Poultry Health Services Nasal Discharge, bulgy eye or sneezing

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Avian Influenza

Avian Influenza is a highly contagious viral disease affecting the respiratory, digestive and/or nervous systems of many avian species. Avian Influenza is commonly spread by migrating birds and waterfowl. Waterfowl are resistant to disease and rarely show clinical signs when infected. Avian Influenza is shed by infected birds in their faeces and respiratory discharge and can also be spread via fomites, such as contaminated equipment, vehicles or people.

Symptoms

There are many strains of Avian Influenza which are divided into two types: highly pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and low pathogenic Avian Influenza (LPAI).
HPAI causes severe disease with sudden mortality of up to 100%.
LPAI can cause a range of symptoms, from mild respiratory disease, depression and a decrease in egg production. Birds infected with LPAI may not show any symptoms.
Other symptoms may include swelling of the head, cyanosis (blue discolouration) of the comb and wattle, nervous signs, such as paralysis, and/or green diarrhoea.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis cannot be made on history, clinical signs or post-mortem alone. Blood sampling or virus isolation is required for a definitive diagnosis.

Treatment

There is no treatment for Avian Influenza.
As Avian Influenza is a notifiable disease, if you or your vet suspects Avian Influenza, this must be reported to the APHA, who will investigate the outbreak and conduct statutory testing and implement restrictions and control measures as necessary.
If a notifiable disease is confirmed, action will be taken on infected premises to reduce the risk of the disease spreading, including movement restrictions. Other actions, such as culling affected and susceptible birds, restrictions on premises the disease may have spread to and from (for example when animals have been moved), disinfection protocols and restrictions on activities such as shooting may also be implemented.

Prevention

Outbreaks usually occur following introduction by infected migrating or imported birds.

Biosecurity measures are the most effective protection against Avian Influenza. This includes cleaning and disinfection of equipment, vehicles and houses. Site-specific protective clothing and footwear and disinfectant foot dips are also useful biosecurity measures to prevent infection. Foot dips must be covered and regularly changed.
Preventing contact with wild birds is crucial to preventing Avian Influenza. Keepers of waterfowl should try to discourage contact with wild birds and wild waterfowl. The virus survives well in ponds and lakes.

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Mycoplasma

Mycoplasma (mainly Mycoplasma Gallisepticum) has become one of the most talked about diseases within the game bird industry as it plays a central role in respiratory disease of pheasants and partridges. It tends to be associated with secondary infections that further compromise a bird’s respiratory tract. Therefore, it is not uncommon to have co-infections with other pathogenic agents such as E. coli, aMPv and ORT.

Symptoms

Severity is variable dependant on if birds have co infection with another pathogenic agent.
Can affect all ages of game bird.
Eye and nasal discharge.
One or both eyes appear swollen.
Reduced growth rate.
Reduced feed and water intake.
Headshaking, snicking, rasping or gaping.
Poor performance, decreased ability to fly and reduced survivability after release.
Classic ‘bulgy eye’. Often accompanied by nasal and eye discharge

Diagnostics

Oropharynx, sinus or tracheal swab for PCR.
Oropharynx, sinus or tracheal swab for Mycoplasma culture. This can take a long time and often can result in a false negative.
Serology (from blood) can pick up historical infection with Mycoplasma.

Treatment

Limited choice of treatment on various sites due mycoplasma resistance to antibiotics.
Prevention is better than a cure!

Prevention

A strict control plan should be in place on every rearing and shoot site. Record any outbreaks for ease of review at the end of the season, this will help plan for the next year.
Avoid stress in your birds. This will increase bird susceptibility to diseases like mycoplasma as their immune system will be compromised. Handle, manage and transport birds so there is as little interaction and stress as possible.
Adopt good biosecurity practices: Boot dips, wheel sprays, changes of footwear and clothing will help to reduce to risk of transferring disease between groups of birds.
Breeding birds:
- Know your breeder birds source. Are they Mg Negative?
- Preferably overwinter breeder birds. If not overwintered, only receive birds from a single source. Do not mix different groups of birds.
- Investigate all respiratory symptoms to assess the involvement of mycoplasma.
- Cull out any birds showing respiratory symptoms to reduce the spread to unaffected birds.
- Vaccination should be discussed with your vet. There is no evidence that live MG vaccination will prevent mycoplasma transmission to birds through the egg or between each other.
- Close attention to the birds’ environment for stress factors is required. Overcrowding, pecking, dusty environments and predators can contribute to stress levels in birds.
All gamebirds:
- Birds of different ages, sources and species should be separated.
- Only a single supplier of birds should be used. If this is not possible, keep the different groups separate.
- Avoid allowing wild birds or escapees to share feed and water drinkers with birds in pens.
- Have a vermin control plan.
- Maintain good standards of hygiene and cleanliness.
- Use water sanitisation and monitor its effectiveness.
- Investigate any respiratory symptoms for mycoplasma involvement and cull out affected birds.
- Close attention to the birds’ environment for stress factors is required. Overcrowding, pecking, dusty environments and predators can contribute to stress levels in birds.

For the full document by the BVPA about the industry stance on Mycoplasma control click here: http://www.bvpa.org.uk/pdfs/Recommendations%20for_Mycoplasma_management%20in%20gamebirds%20v2%20Mar%2019.pdf

DISEASE DATABASE

Avian Influenza

Avian metaPneumovirus (AmPV)

ORT

Mycoplasma

Worms

Behavioural problems

Decreased reproductive performance

Nasal Discharge, bulgy eye or sneezing

Depressed Birds

Mortality

Gamebirds

Backyard Poultry

Pigeon