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Re: Polyoma question/Michael L.
Posted by Fran on 2/25/06

>> Fran,
>> I can understand your dilemma concerning vaccinating, but maybe
>> this will lend more clarity on the issue.
>> I don't know if you're aware or not, but Polyoma is usually a
>> disease that primarily affects newly weaned birds or very young
>> birds. It is not a virus that attacks healthy, adult birds as a
>> rule as their immune systems are more resistant. Certainly there
>> can be exceptions, let's say, for immunocompromised, or very old
>> birds, but this is a rarity.
>> My avian vet was not recommending, nor in favor of doing it. He
>> felt that preventative measures were sufficient rather than
>> vaccinating chicks. The jury is still out on whether or not this
>> vaccine is 100 percent effective, although the manufacturer will
>> tell you that it is.
>> While he wasn't encouraging it, he did order in for me the vaccine
>> so that I could vaccinate my baby birds.
>> I did investigate what side effects there might be when doing this
>> and basically came up with little that I would consider major
>> concerns. At the injection site, the serum gathers and forms a
>> small "bubble or ball" under the skin. This dissipates within
>> minutes of giving the vaccine. Possible there is a chance that it
>> wouldn't, but I've not encountered that. Also, the vaccine is
>> a "killed" or inactive vaccine so it doesn't contain live Polyoma
>> virus so that risk is eliminated.
>> The reason I decided to do it was that I do have exposure to other
>> people's birds when I go to a pet store, bird fair or some other
>> place that birds may be present.
>> I do practice sensible hygiene when I come home and will remove my
>> clothing in the basement and take a quick shower to lessen the
>> chances of me bringing anything home to my flock, not just Polyoma.
>> Also, when my baby birds go to new homes, they do so at a young
> age
>> and I want them to be as "protected" as they can be when they
> leave
>> me. I know how I operate in my own home, but can't attest to
>> someone else's situation.
>> My adult birds are not vaccinated, but all have been tested. And
>> this doesn't guarantee anything, as some birds will not test
>> positive if they are not actively shedding a virus even though
> they
>> carry it.
>> I don't know if this helps or not, but it's all I know on the
>> subject.
>>
>> Michael L

Michael, thank you for your in depth response. It did clear up many items for me. Let me ask
you this. Can an adult, otherwise healthy bird be a carrier of polyoma, not actually sick but
able to transfer the virus to a baby bird?

Posts on this thread, including this one

• Polyoma question, 2/20/06, by Debbie.
• Re: Polyoma question, 2/21/06, by Fran.
• Re: Polyoma question, 2/21/06, by Michael L.
• Re: Polyoma question, 2/21/06, by Debbie.
• Re: Polyoma question, 2/21/06, by Michael L.
• Re: Polyoma question, 2/21/06, by D.
• Re: Polyoma question, 2/21/06, by Debbie.
• Re: Polyoma question, 2/24/06, by Debbie.
• Re: Polyoma question/ to Michael L., 2/24/06, by Fran .
• Re: Polyoma question/ to Fran, 2/24/06, by Michael L.
• Re: Polyoma question/ to Fran, 2/25/06, by Debbie.
• Re: Polyoma question/Michael L., 2/25/06, by Fran .
• Re: Polyoma question/Michael L., 2/25/06, by Michael L.
• Re: Polyoma question/Michael L., 2/25/06, by Debbie.