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#1
11th December 2007, 09:25 AM
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PMV questionsAccording to all I have read about PMV, some pigeons can be carriers of the virus without ever showing signs of the disease.
Does anyone know how long the virus remains in a "silent host's" system? For example, if a bird were exposed to the virus several months or even years ago but never showed symptoms could the virus still be active in that bird's system, and could it become passed to other birds years later? I'm asking in response to this, which is posted in the PMV sticky above: __________________ In a loft situation it is important to vaccinate pigeons against Pigeon PMV. Remember that it is the pigeon that is not showing any symptoms of Pigeon PMV but is shedding the virus that is the greatest danger to other pigeons. By the time the obvious symptoms appear the virus could have infected other pigeons in your care. Always isolate new pigeons. They can be vaccinated if they show no signs of the disease after 10 days in quarantine.__________________ Most of my birds (as far as I know) have not been vaccinated for PMV. Should I vaccinate them all as a precaution? So far my quarantine regimen has not included PMV vaccination, but should it? The "silent host" condition is very scary to me. Especially if it can last for a period longer than 6 weeks, which is my usual quarantine period.
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 Hello! from my little flock to yours. ~Karen
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#2
11th December 2007, 09:53 AM
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A quarantine period of 6 weeks should be long enough. I have had three pigeons develop PMV while in quarantine and it was always within two weeks. You can vaccinate pigeons during the quarantine period to be on the safe side, just don't vaccinate any that are showing symptoms of PMV, that can kill them. It is wise to have all your birds vaccinated aginst PMV and pox so that there is no risk of them developing the diseases. Cynthia
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 Life is as dear to the mute creature as it is to man. Just as one wants happiness and fears pain, just as one wants to live and not to die, so do other creatures.His holiness the Dalai Lama
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#3
11th December 2007, 10:09 AM
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I feel better knowing that the host situation is limited to weeks instead of being indefinite. About vaccinations... Every vendor I've seen seems to carry them in 100 dose quantities. Is there any way to order only as much as I need? I don't imagine it keeps for very long.
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Hello! from my little flock to yours. ~Karen
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#4
11th December 2007, 11:16 AM
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John
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 Pigeons know more than we think - and think more than we know.
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#5
11th December 2007, 12:43 PM
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The vaccine does NOT have to be used as soon as the bottle is opened. That applies to the POX vaccine, as it's a live virus. That vaccine must be opened, used and discarded right away. I've got a book somewhere that tells about using the PMV vaccine and holding it, but I've got to find it so I can get the exact quote, before "I open mouth, insert foot".........  I'll look for it and get back to ya......If you wanted to vaccinate your birds, you're best bet would be to buy some from a pigeons fancier. It only costs about $.60 or so to vaccinate a bird. I expect a good avian vet could do it, but I bet they'd charge you an arm and two legs...........
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 Renee www.lovebirdsloft.com People have the right to be stupid, but some abuse that privilege. For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness. If you tell the truth you don't have to remember anything. Mark Twain Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them, and you have their shoes.------ Frieda Norris Last edited by Lovebirds; 11th December 2007 at 12:46 PM.
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#6
11th December 2007, 03:29 PM
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I've been told the main concern with storing the PMV vaccine is that once you've opened the bottle there;s a chance bacteria could be introduced and grow. I got mine from Foy's, their instructions recommend emptying the entire bottle into syringes and storing those in the fridge till used up; they didn't say anything at all about shelf life in the syringes, though. Anyway that's what I did and still have lots of vaccine left. Since you're supposed to re-innoculate again in 4-8 week's time, I was going to save it..but the person who showed me how to do the deed advised against saving it that long. So, I'm going to give the rest away hopefully this Saturday at the swap meet. It's only a week 'old' by then, should be OK, I hope. Awfully expensive though to buy 100 doses and only use a dozen or so
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#7
11th December 2007, 03:43 PM
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Do you suspect a bird of having PMV?
How much is the 100 doses? also, i have only seen and caught ONE bird here that had PMV, or even SUSPECTED PMV. All the bird rehabbers i have talked to here said they havent seen it at all, or VERY rarely. It can be different state to state, even town to town i suspect though. Last edited by xxmoxiexx; 11th December 2007 at 03:47 PM. Reason: EDit
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#8
11th December 2007, 03:54 PM
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 The box of vaccine should have an expiration date on it. As long as it's kept refrigerated, you can keep it AT LEAST that long. I KNOW you can keep it longer than a week.
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Renee www.lovebirdsloft.com People have the right to be stupid, but some abuse that privilege. For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness. If you tell the truth you don't have to remember anything. Mark Twain Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them, and you have their shoes.------ Frieda Norris
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#9
11th December 2007, 04:02 PM
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I will check and if it's still dated beyond next Feb., I will keep enough of it to re-do my birds. Thanks for that, saves me paying for it again so soon! I don't mind buying some fresh once a year but was annoyed about having to buy some again in 2 months
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#10
11th December 2007, 04:05 PM
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Back to what the original post was about............I personally wouldn't be that concerned if my birds were not mingling with other birds and weren't flying free. If the birds you've got are all you've got and they are never exposed to any other birds, I don't know that vaccinating them is THAT important. JMO
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Renee www.lovebirdsloft.com People have the right to be stupid, but some abuse that privilege. For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness. If you tell the truth you don't have to remember anything. Mark Twain Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them, and you have their shoes.------ Frieda Norris
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#11
11th December 2007, 04:30 PM
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#12
11th December 2007, 04:54 PM
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No problem.........don't think amoonswirl will mind.........I was helping you along anyway........
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Renee www.lovebirdsloft.com People have the right to be stupid, but some abuse that privilege. For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness. If you tell the truth you don't have to remember anything. Mark Twain Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them, and you have their shoes.------ Frieda Norris
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#13
11th December 2007, 06:18 PM
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Hi again...
I am all about open discussion so no worries that the topic here has gone in a few different directions. I am sure someone (probably me) will learn something from any direction a thread takes so that's all good. My reason for asking about this is not that I suspect a particular bird of having PMV. Just that now I am integrating birds from different sources I was starting to worry about diseases that have a long shelf-life (so to speak) and can be silent in some carriers. I would die if I put birds who I thought were healthy in with my existing flock and they turned out to be carrying a fatal disease that was not evident. Know what I mean? But if PMV in carriers is not a permanent situation then I am much less worried. (though still would like to vaccinate if i can find someone who will sell me about 10 doses) I just wanted some clarification on the life span of the virus.
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Hello! from my little flock to yours. ~Karen
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