Diseases of commercial waterfowl

Question 1

What are viral diseases of ducks?

Answer 1

• Duck viral hepatitis
• Duck viral enteritis
• Newcastle disease
• Avian influenza

Question 2

What are bacterial diseases of ducks?

Answer 2

• E coli
• Riemerella anatipestifer
• Pasteurella multocida
• Erysipelas
• Salmonella spp
• Streptococcus spp
• Chlamydia

Question 3

What are fungal diseases of ducks?

Answer 3

• Aspergillosis

Question 4

What is duck viral hepatitis? (DVH)

Answer 4

• Picornavirus
• HIghly infectious - affect 2 days to 3 week olds
• Adult birds = immune to infection

3 different viruses
* Type 1 = Picornavirus = classical disease = widespread + virulent
* Type 2 = Astrovirus
* Type 3 = Picornavirus

Question 5

How is DVH spread?

Answer 5

• Type 1+ 3 = resistant + viable for long period in environment
• Entry to birds via ingestion

Question 6

What are clinical signs of DVH?

Answer 6

• Type 1 = peracute + death within 1 hour
• Dead birds in good condition
• Opisthotonus
• Mortality >90%

Type 3 = similar but mortality <30%

Question 7

What are Ddx to DVH?

Answer 7

• Duck viral enteritis
• Bacterial septicaemia
• Mycotoxicosis

Question 8

Where are DVH lesions?

Answer 8

• Enlarged liver, petechial ecchymotic haemorrhages
• Fatty kidneys
• Septicaemic carcasses

Question 9

How is DVH Dx, Px?

Answer 9

• Dx = blood/ organ for virus isolation
• Prevention = vaccine, biosecurity

Question 10

What is duck virus enteritis?

Answer 10

• Herpesvirus
• High mortality in geese
• Spread = presence of water, oral + cloacal routes, virus shed for many years

Question 11

What are clinical signs of DVE?

Answer 11

• Ataxia
• Eye discharge , pasty eyelids
• Nasal discharge
• Diarrhoea - water w blood, vent blood stained
• Photophobia
• Normally body condition

Question 12

What are DVE lesions?

Answer 12

• Multiple haemorrhages in tissues
• Free blood in body cavity
• Petechial haemorrhages on visceral organs
• Haemorrhage on oesophageal mucosa

Question 13

How is DVE diagnosed?

Answer 13

• History, clinical signs + lesions
• Virus isolation
• PCR

Question 14

How is DVE controlled?

Answer 14

• VAccines
• Biosecurity
• Avoid contact with wild birds

Question 15

What is seen with avian influenza?

Answer 15

• Increase in mortality
• Drop in egg production
• Decreased in feed + water consumption
• Subdued
• Aspergillosis, airsacculitis, salpingitis + egg peritonitis on PM

Question 16

How does Newcastle disease affect ducks?

Answer 16

• Major drop in egg production
• No clinical signs in younger birds
• Vaccine works well

Question 17

What are CS of E.coli infection? Dx? Tx? Px?

Answer 17

• CS = 1-8wk old, egg peritonitis
• Dx = history, CS, PM, Lab
• Tx = antibiotics
• Px = hygiene, management + Vaccinate breeders

Question 18

What are CS of Riemerella anatipestifer infection? Dx? Tx? Px?

Answer 18

• CS = polyserositis, exudates + fibrin covering visceral organs, Lymphoid necrosis of the white pulp of the spleen
• Dx = bacteriology by culture, isolation + identification
• Tx = antibiotics
• Px = vaccine

Question 19

What are CS of salmonella infection? Dx? Tx? Px?

Answer 19

• little clinical signs - mortality in 0-7d/o
• Dx = CS, lesions, bacteriology
• Tx = antibiotics
• Px = vaccine, hygiene + sanitation

Question 20

What are CS of chlamydia infection? Dx? Tx? Px?

Answer 20

• Affect all ages - conjuctivitis, anorexia, ruffled feathers
• Dx = CS, lesions, bacteriology, serology
• Tx = antibiotics
• Px = NO vaccine, Hygiene + sanitiation

Question 21

What are CS of fungal infection? Dx? Tx? Px?
(Aspergillus fumigatus)

Answer 21

• 7 days to adult
• CS = gasping, weight loss, anorexia, death
• Stress = exacerbate susceptibilty to disease
• Dx = CS, lesions, mycology, PCR
• Tx = anti-fungals
• Px = use of fresh bedding, hygiene + sanitation

Question 22

What are common causes of lameness in ducks?

Answer 22

• Soft tissue injury
• Foreign body
• Joint infection
• Osteoarthritis
• Fractures
• Mycoplasma tenosynovitis
• Renal / gonadal neoplasia
• Renal coccidiosis
• Heavy metal toxicity
• bumblefoot
• Avian TB