The 10 Most Common Poultry Diseases and How to Prevent Them
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| The 10 Most Common Poultry Diseases and How to Prevent Them |
For any poultry farmer, it’s essential to be able to keep your flock healthy and happy while they produce eggs or meat. Unfortunately, not all diseases can be prevented by diligent care and management of your flock, but if you’re aware of the most common poultry diseases and their symptoms, you can catch them before they turn into full-blown epidemics in your chicken coop. Here are the 10 most common poultry diseases and their symptoms.
1 Coccidiosis
Coccidiosis is a highly contagious disease that can affect all species of poultry, including chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, doves and ducks. The disease is caused by protozoa of the genus Eimeria (the oocysts of which are shed in droppings). Once oocysts are ingested or inhaled by susceptible birds they form cysts in various organs. Infected birds may appear lethargic, have diarrhea and be anorexic. Diagnosis is made through microscopic examination of feces for oocysts. It’s important to note that coccidiosis can also be caused by other parasites besides Eimeria such as Isospora spp., Cryptosporidium spp., Sarcocystis spp., Toxoplasma gondii and microsporidia like Nosema spp.. All these parasites are transmitted through contaminated water or feed but there is no cross-infection between them so it’s possible for poultry flocks to be infected with more than one parasite at a time.
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2 Salmonella in Poultry
Salmonella is a widespread bacterial infection that can be particularly harmful in poultry. It’s one of the most common types of food poisoning; an estimated 44,000 people are hospitalized each year because of salmonella-related illnesses. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say about 1.2 million cases per year occur, with roughly 200 related deaths each year. To prevent salmonella from spreading through your flock, you need to know how it spreads and what you can do to stop it.
3 Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)
Avian influenza, also known as bird flu, is a highly contagious disease affecting birds. This virus was originally thought to be harmless because it does not harm humans, but recent strains have been found that can mutate into human-infecting strains. For example, an avian influenza strain called H5N1 has infected several people who are in close contact with poultry or live near poultry farms. Signs of bird flu include watery droppings and weight loss in a chicken. Treatment is difficult because antiviral drugs do not always work on all strains of avian influenza. The best way to prevent infection is by isolating any sick chickens so they cannot spread the disease further.
4 Newcastle Disease
Newcastle disease is one of a number of illnesses caused by Newcastle disease virus (NDV). NDV is a member of the Paramyxoviridae family, which also includes mumps, measles, and respiratory syncytial virus. An airborne virus with no known cure, NDV spreads through transmission from infected birds’ nasal secretions or droppings. Once inside a host bird’s body, NDV interferes with various organs—particularly those involved in breathing—and stops them from working correctly. As such, ND can cause severe breathing difficulties that lead to death in birds with compromised immune systems; otherwise it will usually cause mild or nonexistent symptoms.
5. Infectious Bronchitis
Infectious bronchitis (IB) is a viral disease that most commonly affects young chickens. There are actually two different strains of IB, which are differentiated by their symptoms: Infectious bronchitis (IB): Symptoms of IB include coughing, sneezing, discharge from eyes and nostrils, loss of appetite, weight loss and listlessness. Infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT): ILT is transmitted more easily than IB between birds; symptoms include coughing, discharge from eyes or nostrils, greenish-yellow nasal discharge and reduced feed consumption with no weight loss. In both cases mortality rates can be high in flocks that have not been vaccinated.
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6. Laryngotracheitis Virus (LTI)
LTI is a very common respiratory disease of poultry caused by an Alphaherpesvirus. It is one of several diseases of poultry commonly referred to as laryngotracheitis. The disease can be extremely severe in young birds, but is rarely fatal unless they are treated with steroids. The disease is also known as cacatua conjunctivitis because it affects primarily cockatoos and other psittacines (parrots) which share close quarters with large macaws, or macaws housed near parrots that fly freely in bird rooms. An outbreak of LTI has devastated a breeding colony of parrots at Ohio State University.
7. Marek's Disease
This disease occurs in a number of birds, but it's most prevalent in chickens. Marek's is an upper respiratory infection that affects multiple systems, including nerves, bone marrow, blood vessels, organs, skin and skeletal muscle. It also causes severe neurological issues. In most cases Marek's spreads through contact with infected birds; however recent studies have found links between Marek's Disease and environmental contaminants such as pesticides or heavy metals. While there is no cure for Marek's Disease, treatment can greatly increase poultry life expectancy so early detection is vital in helping farmers save their birds from illness. If you own poultry or work at a farm where poultry are present it's important that you know how to spot symptoms so you can quickly get your bird help before it becomes too late.
8. Mycoplasma Synoviae
Also known as MS, mycoplasma synoviae is a bacterial disease found in turkeys, chickens, quail, pheasants, and other birds. The disease is not transmissible from poultry to humans. In turkeys, it can cause respiratory problems; in chickens, it can cause respiratory symptoms as well as reduced egg production and sometimes even death. If a flock is infected with MS early in life, birds may be stunted or scrawny.
9. Avian Gastric Yeast Syndrome
Avian gastric yeast syndrome is caused by a combination of yeast-like fungus known as Candida albicans. The disease causes lesions in a chicken’s mouth, which blocks food from reaching its stomach. If left untreated, AGY can kill a chicken within 48 hours. Typically AGY is contracted when chickens are fed high-grain diets, although it can also be transmitted via mosquitoes or biting flies. (3) What you should do: Incorporate probiotics into your poultry’s diet by adding yogurt or buttermilk to their water for extra protection against diseases like AGY. Or, if you already know your flock is infected with AGY, consider switching them over to freshly ground corn instead of high-grain rations until they recover.
10. Infectious Bursal Disease (IBD)
This is one of two major infectious diseases that can cause mortality in poultry. The primary signs are red eyes, ruffled feathers, lethargy, tachypnea (increased respiratory rate), high temperature and jaundice. Bacterial infections should be treated with antibiotics. Sick birds should be isolated from other flocks so as not to spread IBD around. #9 Fowl Typhoid (FQ): This is a bacterial disease of chickens caused by Yersinia enterocolitica. Initial signs include depression and loss of appetite, watery feces containing blood or mucus, weight loss and jaundice (yellow discoloration). Treatment involves use of antibiotics such as erythromycin or tylosin phosphate.
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