Poultry Health Management Guide

1. Chapter 37 Diseases and Parasites of Poultry

2. Objectives • Establish a disease and parasite control program for poultry • Identify the Symptoms of Common Poultry Diseases • Identify the Common Parasites of Poultry • Describe methods of preventing disease and parasite infestation of poultry

3. Maintaining Poultry Health • Preventive management is the best way to control poultry diseases and parasites • A preventative program involves • Sanitation • Good management • Vaccination • Control of disease outbreaks

4. Maintaining Poultry Health (cont.) • Sanitation • Poultry houses must be completely cleaned and disinfected • This has to be done before new birds are moved in • Whenever possible, do not allow visitors to enter poultry houses, pens, yards • Dispose of dead birds properly

5. Maintaining Poultry Health (cont.) • Vaccination • Not substitute for good health management • Vaccinate only healthy birds • Can be helpful in controlling certain diseases • Newcastle disease • Marek’s disease • Infectious bronchitis • Fowl pox, etc.

6. Maintaining Poultry Health (cont.) • Controlling Disease Outbreaks • Better to prevent a disease than try to control it • During the first 3 weeks • Normal death rate for chicks is about 2 percent • For turkeys, it is about 3 percent • After the 3 three weeks the death rate should be below 1 percent per month

7. Diseases and Disorders • Amyloidosis • The liver becomes hard and fluids accumulate within the body cavity • Aortic Rupture/Dissecting Aneurysm • Artery ruptures, bird bleeds to death internally • Arthritis/Synovitis • Inflammation of joints, synovial membranes

8. Diseases and Disorders (cont.) • Aspergillosis (Brooder Pneumonia) • Caused by a fungus or mold • Avian Influenza (Fowl Plague) • Caused by several viruses • Avian Leukosis • A complex of diseases caused by viruses

9. Diseases and Disorders (cont.) • Avian Pox (Fowl Pox) • No treatment • Avian Vibrionic Hepatitis • Affects chickens in an acute or chronic form • Blackhead • Caused by a protozoan parasite

10. Diseases and Disorders (cont.) • Bluecomb (Transmissible Enteritis; Mud Fever) • Caused by a virus and affects all ages • Bluecomb (Pullet Disease) • Cause unknown but is believed to be a virus • Bumblefoot (Staphylococcosis) • A disease of the feet that affects turkeys

11. Diseases and Disorders (cont.) • Botulism (Limberneck; Food Poisoning) • Bird eats decayed material containing a toxin • Cage Layer Fatigue • Affects young pullets laying eggs at high rate • Coccidiosis • Caused by a number of protozoan parasites called coccidia

12. Diseases and Disorders (cont.) • Coliform Infections (Colibacillosis) • Young birds are more commonly affected • Duck Virus Enteritis (Duck Plague) • There is no treatment; death loss is high • Degenerative Joint Disease • Mainly effects turkeys and laying hens

13. Diseases and Disorders (cont.) • Degenerative Myopathy (Green Muscle Disease) • Inner large breast muscle degenerates • Dietary Disorders • Number of diet-related disorders affect poultry • Epidemic Tremor (Avian Encephalomyelitis) • Chicks become paralyzed and tremble

14. Diseases and Disorders (cont.) • Erysipelas • First sign of disease is several dead birds • Fatty Liver Syndrome • Affects mainly caged birds on high-energy diets • Fowl Cholera, Endemic Fowl Cholera (Pasteurellosis) • Almost eliminated by good management in commercial flocks

15. Diseases and Disorders (cont.) • Hemorrhagic Anemia Syndrome • Death loss is high in acute form • Hemorrhagic Enteritis • Most common in older turkeys • Hexamitiasis • Caused by protozoan parasite

16. Diseases and Disorders (cont.) • Inclusion Body Hepatitis • Sudden death is often a symptom • Infectious Bronchitis • Caused by a virus and only affects chickens • Infectious Bursal Disease (Gumboro) • Prevention is by vaccination

17. Diseases and Disorders (cont.) • Infectious Coryza • Caused by a bacterium • Laryngotracheitis • Death rate is high • Leucocytozoonosis • Mainly affects turkey poults and ducklings

18. Diseases and Disorders (cont.) • Mycoplasmosis • Chronic respiratory disease • Mycotoxicosis • Fungi, mold grow on feed, litter produce toxins • Necrotic Enteritis • Sudden death of healthy birds is first sign

19. Diseases and Disorders (cont.) • Newcastle Disease • Occurs in several forms, each caused by a different virus • New Duck Disease (Infectious Serositis) • One of the most serious illnesses for ducklings • Omphalitis • Appears to be caused by several bacteria

20. Diseases and Disorders (cont.) • Ornithosis • In humans it is called parrot fever • Poisoning • Birds may be poisoned by eating or drinking any toxic materials • Round Heart Disease • Heart becomes enlarged, rounded, and flabby

21. Diseases and Disorders (cont.) • Salmonella and Paracolon Infections • Four diseases of poultry that are caused by these bacteria include • Pullorum disease • Fowl typhoid • Paratyphoid • Paracolon infections

22. Diseases and Disorders (cont.) • Trichomoniasis • Caused by a protozoan parasite • Ulcerative Enteritis • Acute form can cause sudden death

23. External Parasites • There are many parasites that affect the poultry industry • Mites and lice create the most serious problems

24. External Parasites (cont.) • Mites

25. External Parasites (cont.) • Mites (cont.) • Common Chicken Mites • Northern Fowl Mite • Scaly Leg Mite

26. External Parasites (cont.) • Poultry Lice • Insects; have six legs • Most common type is body louse • All poultry lice have chewing mouth parts • Feed on skin, scab tissue, and feather parts • Will not feed on humans

27. External Parasites (cont.) • Fowl Tick • Dark-colored bloodsucker • Can cause paralysis • Fleas and Bedbugs • Bloodsuckers; feed on bird at night • Flies • Nuisance around poultry house

28. External Parasites (cont.) • Control of External Parasites • Basis is sanitation procedures • Insecticides may be used for control • Check with poultry specialists, veterinarians, or the Cooperative Extension Service for current regulations for insecticide use

29. Internal Parasites • Internal parasites that affect poultry include • Large roundworms • Cropworms (capillaria) • Cecal worms • Tapeworms • Flukes • Gapeworms • Gizzard worms

30. Internal Parasites (cont.)

31. Internal Parasites (cont.)

32. Internal Parasites (cont.)

33. Internal Parasites (cont.)

34. Internal Parasites (cont.)