Parasitic diseases of poultry Flashcards
Ascaridiosis is a helminthosis of GALLIFORMES (INCLUDING GAME BIRDS), RARELY DUCKS AND GEESE, CAUSED BY
ASCARIDIA GALLI, WHICH AFFECTS MOSTLY
YOUNG BIRDS AND HAS ACUTE OR CHRONIC PROGRESS.
Describe Ascaridia galli.
yellowish-white roundworm
- YELLOWISH-WHITE ROUNDWORM
- MALES 2.6-7 CM, FEMALES 6.5-11 CM, DIAMETER 0.5-1.8 MM
- MOSTLY IN THE SMALL INTESTINE
- RESERVOIR HOSTS: INSECTS AND INVERTEBRATES (E.G. FLIES, EARTHWORMS)
EPIDEMIOLOGY of Ascaridia galli.
- WIDESPREAD THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, OCCURS OFTEN, IN ESTONIA ALSO.
- MOSTLY IN BIRDS 2-8 MONTHS OLD
- PARTIAL RESISTANCE
- THE LACK OF VITAMINS A, D AND B AND ANIMAL PROTEIN PREDISPOSE to
INFECTION. - WHITE LEGHORN breed MOST SUSCEPTIBLE
- Nematode EGGS SURVIVE UNDER SNOW IN WINTER, POSSIBILITY OF INFECTION IN EARLY SPRING
Transmission of Ascaridia galli.
Eggs contaminate environment in feces.
The eggs mature on the ground outside.
Optional intermediate host: Earthworms may eat the nematode eggs.
Chicken ingests contaminated food or water, or ingests infected earthworms.
Ascaris worms develop and mature in GI tract of chicken. The adult worms lay eggs which restart the cycle.
Clinical signs of acute ascaridiosis in poultry.
- ACUTE COURSE: 7-10 DAYS AFTER INFECTION
- DEPRESSION, LOSS OF APPETITE, DIARRHEA
- RUFFLED FEATHERS AND DROOPED WINGS
- 4th DAY: INCREASE IN MORTALITY, LASTS FOR A WEEK.
- SURVIVORS LAG BEHIND IN GROWTH, LOWER BODY WEIGHT.
Clinical signs of chronic ascaridiosis in poultry.
- EMACIATION, INDIGESTION
- COMB AND WATTLES ARE PALE
- DECREASE IN EGG PRODUCTION AND
QUALITY (Ascaridia can make their way into eggs before they are laid!) - POSSIBLE SUBCLINICAL COURSE
Post mortem signs of acute ascaridiosis in poultry.
- PARASITES MAY NOT BE FOUND
- ACUTE INFLAMMATION OF THE SMALL INTESTINE
- PETECHIAE IN THE INTESTINE WALL
- HYPEREMIA OR DEFORMATION OF THE
PARENCHYMAL ORGANS (E.G. LIVER)
Post mortem signs of chronic ascaridiosis in poultry.
PARASITES found IN THE SMALL INTESTINE
CATARRHAL ENTERITIS – NOT ALWAYS
Diagnosis of ascaridiosis. Acute vs chronic courses.
ACUTE CLINICAL COURSE – SCRAPING OF THE SMALL INTESTINAL MUCOSA WITH INTESTINAL CONTENTS (from dead bird)
* BAERMANN METHOD
CHRONIC CLINICAL COURSE - FECAL SAMPLES
* PARASITES IN THE SMALL INTESTINE
* FLOTATION OR COMBINED METHODS
* EGGS MUST BE DISTINGUISHED FROM HETERAKIS GALLINARUM EGGS
* CATARRHAL ENTERITIS – but this is NOT ALWAYS present
Heterakiosis IS A HELMINTHOSIS OF THE GALLIFORMES (landfowl) CAUSED MAINLY BY THE CECAL ROUNDWORM HETERAKIS GALLINARUM, CHARACTERIZED BY
CHRONIC NODULAR OR CATARRHAL CAECAL INFECTION IN YOUNG BIRDS.
Describe Heterakis gallinarum.
SMALL WHITE ROUNDWORM,
MALES 6-11.1 MM, FEMALES 7.93-11.4 MM
- Affect CHICKENS, GUINEA FOWLS, TURKEYS, ETC.
- CECAL PARASITE
- RESERVOIR HOSTs: EARTHWORMS, FLIES AND OTHER INSECTS CAN SPREAD
- H. DISPAR affects DUCKS AND GEESE
- H. ISOLONCHE affects DUCKS, GROUSE, PHEASANTS
Epidemiology of Heterakis gallinarum.
- BOTH CHICKS AND ADULT BIRDS CAN BE INFECTED
- ILLNESS DOES NOT induce SIGNIFICANT IMMUNITY
- SPREADING IS PREDISPOSED BY KEEPING DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS TOGETHER
- EGGS OF THE PARASITE SURVIVE UNDER SNOW IN WINTER
- IN EXTENSIVE POULTRY FARMING, THE ILLNESS IS MOSTLY DETECTED FROM
AUGUST TO OCTOBER - COMMON, ALSO FOUND IN ESTONIA
Clinical signs of Heterakis gallinarum infestation.
- THE COURSE IS MAINLY CHRONIC
CLINICAL SIGNS:
* LISTLESSNESS
* LOSS OF APPETITE
* DIARRHEA
* GROWTH RETARDATION, EMACIATION
* DROP IN EGG PRODUCTION
* INCREASED MORTALITY
Post mortem signs of heterakiosis.
NECROPSY FINDINGS:
* ADULT PARASITES IN THE INTESTINES
* NODES WITH LARVAE UP TO 8 MM IN
THE INTESTINAL WALL
- INTENSIVE INFECTION causes CATARRHAL
INFLAMMATION OF CECA - POSSIBLE HEMORRHAGES IN THE
INTESTINAL WALL
Diagnosis of heterakiosis.
- NECROPSY – ADULT PARASITES IN CECA
- SCRAPe SAMPLE OF LINING OF INTESTINAL MUCOSA
LIVE BIRDS: STOOL SAMPLES analysis
* FLOTATION OR COMBINED METHODS
* DETECTION OF HETERAKIS SPP. EGGS
Syngamosis/syngamiasis is A HELMINTHOSIS OF GALLIFORMES (landfowl) AND PASSERIFORMES (small perching birds -group) CAUSED BY
TRACHEAL ROUNDWORM SYNGAMUS TRACHEA, AND CHARACTERIZED BY
RESPIRATORY DISTRESS.
Syngamosis is rare in who? and common in who?
Syngamosis is rare in chickens and common in pheasants.
Describe Syngamus trachea.
SYNGAMUS TRACHEA is also called “GAPEWORM” (not a typo) due to causing birds to gape their mouths as they try to breathe through their dyspnea.
Red worms that have a ‘y’-shaped appearance (which are actually two worms, the male and female—that are joined together, with the male acting as an anchor for the female). 3-20 mm in size.
In THE TRACHEA of their host.
- SNAILS, INSECTS AND EARTHWORMS ACT AS INTERMEDIATE AND RESERVOIR HOSTS
- SUSCEPTIBLE SPECIES: PHEASANT, TURKEY, GOOSE, EMU, WILD BIRDS
Life cycle of Syngamus trachea.
Chicken get them from accidentally eating the larvae from the environment. Can also become infected indirectly, by eating earthworms, snails or slugs that are infected.
The larvae will migrate through the gastrointestinal system until they reach the trachea, where they reproduce, lay eggs, feed on blood, and live. The eggs are either coughed up or swallowed by the chicken.
Clinical signs of syngamosis.
RESPIRATORY SIGNS:
* COUGHING, SNEEZING, SHAKING THE HEAD, STRETCHING THE NECK, DYSPNEA, exaggerated BREATHING, CRACKLES, WHEEZING
GENERAL SIGNS:
* WEIGHT LOSS (NB! parasite has GOOD APPETITE!), decrease IN EGG PRODUCTION, ENLARGEMENT OF THE LYMPOID TISSUE AREAS
* SUFFOCATION – QUITE RARE
Post mortem signs of syngamosis.
- HEMORRHAGIC TRACHEITIS, MUCUS AND PARASITES IN THE TRACHEA, PARASITE EGGS IN THE FECES
Diagnosis of Syngamus trachea in birds.
- THE DIAGNOSIS IS MOSTLY BASED ON THE CLINICAL SIGNS
- IN THE NECROPSY, SMALL NODULES AND ADULT PARASITES ARE FOUND IN THE TRACHEA OF INFECTED BIRDS
- IT IS POSSIBLE TO FIND CHARACTERISTIC parasite EGGS IN FECES
DDX: MYCOPLASMOSIS, ASPERGILLOSIS ETC
TREATMENT of ROUNDWORMS in poultry
METAPHYLACTICS: NOT USED IN CAGED BIRDS
* BENZIMIDAZOLES (FLUBENDAZOLE, FENBENDAZOLE ETC.)
->
(DEHELMINTISATION OF CHICKS 1 TO 3 MONTHS APART; DEHELMINTISATION OF ADULTS 1 TO 2 TIMES A YEAR)
TREATMENT:
* BENZIMIDAZOLES, LEVAMISOLE, GIVEN WITH WATER OR FEED
* IVERMECTIN MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT!
* TREAT THE WHOLE GROUP
Eimeria spp. life cycle
Chicken ingests oocysts.
Oocysts release sporozoites inside GI tract.
Sporozoites migrate to specific areas within the intestine (depending on spp. of Eimeria), begin to reproduce & cause damage.
Huge burden of oocysts can be produced by the new and later excreted into the environment.
Each oocyst contains 8 sporozoites and the oocysts are very resistant in the environement.
Eimeria acervulina is the
most common cause of coccidiosis.
Post mortem signs of E.acervulina:
* NUMEROUS WHITISH, OVAL OR TRANSVERSE SPOTS IN THE PROXIMAL
PART OF THE SMALL INTESTINE.
Post mortem signs of coccidiosis, specifically E.tenella.
- BLOOD ACCUMULATION IN THE LUMEN OF THE CAECUM
- HEMORRHAGIC INFLAMMATION OF THE INTESTINES
- WALL OF THE INTESTINES IS THICKENED
- THE INTESTINAL LUMEN IS FILLED WITH BLOOD CLOTS, DEAD TISSUES AND OOCYSTS
Post mortem signs of coccidiosis, specifically E.brunetti.
- MODERATE INFECTION: NO SPECIFIC LESIONS, INTESINAL PALENESS
- SEVERE INFECTION: MOST OF THE SMALL INTESTINE HAS DAMAGES OF
COAGULATORY NECROSIS AND MUCOSAL DETACHMENT
E. mitis LESIONS ARE SIMILAR TO MODERATE INFECTION OF E. BRUNETTI.
Post mortem signs of coccidiosis, specifically E.maxima.
- ENLARGEMENT AND THICKENING OF THE SMALL INTESTINE WALL, PETECHIAE
- REDDISH, ORANGE OR PINK VISCOUS EXUDATE
- MANY WHITISH SPOTS ON THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE INTESTINE
- LARGE OOCYSTS AND GAMETOCYTES IN THE LESIONS (ESPECIALLY MACROGAMETOCYTES)
Post mortem signs of coccidiosis, specifically E.necatrix.
- SMALL WHITE SPOTS, USUALLY MIXED WITH ROUNDED RED SPOTS OF
VARIOUS SIZES, CAN BE SEEN ON THE SEROSAL SURFACE - IN SEVERE CASES, INTESTINAL WALL THICKENING AND LUMEN
DILATATION 2 TO 2.5 TIMES - THE LUMEN MAY BE FILLED WITH BLOOD, MUCUS AND FLUID
- A NOTICEABLE DEHYDRATION OF THE CARCASS
- IN THE CECA ONLY OOCYSTS ARE FOUND, ADULT PARASITES ARE
LOCATED IN THE SMALL INTESTINE!
Diagnosis of coccidiosis in poultry.
- THE LOCATION OF LESIONS IN THE INTESTINE give you an idea of the spp.
- THE SEVERITY OF THE DAMAGE helps
- APPEARANCE OF FLOCK, ANAMNESIS
- OCCURRENCE OF OOCYSTS IN THE FAECES OR IN THE SCRAPING
SAMPLE OF THE INTESTINAL MUCOSA - INDIVIDUAL SPECIES MAY BE IDENTIFIED USING RNA AND DNA ASSAYS, RECOMBINANT DNA TECHNIQUES, OR PCR
Usually more than 1 Eimeria spp. present in the same bird!
Describe lice in birds.
- CAN SURVIVE IN AVIARIES FOR UP TO 1-2 WEEKS
- MOSTLY VERY MOBILE, DISTURB THE BIRDS
- BIRDS BECOME TROUBLED AND THEIR FEED CONVERSION efficiency decreases
- LICE FEED ON HAIR, DANDRUFF, SKIN SECRETIONS, FEATHERS AND BLOOD
- BLOOD-SUCKING SPECIES CAUSE INFLAMMATION OF THE SKIN, AND IN
SEVERE CASES, THE FORMATION OF CRUSTS AND SCABS - Heavy burden CAN LEAD TO A DECREASE IN WEIGHT GAIN, A DECREASE IN LAYING, AND DEATH OF CHICKS AND CHICKENS
Describe the hen flea in birds.
Ectoparasite Ceratophyllus gallinae or hen flea.
- WORLDWIDE, MOST COMMON FLEA IN POULTRY
- FEEDS AT NIGHT, DURING DAY HIDING IN THE LITTER AND ELSEWHERE.
- affect DIFFERENT BIRD AND ANIMAL SPECIES (INCLUDING HUMAN)
- ADULT: 2-2.5 MM, LATERALLY FLATTENED, BROWN IN COLOR
- 4-6 BRISTLES ON THE FEMUR OF THE HIND LEG
Describe the sticktight in birds.
Ectoparasite Echidnophaga gallinacea or sticktight flea.
- BROWN TO BLACK, SHARP-EDGED HEAD, NO CHEEK AND CHEST SPIKES
- MALES LESS THAN 1 MM, FEMALES UP TO 2 MM LONG
- CONSTANTLY ON THE BIRD’S BODY (do not go sleep in litter like hen flea)
- GALLIFORMES (CHICKEN, TURKEY, PHEASANT, QUAIL), BUT ALSO OTHER BIRD AND ANIMAL SPECIES
- WORLDWIDE, COMMON IN TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL REGIONS
Clinical signs of lice and fleas in poultry.
- ITCHING, SKIN IRRITATION, RASH
- CRUSTED PAPULES AND ALOPECIA
- IRON DEFICIENCY, ANEMIA AND DEATH → RARELY, MORE OFTEN IN CHICKS AND
YOUNG BIRDS - ITCHING, ALLERGIC DERMATITIS AND SECONDARY SKIN DISEASES ARE COMMON → DROP IN EGG PRODUCTION
- PARASITES can surround the eye (E. GALLINACEA; PICTURED) → EYELID EDEMA, ULCERS → BLINDNESS
- C. GALLINAE MAY BE A VECTOR FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASES (E.G. bact. TULAREMIA).
Describe the chicken mite in poultry.
Ectoparasite Dermanyssus gallinae or the chicken mite, also known as the red poultry mite.
- 1-1.5 MM LONG, OVAL, GRAY TO BLACK IN COLOR, MOVE SLOWLY
- THEY SUCK BLOOD, SECRETE TOXIC SALIVA INTO THE SKIN AND DISTURB THE BIRDS
- FEEDING AT NIGHT (TURN RED DURING FEEDING)
- HIDE IN NESTS, AND IN THE CREVICES AND CRACKS OF EQUIPMENT, WALLS AND PERCHES
- IN CHICKENS, TURKEYS, GEESE, PIGEONS, ORNAMENTAL AND WILD BIRDS
Describe both the northern fowl mite and the tropical fowl mite, in poultry.
Ectoparasites Ornithonyssus sylvarium (or the northern fowl mite) and Ornithonyssus bursa (or the tropical fowl mite).
- SPREAD ALL OVER THE WORLD
- MORE FREQUENT IN WARMER AREAS
- AFFECT DOMESTIC AND WILD BIRDS
- LOCATION - CLOACAL SKIN AND FEATHERS
- CAN ALSO INFECT HUMANS
Describe Knemidocoptes spp. mites.
- ALMOST ROUNDED, 0.2-0.5 MM IN DIAMETER BURROWING MITES
- 4 PAIRS OF SHORT CONICAL LEGS
- ATTACHMENT DISCS ON MALE LEGS, CLAWS ON THE LEGS OF FEMALES
- LEGS OF FEMALES ARE SHORTER, 3RD AND 4TH PAIR ARE NOT CLEARLY VISIBLE
- MORE COMMON IN SPRING AND SUMMER
- OVERCROWDING, DAMP AND UNCLEAN SPACES, POOR FEEDING, INADEQUATE
DISINFECTION ARE PREDISPOSING THE INFESTATION - MORE OFTEN IN OLDER BIRDS
Knemicocoptes mutans is also know as
the scaly leg mite.
Neoknemidocoptes gallinae are also known as
depluming mites.
Describe Neoknemidocoptes gallinae
are also known as depluming mites.
- IN THE EPIDERMIS OF THE FEATHER-COVERED SKIN
- CAUSE DROP OFF AND BREAKAGE OF FEATHERS → LOOKS LIKE MOLTING
- CHICKENS, PHEASANTS AND GEESE
CLINICAL SIGNS
* PEELING OF THE SKIN, FORMATION OF NODULES
* THICKENING OF THE SKIN, ITCHING
- SACRAL AREA, BACK, NECK, HEAD AREA
- DROP OFF AND BREAKAGE OF FEATHERS, PLUCKING, SKIN INJURIES
- DROP OF EGG PRODUCTION AND WEIGHT LOSS, EMACIATION
- ROOSTERS MAY DIE
Knemidocoptes pilae are also known as
the scaly face mite.
Describe Knemidocoptes pilae
are also known as the scaly face mite.
- BUDGies AND PARROTS
LESS FEATHERED AREAS
* IN THE BEAK AREA
* IN ADDITION TO THE BEAK, THE LEGS, ABDOMEN AND BACK CAN BE INFECTED
CLINICAL SIGNS:
* ANXIETY, VERY FREQUENT GROOMING
* GRAYISH WHITE POWDERY CRUST IN THE AFFECTED AREA
- OVERGROWTH AND DEFORMATION OF THE BEAK → BUDGies
- HYPERKERATOSIS
- LOSS OF APPETITE AND WEIGHT
- STARVATION AND DEATH ARE POSSIBLE
