COMMON DISEASES IN POULTRY

General Signs of Disease

• Poor appetite
• Huddling
• Depression
• Runting/stunting
• Poor uniformity
• Ruffled feathers
• Coughing, sneezing
• Oculo-nasal discharge,
• Difficult breathing
• Bloody or wet litter
• Increased mortality
 Diseases of Poultry
VIRAL DISEASES BACTERIAL DISEASES
• Fowl pox • Infectious Coryza
• New Castle Disease • Bacillary White Diarrhoea
(ranikhet disease) • Bumble Foot

DEFECIENCY DISEASES
• Curled Toe Paralysis
 FOWL POX
Viral Disease
Fowlpox is the worldwide disease of poultry caused by viruses of
the family Poxviridae and the genus Avipoxvirus. The viruses causing
fowlpox are distinct from one another but antigenically similar,
possible hosts including chickens, turkeys, quail, canaries, pigeons,
and many other species of birds. There are two forms of the
disease.
The first is spread by biting insects (especially mosquitoes) and
wound contamination and causes lesions on the comb, wattles, and
beak. Birds affected by this form usually recover within a few weeks.
The second form is spread by inhalation of the virus and causes a
diphtheritic membrane to form in the mouth, pharynx, larynx, and
sometimes the trachea. The prognosis for this form is poor.
Etiology
Fowlpox virus is responsible for this disease, which is a double
stranded DNA containing virus and belonging from family Pox
viridae & genus avipoxvirus
Sings and Symptoms
• development of nodular proliferative skin lesions on the
featherless parts of the body.
- combs
- wattles
- eyelids

• fibrinonecrotic and proliferative lesions in the mucous

membranes.
Prevention and Control
• Vaccines are available for fowlpox as prophylactic vaccination.
• Chicken are usually vaccinated with pigeonpox virus.
• The first dose of vaccine is given at 4-6 weeks of age and second
dose at 12-14 weeks of age.
• The vaccine is administered via the wing web method of
injection.
• Once an bird is infected there are no treatments, just
preventative measures including the vaccine and mosquito
management.
 NEW CASTLE DISEASE
(RANIKHET DISEASE)
Viral Disease

Newcastle disease is an infection of domestic poultry and other bird

species with virulent Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV). It is a
worldwide problem that presents primarily as an acute respiratory
disease, but depression, nervous manifestations, or diarrhea may
be the predominant clinical form. Severity depends on the virulence
of the infecting virus and host susceptibility.
Etiology
Newcastle disease virus is responsible for this disease, which is a
single-stranded RNA containing virus and belonging from family
Paramyxoviridae & genus Avulavirus
Sings and Symptoms
• Signs of infection with NDV vary greatly depending on factors
such as the strain of virus and the health, age and species of the
host.
• The incubation period for the disease ranges from two to 15
days.
• An infected bird may exhibit several signs, including –
- respiratory signs
(gasping, coughing),
- nervous signs
(depression, inappetence, muscular tremors, drooping
wings, twisting of head and neck, circling, complete
paralysis)
Sings and Symptoms
• Swelling of the tissues around the eyes and neck,
• Greenish, watery diarrhea,
• Misshapen, rough- or thin-shelled eggs and reduced egg
production.
• In acute cases, the death is very sudden, and, in the beginning
of the outbreak, the remaining birds do not seem to be sick.
Prevention and Control
• Any animals showing symptoms of Newcastle disease should be
isolated immediately.
• New birds should also be vaccinated before being introduced to
a flock.
• An inactivated viral vaccine is available, as well as various
combination vaccines.
• A thermotolerant vaccine is available for controlling Newcastle
disease in underdeveloped countries.
 INFECTIOUS CORYZA
Bacterial Disease

Infectious coryza is an acute respiratory disease of chickens

characterized by nasal discharge, sneezing, and swelling of the face
under the eyes. It is found worldwide. The disease is seen only in
chickens. the disease often is seen in very young chicks, even as
young as 3 wk old. The disease has no public health significance.

Etiology
Avibacterium paragallinarum, a gram-negative, pleomorphic,
nonmotile, microaerophilic rod shaped bacteria responsible for
this diasese.
Sings and Symptoms
• It is highly contagious

• Serous to mucoid nasal discharges with foul smelling

• Facial edema

• Conjunctivitis

• Swollen wattles

• Diarrhoea

• Reduced feed and water consumption

Prevention and Control
• Vaccination is available to prevent this disease, worldwide.
• Preventive medication may be combined with a vaccination
program if started pullets are to be reared or housed on
infected premises.
Treatment
Different antibiotics are used to treat this disase, such as –
• Gentamicin
• Penicillin
• streptomycin
The drugs are delivered in feed or drinking water.
Proper disinfection is required during treatment.
 BACILLARY WHITE DIARRHOEA
Bacterial Disease

Bacillary white diarrhea, causes widespread death in chickens. It

occurs when chicks reach five to seven days old and lasts only four
to five days. During that span, infected chicks quickly perish. Any
chicks that survive without treatment will become asymptomatic
carriers and must be destroyed. Treatments offers minimal survival
numbers, and the disease will continue to persist within the flock.

Etiology
Disease caused by one of the two poultry-adapted strains of
Salmonella bacteria, Salmonella pullorum, a genus of gram-
negative, facultatively anaerobic, usually motile, rod-shaped
bacteria.
Sings and Symptoms
• It is highly motile • Grey nodules in lungs, liver, gizzard
• Inappetance.
wall and heart.
• Intestinal or caecal inflammation.
• Depression.
• Splenomegaly.
• Ruffled feathers. • Caecal cores.
• Closed eyes. • Urate crystals in ureters.
• Loud chirping.
• White diarrhoea.
• Vent pasting.
• Gasping.
• Lameness.
Prevention and Control
• Eradication from breeder flocks. As with other salmonellae,
recovered birds are resistant to the effects of infection but may
remain carriers.
• Vaccines are not normally used as they interfere with
serological testing and elimination of carriers.
Treatment
Different antibiotics are used to treat this disase, such as –
• Amoxycillin,
• poteniated sulponamide,
• tetracylines,
• fluoroquinolones.
Drugs can be given through parenteral injections or oral liquids.
 BUMBLEFOOT
Bacterial Disease

Bumblefoot is a bacterial infection and inflammatory reaction on

the feet of birds and rodents. This infection is much more likely to
occur in captive animals than in those in the wild.

Etiology
Disease caused by Staphylococcus bacteria. a genus of Gram-
positive bacteria, which is under the microscope, appears round
(cocci), and form in grape-like clusters.
Causes of Injury
• Pododermatitis (Injury to the lower surface of the foot )
• Rough perches
• Splinters
• Wire floors
• Poor litter or bedding
• Quality

Sings and Symptoms

• Lameness
• Swelling of the foot pad
• Hard, pus‐filled abscess on foot pad
Prevention and Control
• Provide good quality litter or bedding.
• Keep bedding clean, dry, and deep.
• Keep perches less than 18 inches from the floor to prevent foot
damage due to impact from jumping.
• Remove potential sources of injury such as sharp objects and/or
surfaces.
Treatment
• Soak foot in warm water and Epsom salts and disinfect with
alcohol.
• If skin is open, drain pus from abscess, Flush abscess cavity with
hydrogen peroxide to cleanout pus and debris.
• Pack the cavity with antibiotic ointment .
• Wrap the foot with gauze and elastic bandage.
• Repeat daily until foot heals.
 CURLED TOE PARALYSIS
Deficiency Disease
It is a deficiency syndrome of Riboflavin in birds.
Sings and Symptoms
• Poor growth
• Weakness
• Emaciation and diarrhoea
• Unable to walk as their toes are turned inwards
• Drooping of wings

Treatment
Riboflavin @3.6 mg/kg of feed in chicks
Riboflavin @ 1.8 mg/kg of feed in growers
Riboflavin @ 2.2mg/kg of feed in layers