Avian Influenza:
Avian influenza is categorized as mild or highly pathogenic. It is a viral disease. Wild waterfowl and shorebirds are often asymptomatic carriers.
Low pathogenicity strains typically cause respiratory signs. High pathogenicity strains may cause widespread organ failure and sudden, high mortality.
Symptoms:
- The mild form produces loss of appetite, respiratory distress, diarrhea, transient drops in egg production.
- The highly pathogenic form produces facial swelling, dehydration with respiratory distress.
- Dark red/white spots develop in the legs and of chickens.
Prevention:
- Prevention is by practice of exclusion biosecurity strategies and vaccination.
- Quarantine, depopulation and eradication of virulent form is mandated to avoid spreading of the virus.
Treatment:
- Antiviral treatments are not approved for poultry.
- Although with the mild form of the disease, good husbandry, proper nutrition, and broad spectrum antibiotics may reduce losses from secondary infections.
Vaccination: CEVAC® FLU H9 K Vaccine
Newcastle Disease:
Newcastle disease virus is a single-stranded, non-segmented enveloped RNA virus. Incubation period is 2-15 days. Newcastle disease is characterized by the following sudden symptoms:
Symptoms:
- Paralysis
- Trembling and Gasping
- Twisting of the neck
- Watery discharge from nostrils.
Prevention:
- Vaccination at day of age in the hatchery using a course spray machine.
Treatment:
- Antibiotics can be given for 3-5 days to prevent secondary bacterial infections.
- Increasing the brooding temperature 5°F may help reduce losses
Vaccination: Newcastle Disease (LaSota Strain) Vaccine
Marek's Disease:
Marek's disease is a Herpes virus infection of chickens. The route of infection is usually respiratory and the disease is highly contagious being spread by infective feather-follicle dander.
Symptoms:
- Paralysis of legs, wings and neck.
- Loss of weight.
- Grey iris or irregular pupil.
- Vision impairment.
- Skin around feather follicles raised and roughened.
Prevention:
- It is common practice to use combinations of the different vaccine types in an effort to broaden the protection achieved.
- Genetics can help by increasing the frequency of the B21 gene that confers increased resistance to Marek's disease challenge.
Treatment:
Vaccination: Marek's Disease Vaccine (HVT)
