Poultry ISVMA
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7/27/18 Poultry Medicine 101 A little bit of Poultry Facts…. Poultry includes not just chickens but ducks, turkeys, geese, game birds, pigeons, and ratites. Chickens make up the largest sector of the poultry industry. There are 100s of breeds of poultry worldwide. The American Poultry association recognizes 65 different breeds. Jennifer Serling CVT Email: [email protected] 1 2 The Egg-cellent world of poultry medicine!!! Unique Chickens… § Backyard poultry are becoming more and more popular with “lay”people ;) § Avian species has nucleated § CDC recommends educating owners RBCs. They are able to move on health hazards associated with oxygen more efficiently than raising poultry mammals which have § Normal healthy hens can lay over 300 enucleated RBCs. eggs a year. As they age the number will decrease but the size of the egg will § Chickens have a 300 degree increase Terminology: panoramic range of vision § On average egg laying begins at 6 Broiler months depending on breed. § Chickens are omnivores Capon § Broilers slaughtered at approx. 5 lbs Cockerel § Earlobes determine color of Pullet § Feed is the largest factor in raising eggs poultry but it is imperative to feed Layer properly. Spent Hen 3 4 1 7/27/18 Restraint of Chickens PE Chickens § Poultry should be restrained by grasping both legs and § Observe from distance for obvious issues- behavior supporting the body with wings held against the body. Do and overall appearance. not put heavy pressure on the chest. § § Symptoms of stress in poultry include reddened face, comb, Observe flock as well. and wattles along with open mouth breathing and panting. § Perform systematic evaluation: Respiratory distress will involve gasping, extension of the • Head and Neck neck, and cyanotic comb and wattle. • Eyes, Nares, and Beak § • Feathers • Vent • Legs and Feet *Respiration and Temperature can be measured easily. HR sometimes is a challenge due to the rapid rate. 5 6 Poultry vital signs Venipuncture Sites Chicken § Brachial Vein Heart Rate Respiratory Rate Temp F0 § Metatarsal Chicken 250-300 bpm 12-36 bpm 105-109 § Jugular § Toenail (Least preferred) Turkey 160-175 bpm 28-49 bpm 103-107 Duck 180-230 bpm 13-40 bpm 102-106 § Other Injections Sites: • Subcutaneous- Inguinal • Duck 180-230 bpm 13-40 bpm 102-106 Intramuscular- pectoral muscle Goose 80-150 bpm 5-15 bpm 103-104 7 8 2 7/27/18 Vaccinations and Preventative Medicine Common Ectoparasites § Dependent on previous disease exposure and use of flock. § Northern Fowl Mites § Scaly Leg Mites § Stick Tight Fleas § Poultry Lice § Chicken Mites 9 10 Common Endoparasites Common Poultry Diseases § Large Roundworms (Ascarida galli) § Small roundworms (Capillaria sp.) § Cecal worm (Heterakis gallinarum). § Tapeworms § Coccidia 11 12 3 7/27/18 Management Related Diseases Newcastle § AKA: pneumoencephalitis § Cannibalism § Species affected: Newcastle disease affects all birds of all ages. Humans and other mammals are also susceptible to Newcastle. In such species, it causes a § Trauma mild conjunctivitis. § Clinical signs: Newcastle disease is characterized by a sudden onset of clinical § Fatty Liver signs which include hoarse chirps (in chicks), watery discharge from nostrils, labored breathing (gasping), facial swelling, paralysis, trembling, and twisting of § Cage Layer Fatigue the neck (sign of central nervous system involvement). Mortality ranges from 10 to 80 percent depending on the pathogenicity. In adult laying birds, symptoms § can include decreased feed and water consumption and a dramatic drop in egg Cloacal Prolapse production § Egg Binding § Transmission: The virus can be transmitted short distances by the airborne route or introduced on contaminated shoes, caretakers, feed deliverers, visitors, tires, dirty equipment, feed sacks, crates, and wild birds. It can be passed in the egg, but Newcastle-infected embryos die before hatching. In live birds, the virus is shed in body fluids and secretions. 13 14 Newcastle Fowl Pox § § Treatment: There is no specific treatment for AKA: chicken pox (not to be confused with chicken pox in humans), sore head, Newcastle disease. Antibiotics can be given for avian diphtheria, bird pox 3–5 days to prevent secondary bacterial § Species affected: Most poultry—chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, ducks, infections (particularly E. coli ). For chicks, psittacine, and ratites—of all ages are susceptible. increasing the brooding temperature by 5°F may help reduce losses. § Clinical signs: Two forms of fowl pox. • The dry form is characterized by raised, wart-like lesions on unfeathered areas (head, legs, vent, § Prevention: Prevention programs should include etc.). The lesions heal in about 2 weeks. Unthriftiness and retarded growth are typical symptoms of vaccination, good sanitation, and fowl pox. In laying hens, infection results in a decline in egg production. implementation of a comprehensive biosecurity • In the wet form there are canker-like lesions in the mouth, pharynx, larynx, and trachea. The wet form program. may cause respiratory distress by obstructing the upper air passages. Chickens may be affected with either or both forms of fowl pox at one time. 15 16 4 7/27/18 Fowl Pox Infectious Bronchitis § AKA: IB, bronchitis, cold § Transmission: Fowl pox is transmitted by direct contact between infected and § Species affected: Infectious bronchitis is a disease of chickens only. susceptible birds or by mosquitos. Virus-containing scabs also can be sloughed from affected birds and serve as a source of infection. The virus can enter the § Clinical signs: The severity of infectious bronchitis infection is influenced by the blood stream through the eye, skin wounds, or respiratory tract. Mosquitos age and immune status of the flock, by environmental conditions, and by the become infected from feeding on birds with fowl pox in their blood stream. presence of other diseases. Feed and water consumption declines. Affected chickens will be chirping, with a watery discharge from the eyes and nostrils, § Treatment: No treatment is available. However, fowl pox is relatively slow- and labored breathing with some gasping in young chickens. Breathing noises spreading, it is possible to vaccinate to stop an outbreak. are more noticeable at night while the birds rest. Egg production drops § Prevention: Fowl pox outbreaks in poultry confined to houses can be controlled dramatically. by spraying to kill mosquitos. However, if fowl pox is endemic in the area, § Transmission: Infectious bronchitis is a very contagious poultry disease. It is vaccination is recommended. spread by air, feed bags, infected dead birds, infected houses, and rodents. The virus can be egg-transmitted, however, affected embryos usually will not hatch. 17 18 Infectious Bronchitis Avian Influenza § AKA: AI, flu, influenza, fowl plague § Treatment: There is no specific treatment for infectious bronchitis. Antibiotics for 3–5 days may aid in combating secondary bacterial infections. Raise the room § Species affected: Avian influenza can occur in all species of birds. temperature by 5°F for brooding-age chickens until symptoms subside. Baby § Clinical signs: Avian influenza is categorized as mild or highly pathogenic. chicks can be encouraged to eat by using a warm, moist mash. • The mild form produces listlessness, loss of appetite, respiratory distress, diarrhea, transient drops in egg production, and low mortality. § Prevention: Establish and enforce a biosecurity program. Vaccinations are • The highly pathogenic form produces facial swelling, blue comb and wattles, and dehydration with available. respiratory distress. Dark red/white spots develop in the legs and combs of chickens. There can be blood-tinged discharge from the nostrils. Mortality can range from low to near 100 percent. § Transmission: Very hardy virus that is viable in the environment for long periods of time. The disease can be spread through improper disposal of infected carcasses and manure. Avian influenza can be spread by contaminated shoes, clothing, crates, and other equipment. Insects and rodents may mechanically carry the virus from infected to susceptible poultry. 19 20 5 7/27/18 Avian Influenza Infectious Coryza § Treatment: There is no effective § AKA: Roup, cold, coryza treatment for avian influenza. With the § mild form of the disease, good Caused by bacteria: Avibacterium paragallinarum husbandry, proper nutrition, and broad § Species affected: chickens, pheasants, and guinea fowl. spectrum antibiotics may reduce losses from secondary infections. Recovered § Clinical signs: Swelling around the face, foul smelling, thick, sticky discharge from the flocks continue to shed the virus. nostrils and eyes, labored breathing, and rales (rattles—an abnormal breathing sound) The eyelids are irritated and may stick together. The birds may have diarrhea and growing Vaccines may only be used with special birds may become stunted permit. § Mortality from coryza is low, but infections can decrease egg production and increase the § Prevention: Strict quarantine and rapid incidence and/or severity of other diseases. Mortality can be as high as 50 percent, but is destruction of all infected flocks remains usually no more than 20 percent. The clinical disease can last from a few days to 2–3 the only effective method of stopping an months, depending on the virulence of the pathogen and the existence of other infections avian influenza outbreak. If you suspect such as mycoplasmosis. you may have Avian Influenza in your § Transmission: primarily transmitted by direct bird-to-bird