HEALTH MANAGEMENT
�� The most economical and ideal method to control disease is through
prevention, which could be achieved by proper management, good
sanitation and having an effective vaccination program.
�� Disease outbreak can be prevented by instituting the following vaccination
program:
Age of Bird | Type of Vaccine to Use | Route of Administration | Remarks |
8-10 days | Intranasal | Chicks from unvaccinated parents may be vaccinated as early as 3days of age. | |
21-24 days | Fowl pox vaccine | Wing web | May not be given in areas where the disease is not common |
26-28 days | NCD | Intranasal or intramuscular | Check protection to 10-14 days after vaccination revaccinate if protection is low |
COMMON DISEASES OF POULTRY
Avian Pest (Newcastle
Cause Virus
Transmission * Direct contact with the nasal and mouth
discharges of infected birds
* Airborne transmission
* Through mechanical means such as being
carried by sparrows (maya), predators, or other birds.
carried by sparrows (maya), predators, or other birds.
* Human beings transmit the disease through
infected clothes and shoes.
Signs * In young birds, gasping, coughing, rattling
of the windpipe, hoarse chirping, paralysis,
walking backward and circling.
of the windpipe, hoarse chirping, paralysis,
walking backward and circling.
* In adults, coughing, occasional paralysis,
abrupt drop in egg production, soft- shelled
eggs, greenish watery diarrhea.
abrupt drop in egg production, soft- shelled
eggs, greenish watery diarrhea.
Prevention Vaccination. Consult your veterinarian for a
program suited to your operation.
program suited to your operation.
Treatment There is no treatment for the disease. In
case of an outbreak, the following measures
could be adopted to minimize its further
spread and effect control of the disease.
case of an outbreak, the following measures
could be adopted to minimize its further
spread and effect control of the disease.
* Isolate sick birds quickly-
* Quarantine the area by regulating persons
entering the disease-affected premises or
from other farms as well as from
one poultry house to another.
from other farms as well as from
one poultry house to another.
* Revaccination of the birds if titer (detected by
serological test) is already low.
* Thoroughly disinfect the houses and
premises. Allow to dries up before occupancy.
premises. Allow to dries up before occupancy.
• Bury dead birds dee
• ply or bum.
Chronic Respiratory Disease (CRD)
Cause Mycoplasma organism or pleuropneumonia-like
organism (PPLO)
Transmission 1. CRD organism is egg-borne; contracted
exposure with infected flock
exposure with infected flock
2. Airborne transmission.
Signs * Tracheal rales, sneezing, coughing watery or
sticky discharged from the nostrils.
* Foamy exudates in the eyes.
* Feed consumption is reduced and the
birds lose weight.
birds lose weight.
Treatment Broad spectrum antibiotics, either by
injection or mixed with the feeds or drinking water.
injection or mixed with the feeds or drinking water.
Coccidiosis
Cause Microscopic organisms called Coccidia
(Eimeria species) usually occurs in
flocks below two months of age.
(Eimeria species) usually occurs in
flocks below two months of age.
Transmission 1. When birds pick up or swallow the coccidial
organisms.
2. Contaminated feed and water.
3. Indirect contact thru files, human beings
and other mechanical means.
and other mechanical means.
Signs * Tendency to huddle together in a comer.
* Decreased feed and water intake and poor
weight gain.
weight gain.
Prevention Incorporation of coccidiostat in the feeds or
drinking water. Use of sulfa drugs. Most
feed companies incorporate this in
the feed mixture as indicated in the
drinking water. Use of sulfa drugs. Most
feed companies incorporate this in
the feed mixture as indicated in the
feed tags.
Mareks Disease
Cause Virus
Transmission Exposure to infected birds or to environment with
existing virus, poultry nests and feeders.
Signs * Initial symptoms are leg weakness and
paralysis of one or both legs.
paralysis of one or both legs.
* Birds tend to rest on their breast with one leg
extended forward and the other backward
* They could hardly reach the
feeders and waterers resulting in
dehydration and emaciation which
feeders and waterers resulting in
dehydration and emaciation which
finally causes death.
Prevention Vaccination with MD vaccine, the most commonly
used is the so called Herpes Virus of Turkey
(HVT).
(HVT).
Treatment There is no known treatment for the disease.
Avian Malaria
Cause Microscopic protozoan parasite
Transmission Bites of mosquitoes, mechanically by blood
transfer as in mass vaccination,
caponization and injection.
caponization and injection.
Signs * Severe anemia (paleness), extreme leg
weakness, emaciation and nervous
signs like twisting of the head.
weakness, emaciation and nervous
signs like twisting of the head.
* The shanks and toes are dry and birds have
ruffled feathers.
* Greenish-yellow or greenish-white diarrhea.
Prevention Control of mosquitoes within the premises
and houses with effective insecticides,
include spraying the breeding places
of mosquitoes. Proper drainage
include spraying the breeding places
of mosquitoes. Proper drainage
of stagnant water.
Treatment Anti-malarial drops like plasmochin, quininehydrochloride
and pyrimethamine combinations were
found effective. Confer with the veterinarians.
Fowl Pox
Cause Virus
Transmission Spread by mosquitoes that feed on poxinfected
birds; direct contact, mechanically
transmitted by visitors, wild birds and
predators.
predators.
Signs There are two forms:
1. Dry form - characterized by the formation
of blackwart-like nodules on the skin of
the face, in the region of the comb, wattles
and around the eyes,causing the
latter to swell and close. There is
of blackwart-like nodules on the skin of
the face, in the region of the comb, wattles
and around the eyes,causing the
latter to swell and close. There is
usually profuse eye discharge.
2. Wet form - characterized by the presence of
whitish-yellow growth of the pharynx, larynx
and windpipe. Because of the growth, there is
and windpipe. Because of the growth, there is
difficulty in breathing which will result in death
due to suffocation.
due to suffocation.
Prevention Vaccination with fowl pox vaccines. Control the
mosquitoes by spraying with insecticides.
Treatment There is no effective treatment against
the disease. In the wet form, removal of
the wart-like growth in the throat usually
leads to recovery. In the dry form, the
the disease. In the wet form, removal of
the wart-like growth in the throat usually
leads to recovery. In the dry form, the
early application of Tincture of iodine directly
on the wart-like growth has been
found to give beneficial results.
on the wart-like growth has been
found to give beneficial results.
Infectious Coryza (colds or 'sipon")
Cause Bacterial organism
Transmission Through the air, direct contact or through
contamination of the feed, water equipment.
Signs * Swelling of the face and wattles and discharge
from the nostrils, which at first is watery, but
becomes sticky and with foul odor as the disease
progresses.
* In laying flock, egg production decreases.
Prevention Strict sanitation of the farm. Isolate sick birds
immediately.
Treatment Broad spectrum antibiotics applied in feed
and water and sulfa preparation
are recommended.
and water and sulfa preparation
are recommended.
Gumboro Disease (IBD)
Cause Virus Gumboro disease is called "catastrophe
disease" because it is the principal cause of
catastrophy in flock. The latter is a term
applied to flocks with high losses
from variable disease conditions.
applied to flocks with high losses
from variable disease conditions.
Transmission B y contact from bird to bird, contaminated
persons or clothing of caretaker.
persons or clothing of caretaker.
Signs Pure cases of IBD infection are difficult
to recognize. Slight tremors of the neck
and the body, depression,
to recognize. Slight tremors of the neck
and the body, depression,
ruffled feathers, wet- droppings, loss of
appetite, severe prostations
and few deaths are clinical
appetite, severe prostations
and few deaths are clinical
manifestations. However, the disease should
besuspected when an
unacceptable percentage of
besuspected when an
unacceptable percentage of
morbidities and mortalities occur between
3-13 weeks of age, these high
losses being associated with
3-13 weeks of age, these high
losses being associated with
vaccination reaction in gangrenous
dermatitis (wing
dermatitis (wing
rot) and anemia.
Prevention Vaccination using IBD vaccine
(Bursa- Vac-Sterwin).
(Bursa- Vac-Sterwin).
Control Immediately isolate the flock in affected
houses and control tile entry of caretakers,
egg collectors, supervisory personnel
and vehicles. Remove and
destroy affected birds immediately.
Incinerate dead birds.
houses and control tile entry of caretakers,
egg collectors, supervisory personnel
and vehicles. Remove and
destroy affected birds immediately.
Incinerate dead birds.
Treatment While there is no successful method of
treatment known, improving tile
nutritional quality of tile feeds
(conditioning rations) and a therapeutic
antibiotic regimen to check possible
treatment known, improving tile
nutritional quality of tile feeds
(conditioning rations) and a therapeutic
antibiotic regimen to check possible
emergence of secondary
bacterial infection must be
instituted. Stresses should
bacterial infection must be
instituted. Stresses should
be avoided.
0 comments