2. What is Marek’s Disease
Encapsulated Herpes virus
Latent in t cells: does vaccination predispose to other viruses?
changes often: genetic coding for control.

3. What does it cause? Affects all organs
Acute : sudden death 6 weeks and over
Chronic : loss of productions
susceptibility to other disease
paralysis

4. How is it spread? Coitus/ contact Feathers Dust/ Inhalation
Incidence higher in newer sheds

5. Prevention 3 types of Vaccine Cycled Around to stop resistance
Can only vaccinate once..usually as day olds

6. The Flock
93 roosters
AI program to produce short clutch intervals 7 years duration
DOB 11/6/98
1 Death every 3 or 4 weeks

7. Symptoms Group 1 NVL 48 birds 1/6/99
Group 2 ears/comb/wattles 24 birds
Group 3 as above plus lameness and photophobia 21 birds
alternation between groups

8. Diagnosis 19/8/98 DPI Yeerongipilly Coryne Bacteria from /ears 18/6/99
Coryne plus enterococcus
Penicillin and ampicillin

10. Further Pathology Blood results 22/9/99 Post mortem mites 21/10/99
plus Marek's
Marek's causing ears, lameness, photophobia, probably malabsorption of food.? diet

11. Homeopathy Tuberculinum Kali bichrom Spinifex Thuja Sulphur
Cal Carb/ sulphur
Aconite
Arsenicum
Willow. Cherry plum, Star of Bethlehem, Honeysuckle

12. New Free Range Environment
Grass/ insects
Clucky chicken Mix: organic food plus organic grain spread
25 birds were treated by mouth 3 drops three times daily for three weeks with the appropriate remedy for themselves, 5 roosters and 20 hens

13. Results of Treatment
2 roosters died, 3 roosters lived for a year before slaughter, 20 hens laid well for a year before rehoming
The effect of decaging, and improved diet is a boost to the immune system, this is a case report, not a controlled trial.
No symptoms were observed in the vaccinated flock,into which they were introduced

14. Discussion
Although the birds became asymptomatic, it is unlikely that they were totally cured: they would have become carriers.
Marek's disease is a virus which embeds itself in the genetic material. Pre vaccination, control was by high pressure selection for resistance to the disease in commercial flocks.