Scour in poultry

Question 1

List 4 reasons why litter can become wet

Answer 1

poor drinker management
condensation from concrete floor
moisture from burning gas
sub-optimal ventilation

Question 2

what is a possible problem with feeding chickens poor quality protein

Answer 2

poor quality protein is not digested —-> increased pH —> increased chance of bacterial scour

Question 3

List 4 factor that can increased water consumption in poultry

Answer 3

high in sodium
high in magnesium
high in potassium
every 1% increase in protein = £% extra water consumption

Question 4

List 7 possible history questions to ask to investigate wet litter issue in chickens

Answer 4

water consumption changes
daily live weight gain
food conversion rate
egg produstion
mortality
cull levels
other clinical signs

Question 5

T/F clostridium perfringens is present in chicken intestines and environment without causing disease

Answer 5

True

Question 6

when does Clostridium perfringens cause disease in chickens

Answer 6

Uncontrolled growth leads to intestinal integrity disruption. Cp await an opportunity to flourish
e.g. coccidial challenge, immunological stress (vaccine)

Question 7

List the clinical signs of peracute necrotic enteritis

Answer 7

sudden death, after a short spell of huddling, depression and dullness
thin walls guts, necrosis and gassy intestinal contents

Question 8

List the clinical signs of Subclinical necrotic enteritis

Answer 8

no discomfort or mortality
However, the birds are scouring and have intestinal gross pathology

Question 9

List 5 predisposing factors of Clostridium perfringens in chickens

Answer 9

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

Question 10

Describe how to treat Clostridium perfringens

Answer 10

Amoxicillin OR tylosin for 3 days

Question 11

Describe how to diagnose Clostridium perfringens

Answer 11

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

Question 12

Describe how to prevent Clostridium perfringens in poultry

Answer 12

Better coccidiosis control and site hygiene
enzyme supplementation to enhance protein digestion
No commercially avaliable vaccine

Question 13

Describe Brachyspira

Answer 13

Gram -ve spirochetes
colonises birds large intestine

Question 14

list the clinical signs of Brachyspira

Answer 14

Disease affects layer hens and broiler breeders causing a yellow frothy diarrhoea, and egg drop and typhlitis

Question 15

how is Brachyspira spread in chickens

Answer 15

faecal oral route

Question 16

decribe how to diagnose Brachyspira

Answer 16

PCR on affected faeces

Question 17

describe how to treat Brachyspira

Answer 17

tylosin or tilmicosin

Question 18

What does salmonella Gallinarum cause in poultry

Answer 18

high mortality
anaemia
green diarrhoea
hepatomegaly (the liver may also be bronze in colour

Question 19

what is fowl typhoid

Answer 19

salmonella Gallinarum

Question 20

what is Pullorum disease

Answer 20

caused by salmonella pullorum

Question 21

What does Pullorum disease cause in poultry

Answer 21

acute mortality and D+- with white caked vents
predominantly young birds

Question 22

what causes coccidiosis in poultry

Answer 22

eimeria
but it is species specific

Question 23

Describe how to identify carriers of fowl typhoid and pullorum disease

Answer 23

ELISA or slide agglutination tests

Question 24

Where does eimeria acervulina cause disease in chickens

Answer 24

upper intestine

Question 25

Where does eimeria maxima cause disease in chickens

Answer 25

upper intestine and middle intestine

Question 26

Where does eimeria tenella cause disease in chickens

Answer 26

caeca

Question 27

when is the peak challenge for chickens against coccidiosis

Answer 27

24 days of age

Question 28

Why is peak coccidiosis Challenge around 24 days of age in chickens

Answer 28

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

Question 29

List 8 common manifestations of coccidiosis in chickens

Answer 29

Poor FCRs Poor/variable weights Poor bone mineralization Dehydration Decreased pigmentation? Increased mortality Assists onset of enteritis

Question 30

Describe how to diagnose coccidiosis

Answer 30

Microscopy Gross pathological lesions Molecular biological methods (PCR)

Question 31

Describe how to manage coccidiosis in poultry

Answer 31

environmental immunological chemotherapeutic

Question 32

Describe anticoccidials/ coccidiostats

Answer 32

they don't treat coccidiosis- they are added to feed to control levels

Question 33

Is there a vaccine against coccidiosis in chickens

Answer 33

Yes- live attenuated Not used in boilers More used in breeders expensive

Question 34

Describe therapy for coccidiosis in chickens

Answer 34

toltrazuril (baycox), amprolium

Question 35

List 4 possible reasons for coccidiosis outbreak in chickens

Answer 35

resistance to preventative drugs high infection pressures reduced feed intakes leading to suboptimal doses of anticoccidials too low dosage of anticoccidial in feed

Question 36

List a disease that can cause D+ in turkeys

Answer 36

turkey haemorrhagic enteritis

Question 37

what is seen with turkey haemorrhagic enteritis

Answer 37

Anaemic carcases with diffuse haemorrhagic enteritis & mottled (marbled) spleen

Question 38

describe how to diagnose Turkey Haemorrhagic Enteritis

Answer 38

PCR testing

Question 39

describe how to control Turkey Haemorrhagic Enteritis

Answer 39

Control by vaccinating with an attenuated live vaccine through the drinking water at 18-28 days

Question 40

what does Infectious Bronchitis (QX strain) cause in chickens

Answer 40

Renal damage (nephritis) can follow respiratory disease so water absorption by kidneys affected causes wetter droppings

Question 41

what is seen on PM with infectious Bronchitis (QX strain)

Answer 41

Pale enlarged kidneys with visceral gout

Question 42

Describe how to diagnose Infectious Bronchitis (QX strain

Answer 42

histology and PCR testing

Question 43

describe how to control Infectious Bronchitis (QX strain

Answer 43

Control with IB protector strain or specific QX strain live IB vaccines

Question 44

Describe what is seen with Infectious Bursal (Gumboro) Disease in chickens

Answer 44

hunched, pale, depressed birds with D=

Question 45

describe how to diagnose Infectious Bursal (Gumboro) Disease

Answer 45

lesions are almost pathognomic (bursitis) but require PCR testing to be definitive

Question 46

Describe how to control Infectious Bursal (Gumboro) Disease

Answer 46

Control with live attenuated vaccines in the drinking water (14 to 19 days of age) or vector vaccines in the hatchery

Question 47

List the diseases that can cause scour in chickens

Answer 47

Clostridium perfringens (necrotic enteritis) Brachyspira Salmonella Coccidiosis Infectious Bronchitis (QX strain) Infectious bursal (Gumboro) disease

Question 48

T/F slower growing breeds have lower prevalence of intestinal disease

Answer 48

True

Question 49

What do wet droppings consist of

Answer 49

urates urine

Question 50

What is haemorrhagic typhlitis caused by?

Answer 50

Coccidiosis

Question 51

T/F clostridium perfringens is a slow growing bacteria

Answer 51

False Fast

Question 52

What characteristics of the housing environment proliferate eimeria growth

Answer 52

Oxygen Moisture Growth

Question 53

What virus causes turkey haemorrhagic enteritis

Answer 53

Turkey siadenovirus A

Question 54

Where are vaccinations for infectious bursal disease administered?

Answer 54

In the water