Common Poultry Diseases

1. Infectious Diseases

These are diseases that can be transmitted to

other stocks via direct contact, air and
mechanical means and even by farm visitor.
Viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, internal and
external parasites are the causative pathogens of
these disease.
a. Avian Pest (New Castle Disease)
Causal  Virus
Organism
Transmission  Direct contact with the nasal and mouth discharges of
infected birds
 Airborne transmission
 Through mechanical means like being carried by birds,
predators
 Contaminated clothes and shoes of farm visitors
Signs and  Sharp drop in feed intake, decrease in egg production
Symptoms  Gasping, coughing, rattling of the windpipe, hoarse
chirping, paralysis, walking backward and circling in the
young birds.
 For adults, coughing, occasional paralysis, abrupt drop in
egg production, soft-shelled eggs and greenish watery
diarrhea.
Prevention  Vaccination (consult a veterinarian)
 Disinfect all watering and feeding equipment
 Isolate infected birds from healthy ones
Treatment  No known Treatment
b. Chronic Respiratory Disease (CRD)
Causal  Bacteria (Mycoplasma gallipsepticum)
Organism
Transmission  CRD organisms is egg-borne; contracted
exposure to infected flock
 Airborne Transmission
Signs  Tracheal rales, sneezing, coughing watery or
sticky discharge from the nostrils
 Foamy exudates in the eyes
 Reduce feed consumption and loss of weight
 Rapid spread, decrease egg production
Prevention  Rigid Sanitation
Treatment  Broad spectrum antibiotics, either by
injection of mixed with the feeds or drinking
water

C. Fowl Pox
Causal Organism  Virus
Transmission  Spread by mosquitoes that feed on pox-infected birds; direct
contact
 Mechanically transmitted by visitors, wild birds and
predators
Signs There are two forms
 Dry Form – characterized by the formation of black wart-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.
 Wet form – characterized by the presence of whitish-yellow
growth of the pharynx, larynx and windpipe, hence there is
difficulty in breathing which will result in death due to
suffocation.
Prevention  Vaccination with fowl pox vaccine
 Control mosquitoes by spraying with insecticides
Treatment  No known effective treatment but for wet form the removal of
the wart-like growth in the throat usually leads to recovery. In
the dry form, the early applications of tincture of iodine directly
on the wart-like growth has been found to give beneficial
benefits.
D. Infectious Coryza (Colds or Sipon)

Causal  Bacterial Organisms

Organism
Transmission  Through the air, direct contact through contamination of
the feed, water equipment
 Sudden change in the temperature
 Unsanitary housing conditions
Signs  Swelling of the face and wattles and discharge from the
nostrils, which at first is watery becomes sticky and with
foul odor as the disease progresses
 Feed intake decreases
 Egg production decreases
Prevention  Strict sanitation of the farm
 Immediate isolation of sick birds
 Control mosquitoes by spraying with insecticides
Treatment  Broad spectrum antibiotics applied in the feed and water
and sulfa preparation
E. Mareks Disease

Causal  Virus
Organism
Transmission  Exposure to infected birds to environment with
existing virus, poultry nests and feeders
Signs  Initial symptoms are legs weakness and
paralysis of one or both legs
 Birds tends to rest on their breast with one leg
extended and the other backward
 Hardly reach the 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
 Treatment  No known treatment

F. Coccidiosis

Causal  Microscopic organisms called Coccidia

Organism (Eimeria species) which attack the digestive system.
Usually occurs in chicks below three months of age.
Transmission  When birds pick up or swallow the coccidial
organisms
 Contaminated feed and water
 Indirect contact through flies, human beings
Signs  Tendency to huddle together in a corner
 Decrease of feed and water intake and poor
weight gain

Prevention  Incorporation of coccidialstats in the feeds or

 drinking water. Use of sulfa drugs.
Treatment  No known Treatment

2. Non – Infectious Disease

a. Cage layer Fatigue
This disease is characterized by paralysis with thin brittle bones.
It happens in high producing commercial layers kept in cages.
It is associated with deficiency of calcium and phosphorus in the
diet. Treatment with vitamin d and extra phosphorus may be
helpful
b. Scaly Leg
Cause by burrowing mites under the scales of the poultry’s leg and
feet.
Shanks of the affected birds enlarged and roughened and in serious
cases it becomes lame.
Disease may be treated by brushing off the crust after soaking the
legs in soapsuds and coating of the clean portion with creolized
Vaseline. Another effective treatment is dipping the legs with
kerosene and coconut oil mixture of 1:1 proportion.
 Other Common Poultry Disease

1. Infectious Bursal Disease (GUMBORO)

A very transmissible viral infection which increases mortality and
reduce growth rate in chicks from two to six weeks of age.
2. Avian Malaria
An avian blood stream infection caused by protozoa in humid areas
which is spread by mosquitoes.
Described by chickens dropping their heads and frequent chilling
It reduces egg production and eventually results in mortality
Maintained cleanliness through proper drainage will eliminate the
growth of the mosquito carriers to prevent the diseases.