Scour in poultry Flashcards
List 4 reasons why litter can become wet
poor drinker management
condensation from concrete floor
moisture from burning gas
sub-optimal ventilation
what is a possible problem with feeding chickens poor quality protein
poor quality protein is not digested —-> increased pH —> increased chance of bacterial scour
List 4 factor that can increased water consumption in poultry
high in sodium
high in magnesium
high in potassium
every 1% increase in protein = £% extra water consumption
List 7 possible history questions to ask to investigate wet litter issue in chickens
water consumption changes
daily live weight gain
food conversion rate
egg produstion
mortality
cull levels
other clinical signs
T/F clostridium perfringens is present in chicken intestines and environment without causing disease
True
when does Clostridium perfringens cause disease in chickens
Uncontrolled growth leads to intestinal integrity disruption. Cp await an opportunity to flourish
e.g. coccidial challenge, immunological stress (vaccine)
List the clinical signs of peracute necrotic enteritis
sudden death, after a short spell of huddling, depression and dullness
thin walls guts, necrosis and gassy intestinal contents
List the clinical signs of Subclinical necrotic enteritis
no discomfort or mortality
However, the birds are scouring and have intestinal gross pathology
List 5 predisposing factors of Clostridium perfringens in chickens
Concurrent infections e.g. coccidiosis
Excessive protein in the ration
Protein/energy imbalance in the ration
High levels of non-starch polysaccharides in the ration
Sub-optimal husbandry
Describe how to treat Clostridium perfringens
Amoxicillin OR tylosin for 3 days
Describe how to diagnose Clostridium perfringens
gram stain (they are gram +ve cocci- doesn’t tell you definitively that it is, but not common in intestine)
Response to treatment- should be rapid
Describe how to prevent Clostridium perfringens in poultry
Better coccidiosis control and site hygiene
enzyme supplementation to enhance protein digestion
No commercially avaliable vaccine
Describe Brachyspira
Gram -ve spirochetes
colonises birds large intestine
list the clinical signs of Brachyspira
Disease affects layer hens and broiler breeders causing a yellow frothy diarrhoea, and egg drop and typhlitis
how is Brachyspira spread in chickens
faecal oral route
decribe how to diagnose Brachyspira
PCR on affected faeces
describe how to treat Brachyspira
tylosin or tilmicosin
What does salmonella Gallinarum cause in poultry
high mortality
anaemia
green diarrhoea
hepatomegaly (the liver may also be bronze in colour
what is fowl typhoid
salmonella Gallinarum
what is Pullorum disease
caused by salmonella pullorum
What does Pullorum disease cause in poultry
acute mortality and D+- with white caked vents
predominantly young birds
what causes coccidiosis in poultry
eimeria
but it is species specific
Describe how to identify carriers of fowl typhoid and pullorum disease
ELISA or slide agglutination tests
Where does eimeria acervulina cause disease in chickens
upper intestine
Where does eimeria maxima cause disease in chickens
upper intestine and middle intestine
Where does eimeria tenella cause disease in chickens
caeca
when is the peak challenge for chickens against coccidiosis
24 days of age
Why is peak coccidiosis Challenge around 24 days of age in chickens
Several life cycles of coccidiosis are required to stimulate immunity
By the third passage (8x3 = 24 days of age) the cell mediated immunity component has had the required exposure to antigens and is able to control lesions
After the 3rd life cycle, lesions are controlled by the immune system of the broiler
List 8 common manifestations of coccidiosis in chickens
Poor FCRs
Poor/variable weights
Poor bone mineralization
Dehydration
Decreased pigmentation?
Increased mortality
Assists onset of enteritis
Describe how to diagnose coccidiosis
Microscopy
Gross pathological lesions
Molecular biological methods (PCR)
Describe how to manage coccidiosis in poultry
environmental
immunological
chemotherapeutic
Describe anticoccidials/ coccidiostats
they don’t treat coccidiosis- they are added to feed to control levels
Is there a vaccine against coccidiosis in chickens
Yes- live attenuated
Not used in boilers
More used in breeders
expensive
Describe therapy for coccidiosis in chickens
toltrazuril (baycox), amprolium
List 4 possible reasons for coccidiosis outbreak in chickens
resistance to preventative drugs
high infection pressures
reduced feed intakes leading to suboptimal doses of anticoccidials
too low dosage of anticoccidial in feed
List a disease that can cause D+ in turkeys
turkey haemorrhagic enteritis
what is seen with turkey haemorrhagic enteritis
Anaemic carcases with diffuse haemorrhagic enteritis & mottled (marbled) spleen
describe how to diagnose Turkey Haemorrhagic Enteritis
PCR testing
describe how to control Turkey Haemorrhagic Enteritis
Control by vaccinating with an attenuated live vaccine through the drinking water at 18-28 days
what does Infectious Bronchitis (QX strain) cause in chickens
Renal damage (nephritis) can follow respiratory disease
so water absorption by kidneys affected causes wetter droppings
what is seen on PM with infectious Bronchitis (QX strain)
Pale enlarged kidneys with visceral gout
Describe how to diagnose Infectious Bronchitis (QX strain
histology and PCR testing
describe how to control Infectious Bronchitis (QX strain
Control with IB protector strain or specific QX strain live IB vaccines
Describe what is seen with Infectious Bursal (Gumboro) Disease in chickens
hunched, pale, depressed birds with D=
describe how to diagnose Infectious Bursal (Gumboro) Disease
lesions are almost pathognomic (bursitis) but require PCR testing to be definitive
Describe how to control Infectious Bursal (Gumboro) Disease
Control with live attenuated vaccines in the drinking water (14 to 19 days of age) or vector vaccines in the hatchery
List the diseases that can cause scour in chickens
Clostridium perfringens (necrotic enteritis)
Brachyspira
Salmonella
Coccidiosis
Infectious Bronchitis (QX strain)
Infectious bursal (Gumboro) disease
T/F slower growing breeds have lower prevalence of intestinal disease
True
What do wet droppings consist of
urates
urine
What is haemorrhagic typhlitis caused by?
Coccidiosis
T/F clostridium perfringens is a slow growing bacteria
False Fast
What characteristics of the housing environment proliferate eimeria growth
Oxygen
Moisture
Growth
What virus causes turkey haemorrhagic enteritis
Turkey siadenovirus A
Where are vaccinations for infectious bursal disease administered?
In the water
