Poor performance in game birds

Question 1

What are the main ways disease can spread in hatching and brooding

Answer 1

substandard egg washing
biosecurity and hygiene lower than commercial piultry

Question 2

at what age are poults transferred to release pens

Answer 2

6-7 weeks

Question 3

for how long do game birds chicks receive nutrition from their yolk sacs after hatching

Answer 3

3-4 days

Question 4

List 2 post hatching problems that can occur in game birds

Answer 4

yolk sac infections
starve-outs and non-starters

Question 5

At what age do yolk sac infections of birds occur

Answer 5

occur 3-5 days of age

Question 6

List 6 clinical signs of yolk sac infections

Answer 6

Malodorous- very bad smell
omphalitis- inflammation of the naval
dehydration
emaciation
large, discoloured yolk sac
mortality

Question 7

What pathogens can cause yolk sac infections

Answer 7

Coliforms
especially avian pathogenic E.coli

Question 8

List 3 signs associated with non-starters and starve-outs

Answer 8

weakness
lethargy
mortality

Question 9

What is the difference between starve-outs and non-starters

Answer 9

If no ingesta in the gizzard then it’s starve-out
If there is ingesta (often bedding substrate), the yolk sac is absorbed and the liver is pale then it’s a non-starter

Question 10

What is the mortality percentage of viral enteritis/ rotavirus

Answer 10

70%

Question 11

what age are birds most likely to be infected with viral enteritis/ rotavirus

Answer 11

4-10 days

Question 12

List 5 signs of viral enteritis/ rotavirus

Answer 12

yellow frothy droppings
typhlitis- inflamed caecum
dehydration
ruffled feathers
pyrexia

Question 13

How do you diagnose viral enteritis/ rotavirus

Answer 13

presumptive on PM exam
confirmed on electron microscopy

Question 14

How is viral enteritis/ rotavirus transmitted in birds

Answer 14

horizontal
from breeders due to contaminated shells

Question 15

Describe how is salmonellosis transmitted

Answer 15

vertical transmission - through hatchery or contaminated brood hut

Question 16

what is a classic PM finding suggestive of salmonellosis

Answer 16

caecal cores

Question 17

what strains of salmonella are likely in game birds

Answer 17

salmonella typhimurium- most common
salmonella pullorum

Question 18

List 2 enteric protozoal infections in game bird poults

Answer 18

spironucleus meleagridis
tetratrichomonas gallinae

Question 19

when can bird become infected with spironucleosis and trichomoniasis

Answer 19

from 3 weeks of age

Question 20

list 4 clinical signs of spironucleosis and trichomoniasis

Answer 20

watery diarrhoea leading to dehydration
weight loss lethargy
depression
mortality

Question 21

describe how to diagnose spironucleosis and trichomoniasis

Answer 21

PM exam
followed by microscopy or intestinal scrapes

Question 22

what species of cocci infect pheasants

Answer 22

eimeria colchici

Question 23

what species of cocci affect partridges

Answer 23

eimeria legionensis

Question 24

when is coccidiosis disease seen (what age)

Answer 24

21 days to 16 weeks

Question 25

describe how is coccidiosis spread

Answer 25

faecal-oral transmission route

Question 26

describe how to diagnose coccidiosis

Answer 26

impression smears from intestinal scrapes - looking for eggs

Question 27

What pathogen causes Histomoniasis (blackhead)

Answer 27

histomonas meleagridis

Question 28

describe lesions associated with histomoniasis

Answer 28

multiple necrotising lesions in the liver
caseous typhlitis

Question 29

What is the intermediated host of Histomonas meleagridis

Answer 29

Heterakis gallinarum is the nematode intermediate host

Question 30

What pathogen causes bacterial enteritis in partridges

Answer 30

Clostridium colinum

Question 31

What does clostridium colinum cause in partridges and how is diagnosis confirmed

Answer 31

ulcerative enteritis
histopathology- as culture is difficult

Question 32

what is the primary pathogen associated with infectious sinusitis

Answer 32

Mycoplasma gallisepticum

Question 33

What time of year is infectious sinusitis most common in birds

Answer 33

late summer/ early autumn

Question 34

List 4 clinical signs associated with infectious sinusitis

Answer 34

clear mucus in nasopharynx and infraorbital sinus
conjunctivitis
epiphora
caseation (bulgy eye)

Question 35

Describe how infectious sinusitis diagnosed

Answer 35

PCR, culture and histopathology work up to differentiate between pathogens

Question 36

what diseases should you suspect if you see a bird with tremors, incoordination and cataracts

Answer 36

Avian encephalomyelitis virus (AEV)

Question 37

What causes pheasant ataxia

Answer 37

unknown

Question 38

How do you differentiate between pheasant ataxia and other neurological diseases e.g. Newcastle disease, cerebral listeriosis, lead poisoning and botulism

Answer 38

Histopathology

Question 39

List 4 investigation tools that can be used to investigat poor performance in game birds

Answer 39

1. Site visits
2. Post-mortem examinations
3. Further testing, PCR, serology, histopathology, virus isolation, bacteriology
4. Further reading/ contacting expert

Question 40

What are the minimum withdrawal times for meat and eggs in game birds

Answer 40

Meat= 28 days
Eggs= 7 days

Question 41

what is currently the only licensed antibiotic for gamebirds

Answer 41

Tyvalosin

Question 42

List 4 modes of treatments in game birds

Answer 42

Individual application
in feed
in water
in ovo

Question 43

List the vaccines available for gamebirds

Answer 43

Newcastle disease - used in breeder stock
Mycoplasma vaccines

Question 44

What treatment option is avaliable for mycoplasmosis and what needs to be considered

Answer 44

Aivolsin (as it is the licensed product) or another macrolide
Don’t use concurrently with ionophores

Question 45

Describe how to treat spironucleosis , trichomoniasis and histomoniasis

Answer 45

tetracyclines e.g. doxycycline

Question 46

describe how to treat coccidiosis in gamebirds

Answer 46

Toltrazuril (baycox) is the preferred licensed product