What are the common poultry diseases?

Aug 09, 2022, 16:45 IST

Poultry diseases

Poultry diseases are transmitted mostly by air, water, feed, droppings, feathers, hatchers and insect vectors or by direct contact. Here, viral, bacterial and fungal diseases are discussed.

I. Viral diseases

• Ranikhet disease (New Castle disease): It is caused by virus Paramyxovirus. It is highly pathogenic and common at all ages causing mass mortality. Symptoms include respi ratory (coughing) and nervous (complete or partial paralysis) disorders.

• Marek’s disease: Highly infectious disease caused by viruses of the herpes group. This disease mostly affects 2 to 4 month old birds. Symptoms include enlargement of sciatic nerve, enlargement of glands like spleen etc.

• Gumboro disease (infectious bursitis): It is a contagious disease affecting 2 to 12 week old chicks. It spreads through contaminated feed and water. It is caused by IBD virus (Infectious Bursal Disease). The symptoms are loss of appetite, white diarrhoea and enlargement of bursa of Fabricius. Vaccination is effective in controlling the disease.

II. Bacterial diseases

• Fowl cholera: It is caused by Pasteurella avicida. Symptoms include yellowish coloration of the droppings followed by greenish diarrhoea, pin point foci on liver, pin point haemorrhages on pericardium and bluish discoloration of combs. Penicillin and tetracycline are effective in treatment.

• Infectious coryza (roup disease): It is caused by Haemophilus gallinarum affecting all stages. Infection is due to contamination of water and feed. Symptoms include nasal and eye discharge with foul smell, acute respiratory problem and inflamed and swollen eyes. Streptomycin and tetracycline are effective in treatment.

• Chronic Respiratory Disease (CRD): It is caused by Mycoplasma gallisepticum. Transmission is through eggs, nasal discharge and droppings. Symptoms include sneezing, swollen sinuses, respiratory distress, snoring and inflamed eyes. Erythromycin and tetracydine are effective in treatment.

III. Fungal diseases

• Aspergillosis (Brooder pneumonia): It is caused by Aspergillus fumigatus. Transmission is by inhalation of fungal spores. Symptoms include difficulty in breathing, congested lungs with nodules etc. Affects mostly the brooders. Copper sulphate is effective in controlling the disease. It is given with drinking water.

• Aflatoxicosis: It is caused by Aspergillus flavus. It spreads through contaminated food and water. Symptoms include reduced immunity and susceptibility to infections.

• Thrush (Moniliasis): It is caused by Oidium albicans (Monilia). It is an intestinal disorder. Symptoms include lesions in the mouth and gut. Nystatin is effective in treatment.

Other important diseases include the protozoan disease coccidiosis, caused by Eimerla tenella and the diseases caused by ectoparasites like ticks, mites and lice.

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