Mycoplasma/Infectious bronchitis queries

[Sue]

I'm a little confused about the Myco and IB symptoms as they seem to be similar and also which one the antibiotics are treating as I know one is a virus, is this the IB? I haven't had time to read up on either of them in much detail and hope that someone may be able to answer the queries for me.

Also, all my birds are vaccinated against both these and so I don't understand why they have been affected by them both. What is the point in vaccinating? Would it have been better to have unvaccinated birds?

I suspect it is the French Blue Marans that has infected the others as she was sneezing in the first 2 weeks that I had her.

I suppose I won't be able to add any more hens now as they would risk being infected as well. Not that I was planning to get any more at the moment, but would have liked to in the future.

 

[chrismahon]

Myco is sneezing, runny nose with characteristic bubbles in the eyes. IB is a chesty problem which I think includes sneezing and a runny nose. They are both viruses as far as I am aware. PP had an article a couple of months ago about it. Rather vague it was and left me confused as to what it was exactly, even after reading it twice.

 

[Sue]

I didn't think antibiotics could treat a virus? Although the Marans tested positive for Myco on the blood test she hasn't had the bubbles in the eye, neither have any of the others. She's had coughing, sneezing, runny nose and wheezy breathing. All of these she still has except the runny nose, but she has never appeared ill at all, whereas the others have.

 

[chrismahon]

Your right Sue, they can't treat a virus but they can stop any bacteial infection setting in and give them a chance to fight the virus.

Did I think it was IB from the onset, can't remember? Have a feeling we are going full circle here?