POULTRY DISEASES RESPIRATORY AND GASTROINTESTINAL

Amy Fayette Ross University October 2004

Quail Bronchitis

Cause Age group affected Transmission Clinical Signs + Lesions

Morbidity + Mortality Diagnosis Vaccine

Adenovirus (Type 1) Young Quail (< 4 wks) Fecal-Oral Tracheitis and bronchitis Coughing, sneezing, tracheal rales, airsacculitis Can reach 100% Virus isolation None

Egg Drop Syndrome 76

Cause Age group affected Transmission Clinical Signs + Lesions

Diagnosis Vaccine

Adenovirus Infection Type 3 Chicken layers + ducks Pharynx and feces Loss of color in pigmented eggs, drop in egg production, thin to shell less eggs, rough shell, inactive and atrophied oviducts, edema in uterus Viral Isolation Inactivated vax: 14-16wk pullets

Aspergillosis

Cause Age group affected Transmission

Clinical Signs + Lesions Morbidity + Mortality

Aspergillus fumigatus (mycosis) All avians, all ages Can penetrate egg shell and infect embryo, or spores in feed or litter and inhaled Dyspnea, polydipsia, emaciation, ataxia; mycelial growths in air sacs or lungs, corneal ulceration 5-50%

Aspergillosis continued

Diagnosis Control + Prevention

Treatment

CS and lesions, microscopic demonstration of fungus Good management, use only clean, uncracked eggs, mold-free litter and feed, keep water and feed systems clean Nystatin, ketaconizole (any antifungal but cost prohibitive), top up litter or spray with 1:2000 CuSO4

Avian Pox

Cause Age group affected Transmission

Clinical Signs + Lesions

Avipoxvirus WW all ages Break in skin allows virus in, infected scabs can contaminate the environment Cutaneous form

Papule Vesicle Pustule Scab

Diptheritic form

Space occupying plaque in upper GI and Resp May cause suffocation

Morbidity + Mortality

Cutaneous form- 1-2% mort Diptheritic form- up to 40% mort

Avian Pox Continued

Diagnosis

Control + Prevention

Treatment Vaccine

Intracytoplasmic eosinophilic inclusion bodies, viral isolation, ELISA, viral material will produce lesions in fertile chicken eggs Recovery gives long immunity, live vax, eliminate cannibalism with beak trimming No treatment Live vax

Quail Bronchitis

Cause Age group affected Transmission Clinical Signs + Lesions

Morbidity + Mortality Diagnosis Vaccine

Adenovirus (Type 1) Young Quail (< 4 wks) Fecal-Oral Tracheitis and bronchitis Coughing, sneezing, tracheal rales, airsacculitis Can reach 100% Virus isolation None

Avian Influenza

Cause Age group affected Transmission Clinical signs

Lesions

Type A influenza (orthomyxoviridae) All species (in US mostly turkeys and ducks) Airborne, viral particles from resp tract, fomites May be seasonal from migrating waterfowl, sneezing, rales, lacrimation, sinusitis, drop in egg production, diarrhea, edema of head, nervous disorder For HPAI: fibrinous exudate in airsacs, oviduct, sinusitis, focal necrosis in skin, edema, hemorrhages

Avian Influenza continued

Morbidity + Mortality Diagnosis Control + Prevention

Treatment Vaccine Notifiable or Reportable

AI: variable; HPAI: 100% mortality Viral isolation, virus hemagglutinates Prevent exposure of exotic birds to commercial birds, quarantine, routine serological testing None Not helpful HPAI is

Chlamydiosis

Cause Age group affected Transmission

Clinical Signs

Chlamydia Psittaci Most avian spp and most ages Carrier birds, primarily via inhalation of infected dust from dried feces also ingestion Mild resp signs, drop in egg prod, blood tinged diarrhea, ataxia, paraparesis; pigeons only show conjunctivitis; turkeys show depression, weakness, inappetence, nasal discharge, diarrhea and lung congestion

Chlamydiosis continued

Lesions Morbidity + Mortality Diagnosis Control + Prevention Treatment

Turkeys have splenomegaly with necrohemorrhagic foci 5-30% Culture and ID Avoid exposure to pigeons etc, all in all out system, quarantine Tx under supervision of state vet, tetracycline used but expensive and long course Yes

Notifiable or Reportable

Avian Infectious Bronchitis

Cause Age group affected Transmission

Clinical Signs
Most common URI in the US

Coronavirus Chickens only, all ages Inhalation of virus containing droplets, carriers, survive up to 4 wks in environment Marked decrease in egg prod, soft shelled eggs with watery albimen, gasping resp, sneezing, coughing

AIB continued

Lesions Morbidity + Mortality

Diagnosis Control + Prevention Treatment

Vaccine

Cheesy exudate at tracheal bifurcation, ocular and nasal discharge in young chicks Morbidity: 100%; Mortality: 50% Viral isolation, ELISA Vax No effective tx, broad spectrum ABs may prevent complications Modified live or killed Vax

Infectious Coryza

Cause Age group affected

Transmission

Clinical Signs

Haemophilus paragallinarum All ages (greater than 4wks), chickens, pheasants and guinea fowl Carrier birds, inhalation of resp secretions, ingestion of contaminated feed or water Conjunctivitis with cheesy exudates, oculonasal discharge, sinusitis, facial edema, sneezing, drop in egg production, anorexia High morbidity

Morbidity + Mortality

Infectious Coryza continued

Diagnosis

Control + Prevention

Treatment

Vaccine

Culture of sinus or tracheal swab in candle car, requires V factor from Staph, gram stain, fast moving URI with swollen sinuses is suggestive Eradicate and prevent, all in all out system, proper sanitation, vax Sulfonamides and ABs, tend to relapse Bacterin and modified live vax

Infectious Laryngotracheitis

Cause Age group affected Transmission

Clinical Signs

Herpesvirus All ages, esp mature chickens Carriers, resp transmission, mechanical via fomites Dyspnea, coughing, bloody mucus, cheesy exudates around face, neck and under wings, conjunctivitis, sinusitis, drop in egg production Morbidity: high; Mortality: 1070%

Morbidity + Mortality

ILT continued

Diagnosis

Control + Prevention

Treatment Vaccine Notifiable or Reportable

Viral isolation, chorioallantoic membrane of embroynated eggs All in all out system, dont add vaccinated or recovered birds to susceptible flock Supportive care Attenuated vax Reportable in some states

Mycoplasma gallisepticum

Cause Age group affected Transmission

Clinical Signs

Mycoplasma spp More in older birds (chickens and turkeys) Transovarial, horizontally via inhalation of resp secretions, contamination of feed and water, fomites Develops slowly, poor condition, loss of weight, coughing, sneezing, rales, ocular and nasal discharge, drop in feed consumption, drop in egg production, airsacculitis

MG continued

Lesions

Morbidity + Mortality

Diagnosis
Treatment

Vaccine

Adhesive pericarditis, fibrinous perihepatitis, salpingitis, swollen infraorbital sinuses Mortality variable (higher in broilers) History of CRD with lower weight gain and drop in egg prod, isolate Mg, serology Dip eggs in AB solution or inject eggs, increase incubation temp 115 deg for 12 hours for hens eggs, broad spectrum AB Vax or bacterin

Mycoplasma Synoviae

Cause Age group affected Transmission Clinical Signs

Morbidity + Mortality Diagnosis

Mycoplasma spp Chickens and turkeys Transovarial, horizontally via resp secretions Swollen joints and tendon sheaths, lameness, drop in weight, exudate in joints, airsacculitis, breast blisters Mortality: 10% History of lameness and swollen joints, isolate Ms, serology

Ms continued

Control + Prevention

Treatment

All in all out system, prevent carrier birds, depopulate, obtain Ms disease free chicks Broad spectrum AB, esp tylosin and tetracyclin, improve management and husbandry, decrease stress

Mycoplasma meleagridis

Cause Age group affected Transmission

Clinical Signs

Mycoplasma spp All ages of turkeys Transovarial, semen may be contaminated, during vent sexing from contaminated hands Mild or unapparent resp problems, poor weight gain, airsacculitis, some poults show neck or leg deformities

Mm continued

Diagnosis

Control + Prevention

Treatment

History of air sac lesions in embryos and poults, isolate Mm, serology All in all out system, depopulate, obtain Mm disease free poults, dip eggs in Ab soln Broad spectrum AB, tx semen with AB

New Castle Disease

Cause Transmission Clinical Signs

Paramyxovirus type 1 Infected droppings and resp discharge, transovarial Lentogenic: mild signs, subclinical; Mesogenic: resp signs (hoarse, chirping, nasal discharge, coughing), CNS involvement (0-25%), drop in egg production, higher mortality (up to 50%), mild airsacculitis, tracheitis, conjunctivitis; Velogenic: sudden death, marked resp signs, diarrhea, CNS involvement, facial edema, hemorrhagic foci in GIT, inflammation and froth in trachea and air sacs

NCD continued

Morbidity + Mortality

Diagnosis Control + Prevention Treatment Vaccine Notifiable or Reportable

Lentogenic: low mort; Mesogenic: up to 50%; Velogenic: 50-100% Viral isolation, hemagglutination Control importation of birds, vax Supportive tx only Vax only for lentogenic and mesogenic strains Report all suspected

Candidiasis

Cause Age group affected Transmission

Clinical Signs

Candida albicans All ages, mostly young chickens and turkeys Drinking water also improperly stored litter and food CS may be masked by a primary problem, involves upper GI, listlessness, ruffled feathers, diarrhea, regurgitation

Candidiasis continued

Lesions

Morbidity + Mortality Diagnosis Control and Prevention

Treatment

Lesions primarily in mouth, esophagus and crop, white pseudomembranous or dipheritic patches, raised focal lesions, soft cheesy exudates Present in normal flora Culture and ID Good management and sanitation, obtain quality birds, decrease stress, avoid changes that alter the gut flora Bleach water supply, gentian violet to feed

Ulcerative enteritis (quail disease)

Cause Age group affected Transmission

Clinical Signs
Lesions

Clostridium colinum Young quail and pullets Usually assoc with stress or other disease states Depressed, ruffled anorexic, watery white droppings Hemorrhagic enteritis in duodenum, GI ulcers, liver has yellow grey necrotic areas, spleen hemorrhagic and enlarged

Ulcerative enteritis continued

Morbidity + Mortality Diagnosis Control + Prevention Treatment

Mortality: 50%, greater in young Culture and ID Main reason for wire bottom cages Many effective drugs

Necrotic enteritis

Cause Age group affected Clinical Signs Lesions

Diagnosis Treatment

Clostridium perfringens C Turkeys and broilers less than 4 wks old May resemble coccidiosis, diarrhea, huddling together, high pitched voice GIT thickened and necrotic, hemorrhage into lumen Culture and ID Many drugs effective

Gangrenous dermatitis (malignant edema or necrotic edema)

Cause Age group affected Clinical Signs Lesions

Diagnosis Vaccine

Clostridium septicum, perfringens and staph aureus Immunosuppressed birds (esp with previous IBD infection) mainly birds greater than 4 wks Legs and feet red and swollen; tips of wings, inner thigh, and under wing red Red sloughing of tissue, internal organs enlarged and congested, SQ gas production, lung jelly like Culture and ID Vaccines for IBD help to decrease

Botulism

Cause Age group affected Transmission Clinical Signs

Morbidity + Mortality Diagnosis

Clostridium botulinum Most avians, esp ducks Ingestion of toxin Death 12-24 hours, weakness, incoordination, flacid paralysis, loose feathers (not in turkeys) 100% mortality after symptoms appear CS, may find toxin in crop

Botulism continued

Control + Prevention

Keep animals away from where toxins may be

Decaying carcasses, shallow alkaline ponds, maggots

Treatment

No treatment after CS, before CS: antitoxins, flush GIT, substrate to stimulate eating and drinking

What are the top killers of wild ducks

Botulism Lead poisoning Cholera

What are the top killers of domestic ducks

Botulism Cholera Duck viral hepatitis

Duck viral enteritis

Cause Age group affected Transmission Clinical Signs

Herpesvirus Ducks, geese, and swans, all ages Carrier birds via infected feces and other discharges, suspect arthropods that feed on infected birds CS 3-7 days post exposure, bloody diarrhea, blood stained vent, dehydration, cyanotic bill, high mortality, drop in egg production, tremors, inappetence, weakness, ataxia, unable to stand, photophobia, adhered eyelids (bloody conjunctivitis), polydipsia, severe hemorrhagic enteritis

DVE continued

Lesions

Morbidity + Mortality Diagnosis Control + Prevention

Treatment

Die in characteristic position with the neck twisted downwards, sideways or backwards High mortality up to 100% Viral isolation and ID, CS Avoid contact with wild waterfowl, good management, clean water, quarantine Supportive treatment

DVE continued

Vaccine

Notifiable or Reportable

Available but not for general use, only available by approved animal health authorities Reportable in US

Duck Viral Hepatitis

Cause Age group affected

Transmission
Clinical Signs Lesions

Enterovirus in the picornaviridae family Commercial pekin ducklings less than 4wks old Shed in feces by recovered ducklings for up to 8 wks after onset of infection Squat with eyes closed, ataxia, kick spasmodically Liver swollen and hemorrhagic, die in opisthotonos position

DVH continued

Morbidity + Mortality Up to 1 wk= 95%; 1-3 wks = 50%; over 4 wks = negligible Viral isolation and ID, suggestive Diagnosis if rapid onset hemorrhagic hepatitis in young ducklings Control + Prevention In an outbreak inoculate IM with duck viral antiserum, vaccinate unexposed ducklings, vaccinate breeder ducks every 3-4 months Treatment Supportive tx

Erysipelas

Cause Transmission

Clinical Signs

Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae Organism favors alkaline soil and is resistant in the environment for years, shed in feces of recovered birds for 41 days, fecal oral route, can also enter through a break in the skin Sudden death, squat, and appear sleepy, depressed, unsteady gate, ataxia, yellow green diarrhea, resp signs, swollen snood, catarrhal enteritis

Erysipelas continued

Lesions

Morbidity + Mortality Diagnosis

Dark red skin, splenomegaly and congestion of internal organs, purulent arthritis and endocarditis in chronic cases Mortality up to 50% Culture and ID, use candle jar for incubation to obtain 5-10% CO2, gram stain liver or spleen impression smear

Erysipelas continued

Control + Prevention

Limit contact between personnel and animals, prevent breaks in the skin, avoid stress in the birds, raise poults away from older turkeys that may be carriers, vax in enzootic areas with bacterin at 8-12 wks and repeat at least once, obtain semen from clean flock, debeaking helps to decrease disease

Erysipelas continued

Treatment

Vaccine

Pen and erysipelas bacterin, vax birds may show false rxn when tested for mycoplasma spp Vax available (bacterin)

E coli

Cause Age group affected Transmission

Escherichia coli All types of avians and all ages Fecal oral route, transovarial, contamination of the egg shell via fecal material from hen

Most common secondary poultry infection in US

E coli continued

Clinical Signs

Airsacculitis

Thickened air sacs with caseous exudate Fibrinous pericarditis and perihepatitis 3-7 wk old broilers Assoc with dusty litter Many times will follow another resp dz Signs and lesions vary
Resembles fowl typhoid and cholera Acute condition common in 4-12 wk chicks Swollen internal organs Petechial hemorrhages Liver greenish with small necrotic foci Variable mortality

Acute septicemia (colisepticemia)

E coli continued

Clinical Signs

Enteritis

Diarrhea, mucoid enteritis Exudate soiled vent area Depressed and cachexic
Most are mixed bacterial infections Navel area swollen and inflamed Wet abdomen Abnormal yolk material Peritonitis High mortality Dirty hatcheries

Omphalitis

E coli continued

Clinical Signs

Salpingitis

Entry of coliform bacteria from vagina Affected birds usually die by 6mos and never lay Oviduct distended with purulent odiferous exudate Upright or penguin posture
Looks like TB Uncommon Nodules in GIT, mesentery and liver

Coligranuloma (Hjarres dz)

E coli continued

Clinical Signs

Synovitis and arthritis

Lame or recumbent Swelling of tendon sheaths and joints with caseous exudate Chronic arthritic condition may be seen Frequently a sequel to systemic infection
Hypopyon usually in 1 eye which is blind Frequently a sequel to systemic infection Most systemic e coli infections have assoc peritonitis Myocarditis and opaque pericardial sac

Panopthalmitis

Pericarditis

E coli continued

Diagnosis

Control + Prevention

Treatment

Culture and ID, always assume isolated e coli is secondary to another primary dz Minimize egg shell contamination, sanitation and fumigation a must, use feed that is free of feces, prevent other diseases parasites and stress, obtain good quality dz free chicks Many Abs work, culture and sensitivity should be done

Hemorrhagic Enteritis

Cause Age group affected Transmission

Clinical Signs

Lesions

Adenovirus Type 2 Young turkeys, 6-12 wks Carrier birds, ingestion of contaminated feces, equipment, may follow sudden changes in feed, no egg transmission Sudden death, drop in food and water consumption, fresh blood in feces, blood stained vent, outbreaks of colisepticemia, SI distended and blood filled Spleen enlarged and mottled, as dz progresses atrophies and becomes silvergrey, hemorrhage seen in muscle, heart, liver and kidney

HE continued

Morbidity + Mortality Diagnosis Control + Prevention Treatment

Vaccine

Mortality variable (10-60%) Viral culture and Id Vaccine given at 3-4wks, good management, avoid sudden changes in diet Supportive tx, antiserum from recovered birds Vaccine available