Detection and treatment of smallpox in pigeons
In pigeon breeding, among diseases that quickly spread in the environment of birds, smallpox is often found in pigeons. Although it does not lead to deaths, it causes a lot of trouble for the poultry houses.
Smallpox in pigeons
Pigeon pox nature
Otherwise called yellow cork and diphtheria, smallpox in pigeons is a widely known avian disease in veterinary medicine, which often occurs in chronic forms and progresses from one to several months.
Smallpox of pigeons can occur in two forms, which are called:
- skin, or smallpox,
- diphtheria.
The course of smallpox in a mixed form is quite common.
The largest number of cases of smallpox diseases is recorded in the period from April to June, when young animals are hatched, and pigeon breeders begin to train birds.
Pigeons infected with smallpox virus feel their initial clinical symptoms only after at least 2-3 weeks after the infection enters the body. In this case, the clinical picture begins only with a general deterioration in the condition, when the activity of birds decreases, lethargy appears, ruffled plumage and lowered wings are noted. Subsequently, various changes in mucous membranes and skin are observed.
Development in cutaneous form
Smallpox in pigeons in this form of flow is distinguished by its characteristic symptoms:
- on the skin in places of viral infection, there are traces of the appearance of primary pockmarks, which outwardly resemble round, slightly rising specks of red color,
- subsequently, the primary pockmarks are transformed into yellow with a gray tinge or red with a brown tint.
Among the places prone to the most frequent damage, the following stand out:
- the base of the beak,
- mouth corners,
- areas around the nose and eyes,
- ear holes,
- paws and toes.
As the smallpox virus multiplies, it begins to spread, penetrating into all tissues, where, under its influence, fresh smallpox formations are formed.
At risk for skin disease are pigeons of postal breeds.
The smallpox form of the course, with timely treatment, ends favorably, without consequences dangerous for the bird, forming lifelong immunity to smallpox.
The development of smallpox in the diphtheritic form
The diphtheritic form of the course of smallpox disease in pigeons causes the greatest concern in veterinary medicine and pigeon breeding, since it is the most severe, its treatment takes longer. Symptoms of this type include:
- lesion of the mucous membranes of the mouth and nose, infraorbital fossa, larynx region, goiter with small well-visible round spots of yellow and white color,
- overgrowth of primary pockmarks and their formation into soft mushy or hard dry films.
Over the past 2-3 years, pigeon breeders have noted an increasing number of cases of the spread of the disease in diphtheria from the west to the east, from the epidemiological points of Moldova and Ukraine towards Central Russia.
Smallpox films in this form of the disease grow deeply into the mucous membranes under the tongue, on the cheeks, in the mouth corners, in the region of the palate and goiter, in the larynx and trachea. At the same time, the area of the larynx is most often affected by the smallpox virus, which leads to difficulty breathing and provokes sounds made by pigeons with wheezing and groans, and feeding problems.
The mixed form of the course of smallpox in pigeons shows symptoms of both the cutaneous form and the diphtheria.
After the defeat of the nasal cavity with smallpox virus, inflammatory processes are noted in the lacrimal canals, infraorbital fossa, serous and purulent discharge, which, when dry, close the nasal passages, making breathing difficult.
In case of impaired visual function during inflammatory processes in the eyes of birds, photophobia and puffiness are recorded, lacrimation and purulent exudate are observed.
The spread of smallpox disease among pigeons
The causative agent of smallpox in pigeons spreads among the livestock from sick birds to healthy ones, localizing in smallpox and transmitted with crust-like formations from diseased individuals. Smallpox virus is susceptible to elevated temperatures and is preserved by drying and freezing.
In smallpox neoplasms, the virus continues to be active for more than 2 years at a maintained temperature of no higher than 15 ° C.
Among the carriers of the smallpox virus, not only sick pigeons, it moves with the help of insects, through feed and technical equipment used when cleaning premises where pigeons are kept.
Among the concomitant factors that increase the risk of the onset and spread of smallpox disease, note:
- non-observance of the nutritional conditions of birds, in particular the lack of vitamin A, which is responsible for the immune function and the condition of the skin and mucous membranes,
- violation of the requirements for the content and technical parameters of the room, excessive dampness and the presence of drafts in the dovecote,
- frequent colds in pigeons and a decrease in the immunity of birds associated with them.
Diagnostics, prevention and treatment
Diagnosis of the disease allows you to separate smallpox in pigeons from diseases such as pasteurellosis, trichomoniasis and mycoplasmosis, the treatment of which involves the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics. Among the means to cure pigeons, antifungal medicines are used.
Smallpox treatment in pigeons is carried out with the help of external care with medicines and folk remedies and the use of a medication method.
External procedures
They include the cleansing of visible smallpox lesions moistened with 2% boric solution or with cotton swabs. In addition, cutaneous foci are cauterized with lapis or iodine solutions, followed by lubrication with nourishing creams. The affected areas in the beak and throat area are treated with small twisted cotton swabs with lugol and lozeval.
Medication measures
When deciding how and how to treat smallpox in pigeons, veterinarians for the treatment of secondary microflora prescribe an antibiotic from the group of tetracycline, tilan or enrofloxacin, which are given to the bird for a week. Additionally, in order to cure and increase the weakened immunity of pigeons, a vitamin and amino acid preparation is introduced. Probiotics are prescribed after the end of the course of taking antibiotics to normalize the poultry intestinal microflora.
To avoid the spread of the disease, drinking water is disinfected with chloramine with a 0.5-1% concentration, or potassium permanganate with a concentration of 1 in 1000, or furacilin or iodinol at the rate of 100 ml per three-liter volume of water.
Prophylaxis
Smallpox prevention in pigeons is central to pigeon breeders' control of the virus. Preventive measures primarily include:
- compliance with proper conditions for keeping birds,
- timely and complete feeding of pigeons,
- sanitation and disinfection in the dovecote,
- restriction of newly acquired birds in quarantine,
- elimination of disease vectors.
In addition to organizational measures, as the prevention of pigeon pox, vaccination against smallpox disease in pigeons is carried out using a domestic vaccine, the reaction to which is observed 5-8 days after injection, while immunity against smallpox disease occurs in a vaccinated bird after a week and lasts for at least years from the moment the vaccine was vaccinated. For young animals vaccinated with the vaccine, the drug is inoculated a second time.