Gamebirds

Question 1

what are the 5 diseases seen in young chicks?

Answer 1

1. yolks infection
2. septicaemia / salmonellosis
3. starvation
4. aspergillosis
5. rotavirus

Question 2

what are the two causes of yolk sac infection?

Answer 2

infection of eggs via omphalitis / navel infection

environmental spread

Question 3

what is the main agent that causes septicaemia in young chicks?

Answer 3

salmonella app

Question 4

what are the main Sx of starvation in young chicks?

Answer 4

high mortality, lethargic chicks, empty gizzard on PM or gizzard containing bedding material

Question 5

what causes aspergillosis?

Answer 5

aspergillus fumigatus

Question 6

how do chicks become infected with aspergillum?

Answer 6

via feed, bedding or environment

Question 7

what are the main Sx of aspergillosis in chicks?

Answer 7

gasping, weight loss, mortality

Question 8

how do chicks become infected by rotavirus?

Answer 8

via eggshell or environmental contamination

Question 9

what are the main Sx of rotavirus infection in chicks?

Answer 9

depression, dropped wings, closed eyes, huddling, ruffled feathers, death

Question 10

how is rotavirus infection in chicks Tx and Px?

Answer 10

Tx = disinfectant in drinking water or via spray
Px = frequent egg collection with cleaning and good hygiene

Question 11

which game bird spp chicks does rotavirus affect?

Answer 11

pheasants and partridge

Question 12

what 4 diseases mostly affect growing game bird poults?

Answer 12

1. Spironucleosis / Trichomoniasis
2. Coccidiosis
3. Parasites
4. Enteritis / Dysbacteriosis

Question 13

what are the three causal agents of Spironucleosis / Trichomoniasis?

Answer 13

Spironucleus meleagridis
Trichomonas gallinae
Hexamita

Question 14

what are the Sx of Spironucleosis / Trichomoniasis infection?

Answer 14

watery D+ (often yellow, frothy), dehydration, weight loss, lethargy

Question 15

how is Spironucleosis / Trichomoniasis Dx?

Answer 15

Spironucleus  = smear of duodenum / ileum
Trichomonas = smear of caecum

Question 16

how is Spironucleosis / Trichomoniasis Tx and Px?

Answer 16

Tx = AntiB
Px = environmental hygiene, appropriate stocking density

Question 17

what is the main spp isolated in coccidiosis of growing game bird poults?

Answer 17

E. colchici in caecum

Question 18

when is coccidiosis most common in growing poults?

Answer 18

15d to 16wks

Question 19

what are the main Sx of coccidiosis in growing poults?

Answer 19

weight loss, lethargy, ruffled feathers, dropped wings

Question 20

how is coccidiosis Tx and Px?

Answer 20

Tx = toltazuril or amprolium
Px = in-feed coccidiostat drugs

Question 21

what are the main enteric and respiratory parasites that affect growing poults?

Answer 21

enteric = ascaris, capillaria
respiratory = syngamus trachea

Question 22

what does enteritis / dysbacteriosis cause?

Answer 22

scour seen in growing poults at 22/23wks leading to dehydration

Question 23

what are the 4 main endoparasites of breeding gamebirds?

Answer 23

Syngamus trachea
Heterakis gallinarum
capillaria spp
ascarid spp

Question 24

what is Heterakis gallinarum the intermediate host for?

Answer 24

histomonas meleagridis - ‘blackhead’

Question 25

what are the three main respiratory diseases of breeding gamebirds?

Answer 25

Mycoplasmosis
Coronavirus
Newcastle disease

Question 26

which two mycoplasma spp affect breeding gamebirds?

Answer 26

M. gallisepticum and M. synovviae

Question 27

what are the main sx of mycoplasmosis in breeding gamebirds?

Answer 27

swelling of infraorbital sinuses / eyes / nose, ocular discharge, difficulty breathing, egg drop, lameness

Question 28

how is mycoplasmosis of gamebirds Tx and Px?

Answer 28

Tx = AntiB, macrolides
Px = vaccines used off-license

Question 29

how do the sx of coronavirus differ in young vs. adult gamebirds?

Answer 29

Young = swollen kidneys, rate deposition in organs
Adult = sudden death, egg drop, rates in kidneys