 percent of cases this time and last time. They need to be tightly regulated, with one key regulation being that if you're around them or in a cockfighting environment off-work in any way, your poultry plant should be obligated to fire you and report you to the state. If you are involved with cockfighting in any way, don't then plead that a conviction will ruin your life or have you deported. That's not extreme. In fact, due to the economic damage, it should be a mandatory deportable, no wobblies.. That should have happened first, and it absolutely has to happen now.

We are in a situation where normie homeowners have SWAT pullups of sheriffs and ag show up at people's houses even when they thought they were complying. That's extreme. So is asking them to bear more onerous regulation than the other parties above.

 

[IamRainey]

So no matter where you live, get your birds in an enclosed coop or run, provide plenty of space per bird, provide clean deep litter, and keep it clean, clean, clean.

Not realistic.

Why is it not realistic? Wherever you are (and I'm not sure if you're in CA or in any of the quarantined areas) you have no business taking on more birds than you can provide a safe environment for.

"Safe" may once have included free-ranging. For those of us in the quarantine areas it no longer does. I originally intended for my girls to free range but it didn't take the hawks long to catch on to them and station themselves for their release. I'm just glad they came on to my radar. So I'm no longer a believer in free ranging. But the hold outs in my area need to observe the protocols of the quarantine which now require that they be fully contained/protected.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

The larger rooster flocks are over 90 percent of cases this time and last time

Why are there such things as rooster flocks? I can imagine only one reason.

 

[Animalfisherwoman]

The problem is that the most trustworthy bodily fluid type tests, i.e., swabs used inside the chicken's throat, takes two weeks to three weeks to accomplish. The molecular test is rapid and sensitive but only if it is specifically tailored to that strain of disease. Read up on the PCR type tests and learn their limitations, in particular, other strains of VND and even other disease antibodies being present in the bird. https://www.omicsonline.org/open-ac...castledisease-2157-7579-1000429.php?aid=87692

Bottom line, the risk of having a single infected bird left due to inaccurate testing and the disease spreading via a wild bird, heck, even a house fly, is great enough that they set up quarantine and kill zones.

Thanks for this detailed info. What you're describing with the swabs is an antibody test, which always shows up later than a test for direct virus. Multiple sources have stated that wildlife is not a substantial vector in this outbreak. It is direct contact, contaminated fomites (clothing/equipment/shoes) and humans transporting them.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

Why is it not realistic? Wherever you are (and I'm not sure if you're in CA or in any of the quarantined areas) you have no business taking on more birds than you can provide a safe environment for.

"Safe" may once have included free-ranging. For those of us in the quarantine areas it no longer does.

You're not safe in hot areas whether you free range them or raise them in a hermetically-sealed environment. They're all going to be killed. You have absolutely no control over that.

 

[Animalfisherwoman]

I will confess to being woefully challenged to read the science but if a "recovered" bird is still shedding virus (which, apparently they can do for 4 months) (and which I take to mean that they can still contaminate another bird and/or the environment birds share) ARE they "negative" in any practical sense?

Good question. A "recovered" bird would test positive both for antibodies (blood test) and swab tests for direct virus at shedding areas.

 

[Al Gerhart]

What, are you kidding? The ones who want to ban eating cows are all on the left.

More for me to eat. Cattle rancher's son, hate the darned things. Eating them is sweet revenge for all the work I did as a kid.

 

[Animalfisherwoman]

Just want to say I appreciate the board being able to hear all sides on this. I'm on a couple fb groups and it's increasingly like "ANTIFA! TRUMP!" over there. You literally cannot comment if you have an opposing view.

 

[Fishkeeper]

Why are there such things as rooster flocks? I can imagine only one reason.

Some people like how roosters look, like their personalities, or would rather keep a bachelor flock than kill their extra roos. I know someone online who keeps just a flock of silkie roosters.

From what I'm hearing, there needs to be more regulation and better training on how to humanely kill birds in mandatory cull areas.