Avian influenza in chickens and roosters
Avian influenza in chickens is one of the most common diseases among birds. The loss of livestock leads to ruin and huge losses on farms. The lethal outcome is predetermined in most cases, which is why this flu is called the classic plague of our time. Scientists are trying to invent a vaccine, but the virus mutates too rapidly, which leads to the emergence of new varieties of the disease. There is no cure for chicken flu today.
Avian flu in chickens
Avian influenza spreads rapidly in feces from sick or sick chickens. Infection also occurs through eggs or feathers. Wild birds are not susceptible to infection, but are carriers of the virus, which is why every farmer should limit the communication of poultry with wild birds. Most often, infection occurs due to waterfowl ducks. On farms, infection occurs through infected feed and equipment.
Avian influenza types
The causative agent of influenza is an RNA virus that belongs to orthomyxoviruses. It tends to multiply in the developing 10-day-old embryos, which leads to an even greater spread.
How to recognize bird flu and what are the first signs or symptoms of bird flu in chickens? Outwardly, one can immediately see extensive inflammation of the mucous membranes, the feathers lose their healthy appearance and are strongly disheveled. Chickens suddenly stop eating well, which leads to exhaustion. Breathing is rapid, intermittent, strong wheezing... General intoxication leads to fever and fever up to 43 ° C. There are irreversible changes in the nervous system, manifested by constant convulsions and neuroses.
The birds lose coordination and can no longer move, they can barely keep on their feet. Such a disease is also manifested by the curvature of the bones of the neck and wings, this can be determined by appearance. The chickens have their heads down and their eyes closed. The gastrointestinal tract is also affected, there is a strong diarrhea, the droppings turn brown and greenish.
How else does bird flu manifest? Birds stop responding to stimuli. They lose the ability to carry healthy eggs in the same quantity. Death with such symptoms occurs due to asphyxia, pulmonary edema.
Influenza forms
There are several forms of influenza:
- sharp;
- subacute;
- chronic.
Viruses H5N1 and H7N7 cause an acute phase, which leads to the most dangerous consequences. All chickens die within 2 days.
The subacute form lasts much longer: from 10-20 days, as a result of which, most often, recovery occurs.
The chronic form is the rarest and develops only in case of infection with a low pathogenic strain of the virus. There are no manifestations and it is almost impossible to recognize this form.
Stages of the disease
With the development of the disease, several stages are distinguished. The first is characterized by the penetration of influenza through the mucous membranes, followed by reproduction inside cells.At the second stage, the accumulation of viral particles increases significantly, they begin to circulate in the circulatory system. The third stage is the formation of antibodies of the organism itself. As a result, by the beginning of the fourth stage, antibodies participate in a protective reaction and a stable immunity is developed.
The most dangerous chicken flu is called the H5N1 subtype. Chickens suffer from multiple hemorrhages in all internal organs, the vascular and circulatory system is disturbed, therefore blood circulation changes. Death occurs as a result of fulminant cerebral edema.
You can see and find out what bird flu is and how it affects birds, in a photo or video on the Internet.
Diagnostic methods
Influenza diagnosis is possible only after the death of chickens. Use pathological material, investigate the presence of a virus strain in the tissues and cells with which the individual is infected. Multiple studies of blood serum are carried out in order to find the antibodies produced.
An autopsy shows multiple hemorrhages localized in the gastrointestinal tract, spleen, heart.
To stop the spread of the disease, veterinarians should isolate sick chickens from healthy chickens at the first sign of avian flu. It is advisable to keep such individuals in a separate room for at least 20 days in quarantine.
Unfortunately, today there is no cure, so all sick birds must be destroyed so that the virus does not spread to the entire population. Treat antibiotics or other drugs is useless, since the virus is resistant to them.
With a chronic or very early stage of infection, you can change the diet of chickens and add more vitamins and drinking water to it. This measure helps to strengthen the immune system and restore the bird.
Prophylaxis
There are certain rules that must be followed when raising, keeping and breeding birds, then the likelihood of contracting chicken flu is significantly reduced. All efforts must be devoted to preventing infection and the spread of infection, so prevention is very important. Personal protection and hygiene must be maintained.
A person must use medical gloves, masks, respirators when disposing of sick chickens, as well as for any contact with infected birds. You should wash your hands frequently and remember to use modern disinfectants. Any contact with wild birds is prohibited. Dead chickens should be disposed of in specially designated places.
All eggs must undergo hygienic, medical, veterinary checks before being sold. Also, storage should be carried out in a separate refrigerator, where meat and eggs of chickens will be kept isolated from each other.
To use products in cooking for cooking, heat treatment is needed: the meat should be boiled well, it is recommended to boil a young carcass for at least 30 minutes, an adult - up to an hour, eggs must be hard-boiled.
In frozen carcasses at -20 ° C, chicken flu retains its pathogenicity for 440 days, so prevention should be treated with special responsibility. Disinfection of the meat and egg bowls must be carried out. It is carried out using bleach, phenol and hydrochloric acid. These compounds help kill bacteria. If it was possible to find a sick bird in a timely manner, then you need to urgently inform the veterinary service about this so that the necessary protective measures are taken and a massive spread of the virus is excluded.
Recently, active work and research has been carried out with the aim of creating a vaccine designed to prevent an epidemic. Any poultry farm must be able to protect its livestock from this disease and take all possible measures to prevent birds and humans from contracting the bird flu virus. Several drugs have already passed numerous tests in Russia.Also in the United States, China and other countries, they are trying to find the necessary treatment to stop the spread of the epidemic.
Danger of human infection
Numerous news reports and reports from various portals claim that there is, in fact, a risk of human infection with the H5N1 virus. At the moment, no cases of infection with a real virus have been recorded, but subtypes and pseudo-avian influenza have been recorded in the Moscow region.
During the outbreak of the virus in the Moscow region, all sources of possible infection from birds or other animals were eliminated.
You can get infected from infected animals or birds, so it is very important to follow safety precautions and regularly disinfect premiseswhere there was contact with infected birds.
Chicken flu is found in broilers, chickens, and in ordinary chickens, which could have picked up the virus from an infected individual. The symptoms of an infected person are just as severe and dangerous. How does bird flu manifest? Due to the general intoxication of the body, the body temperature rises to 39 ° C, severe excruciating pain in the muscles is disturbing. General weakness and increasing fatigue are observed. Toxic and infectious shock can occur, death also occurs with fulminant cerebral edema. Numerous lesions of the kidneys, liver and disruption of the gastrointestinal tract occur with manifestations of diarrhea and severe vomiting. In such cases, it is necessary to immediately consult a doctor at a medical institution.