Marek's in Geese

[Ravendonkey]

Hi, I live in the UK and have a very lonely pet canada goose in my garden whose mate was sadly killed by a dog. She has hatched eggs put under her before, but the gosling swiftly started to lose control of one side of its body and shortly couldn't stand and had to be put down. The vets thought it likely to be Marek's disease but as I'm sure many of you have discovered, general vets have little knowledge of poultry and waterfowl and vaccines come in batches of 1000. A duck that hatched 10 ducklings sadly had the same problem and all died after displaying the same symptoms. I was wondering if after the exceptionally hard winter we've had, it's at all possible that the marek's virus has gone? Also, does this sound like Marek's to you? I have hatched hen chicks with no problem 5 years ago and ducklings circa the same time, all fine. Lastly, I've heard that goslings become immune to marek's after their own immune systems start to build up but could any of you tell me what age this is likely to occur at as Ideally I would like to put them under my goose for her to mother. Thanks so much, I really am at a loss! Rory

 

[foxy]

Mareks disease does not affect waterfowl to my knowledge, it affects chickens, turkeys and sometimes pheasants.
Your gosling sounds like it may have had some form of botulism or a virus, it is difficult to advise so maybe have a look around for a good poultry vet?

 

[Davidd]

Mareks does affect waterfowl, turkeys and chickens- different strains - the waterfowl one is duck virus enteritis (DVE) you cannot keep your goslings away from it- the best way is to keep them separate from other adult birds until at least 5-6 months old. Birds that survive will carry it all their life-and pass it on to young - you can vaccinate and that to me is your only option if you want to give the goose goslings. Sorry for the bad news!
regards, Davidd

 

[dorsetduckowner]

I don't know much about Mareks, but I would for certain either get the vaccine as David suggests or at least get some blood tests? There are lots of good poultry vets who you can contact. Where are you based and I will put the feelers out. Have you looked at the poultry vet section of this website?

 

[Marigold]

Mareks also affects quail and because they are cheap and easy to breed, can be kept in small cages, and are mature by 10 weeks, sadly they are sometimes used for vivisection studies into the disease ,i.e. given it on purpose.

 

[foxy]

DVE is a herpesvirus, like Mareks disease however DVE which is not that common.

DVE (duck viral enteritis) is a haemorrhagic disease, causing extensive bleeding and insult to internal organs, this disease carries high mortality typically 5 - 100%. There is no cure but I believe a live vaccine is available, an attenuated vaccine is available but I don't think is licensed in the UK.

Mareks of chickens (most common host also turkeys and quail ) is also a herpes virus which has a much longer incubation period and triggers tumours to form, neurological, internal or ocular. Symptoms of Mareks vary greatly, from classic paralysis of one leg/wing outstretched to the chronic weight loss which is a far more common symptom. Other symptoms include grey iris which develops from tumour pressure in Ocular Mareks.