Symptoms of pasteurellosis in chickens and treatment methods
There are many types of unpleasant diseases associated with farm animals and birds. One of these is pasteurellosis in chickens. It is an infectious disease that can occur in all breeds of poultry, including chickens. The pasteurellosis virus is of bacterial origin and is capable of destroying an entire farm.
- Pasteurellosis: how is it dangerous for poultry
- Pathogens of pasteurellosis in chickens
- Methods of infection, symptoms and forms of pasteurellosis
- Hyperacute form of pasteurellosis
- Acute form of pasteurellosis
- Chronic pasteurellosis
- How to recognize pasteurellosis in chickens
- Treatment methods
- Preventive actions against poultry pasteurellosis
Treatment of sick chickens is impractical, since they are living carriers of the disease until death. A vaccine made in time can save from such a pestilence. But first things first.
Pasteurellosis: how is it dangerous for poultry
Pasteurellosis of birds is a viral disease that has several forms and is usually fatal. The infection can affect chickens of any age, but most often epidemics break out among young animals.
Older birds are more resistant to this disease, they have a better chance of surviving pasteurellosis. However, these chickens remain carriers of the infection forever and cannot live with healthy individuals.
Pathogens of pasteurellosis in chickens
Pasteurellosis (cholera) of birds is manifested by the pasteurella P. Haemolytica and P. Multocida, which have the shape of elliptical rods. There is no arguing, the decomposition process is isolated. Bipolar color is inherent in smears from internal organs and blood.
The structure of P. Multocida is heterogeneous, so the vaccine is selected individually for the form of the disease. Pasteurella, the causative agent of bird pasteurellosis, can live long in frozen foods and dead animals.
Bacteria can't survive under UV light, so walking should be fine illuminated... Also, the habitats of chickens should be treated with a 5% pheanol solution and suspension. For the same purpose, you can use a 1% solution of bleach.
Methods of infection, symptoms and forms of pasteurellosis
There are several ways of infection with pasteurellosis bacilli among domestic birds:
- respiratory tract and nasal cavity after contact with an infected individual;
- broken skin;
- bacilli-infected feed;
- blood-sucking insects.
After entering the body of chickens, the virus almost immediately begins to multiply in huge quantities. The bacilli spread to the site of infection, after which they attack the blood and lymph.
Throughout the disease, pasteurellosis produces aggression to better spread the infection. The incubation period usually takes several days. Tolerance depends on the vital signs of the bird and the form of the disease.
Hyperacute form of pasteurellosis
The chicken dies instantly without any symptoms of the disease. This is due to the high level of toxins in the body of the bird.
The appearance of an individual may be absolutely normal, but during the period of regression, the bird quickly withers away.
Acute form of pasteurellosis
The most common form of the disease.The chicken shows apathy, it is inactive, with lowered wings. The temperature can rise to 40 ° C, from a lack of oxygen in the body, cyanosis manifests itself.
A yellow discharge appears from the nasal cavity. The chicken stops eating and at the same time actively drinks water. The lifespan of the bird in this case is from 1 to 3 days.
Chronic pasteurellosis
If an individual has survived the acute form, the disease becomes chronic. That is, the disease will come back again and again.
The symptoms of this form are pronounced. The bird suffers from swollen joints of the legs and wings, the beard and crest is affected by necrosis.
The course of pasteurellosis in chickens in a chronic form lasts up to 3 weeks and usually ends fatally. However, if the bird has managed to get sick, it becomes a lifelong carrier of the infection.
With pasteurellosis of birds, chickens are often exsanguinated. During an autopsy, the following violations can be detected: muscle tissue acquires a bluish tint, internal organs suffer from hemorrhage, the lungs become inflamed, and foci of necrosis appear throughout the body. Treatment of these birds is impossible, therefore, patients with a chronic form are usually disposed of.
How to recognize pasteurellosis in chickens
In the early stages, the disease has no pronounced signs and is determined using bacteriological analysis. Analyzes are carried out only in a veterinary clinic.
The corpses of chickens that have died from acute or hyperacute forms of pasteurellosis are tested in laboratories. One day after sowing blood, a net growth of the culture is seen from the body.
A smear is taken from the liver, and at the microscopic level it is possible to see the stained bipolar, characteristic of the disease. For greater reliability, an experiment is carried out on laboratory animals, which confirms or refutes the disease.
Treatment methods
If the symptoms of poultry infection with pasteurellosis have been confirmed, then the conditions for keeping and feeding the pets need to be revised. Preventive treatment includes the use of symptomatic remedies.
Doctors in such cases prescribe a hyperimmune polyvalent serum and antibiotics of the tetracycline group:
- chlortetracycline extract;
- chloramphenicol;
- terramycin.
The latest developments in the fight against pasteurellosis in poultry are:
- trisulfone;
- suspension of cobactan;
- extract of levoerythrocycline.
However, it should be remembered that a bird that has recovered remains forever a carrier of infection, therefore it is more rational to let it go to slaughter. After detecting a disease on a farm, a sick chicken should be instantly isolated, and pens and walking areas should be processed disinfection solution.
During an outbreak in the chicken coop, it is recommended to slaughter the entire bird, since infected individuals are not suitable for divorce.
If a disease is detected, antibacterial substances should be introduced into complementary foods for healthy birds:
- Chloramphenicol, 3 times a day;
- Tetracyclinum, Doxycyclin and Oxytetracyclinum, once per knock;
- Norsulfazole, 2 times a day;
- Species B;
- Aquaprim;
- Floron.
If you suspect pasteurellosis, you need to act without delay. If the diagnosis is confirmed, quarantine should be introduced and preventive measures should be tightened. This is the only way to save at least some of the birds.
Healthy individuals require mandatory vaccination. An inactivated sorbed Vaccine or "Aviac" in the form of an emulsion is suitable for this. the vaccine is dosed based on the age of the bird and will help protect the farm from an epidemic.
Preventive actions against poultry pasteurellosis
Preventive actions consist mainly of compliance with sanitary and standards, detection of carriers and timely vaccinations. For this, a vaccine or drugs aimed at preventing salmonellosis and pasteurellosis. It is important to consult your veterinarian before using any medication for this disease.Chicken feed should contain vitamin supplements and feeding. The grass on the walks is necessarily mowed, and the land is plowed.
If the disease has been detected, it is necessary to check all the birds, to separate the healthy from the sick and to thoroughly disinfect the enclosures, walks and equipment.
If pasteurellosis has broken out in the poultry house and has affected most of the chickens, it is advisable to give the birds for slaughter. A strict quarantine is established, the export of eggs and chickens for sale is stopped. The quarantine period is one month from the date of death of the last chicken.
In the fight against pasteurellosis, you need to invest in prevention, since the treatment of poultry is considered irrational. Prevention should be carried out constantly in order to have time to avoid the disease and the large losses associated with it.