Académique Documents
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1. Avian Influenza
SIGNS:
Marked depression, loss of appetite and watery diarrhoea
Coughing, sneezing, rales, excessive lacrimation
Drop in egg production in layers
The conjunctiva is congested and swollen, and occasionally haemorrhagic.
Swollen combs with cyanotic tips and hemorrhagic surface
Edematous wattles (Fig. 187) and edema around the eyes, head and neck
Ruffled feathers and dark red skin (Fig. 188)
Diffuse haemorrhages between the hocks and feet
Blood in the cloaca
Some birds may recover, even after being severely affected.
GROSS LESIONS:
Birds that die with the peracute form of AI may show no significant
gross lesions
Dehydration
In highly pathogenic influenza virus, fibrinous exudate is found in
airsacs, oviduct, peritoneum and pericardial sacs.
2. Newcastle Disease
SIGNS:
o Depression and loss of appetite
o Sudden death
o Edema of the head. Swelling of the lower eyelid, often accompanied
by conjunctivitis
o Dark ring around the eye (black eye)
o Excessive fluids from the respiratory tract
o Paralyzed wings and twisting of the head and neck (torticollis)
GROSS LESION:
Acute form
o Peracute deaths will often show no discernible lesions in some of the
first birds dying in an outbreak.
o The oesophagus shows haemorrhage and erosions.
o Edema of the head and neck
o The mucosa of the trachea is frequently haemorrhagic
o Haemorrhages are throughout the gastrointestinal tract with a
tendency to ulcerate and become necrotic as the disease progresses.
o In the intestine there is generally an inflammatory response and
marked involvement of the caecal tonsils and Peyer's patches
o The mucosal lining of the proventriculus is a frequent site of
haemorrhage, especially at the junction between the oesophagus and
proventriculus
o Edematous or haemorrhagic ovaries
o In hens that have survived the disease, there is a
tendency to lay misshapen eggs or develop egg yolk
peritonitis.
Chronic form:
o Catarrhal inflammation of the respiratory system
o Edema in surrounding connective tissue
3. Fowl Pox
SIGNS:
Cutaneous form (dry form)
o Low mortality
o Lack of flock vigour and weight loss
o A mild to moderate loss in egg production
o Scabby lesions on the head, neck and unfeathered parts
of the skin
Cutaneous lesions
o Papules are light colored nodules.
o Vesicles and pustules are raised and commonly yellow.
Diphtheric lesions
o Buff to yellow plaques on mucous membranes in the
mouth esophagus and upper respiratory tract
o Occlusion of trachea, and death due to asphyxiation
4. Infectious Coryza
SIGNS:
o Respiratory signs
o Swelling of face and comb
o Paleness and weakness
o Loss of appetite, lameness
o Reduced egg production and poor shell quality
o Massive death
5. Fowl Cholera
SIGNS:
Acute septicemic form
1. High morbidity and mortality and sudden death
2. Dead birds may be found on dropping boards or in nests.
3. Depressed, cyanotic and loss of appetite
4. Nasal and oral discharge
5. Greenish diarrhoea
6. The comb may be swollen and bluish discoloration
7. Emaciated
Chronic fowl cholera
Swelling of wattles, sinuses, joints, foot pad and tendon
sheaths
Cheesy exudate in the conjunctival sac
Twisting of the head and neck may be observed in some
birds.
Middle ear infection is rare but occurs when the bacterial
agent reaches the middle ear through the nasal cavity.
The bird may lose its sense of balance with the head and
neck twisted to one side.
If both ears are infected, the bird's head and neck are pulled
back over the body and between the legs.
GROSS LESIONS:
In the very acute stages, lesions may be lacking.
Caseous exudate in wattles, sinuses, the nasal turbinates, middle
ear, joints or tendon sheaths.
Petechial and ecchymotic haemorrhages on the heart, serous and
mucous membranes, on the gizzard and abdominal fat.
The liver is swollen and is streaked with white areas and
associated small grey areas of necrosis (corn meal liver).
Thickened pleura in the lungs and slight bilateral congestion.
Free yolk in the peritoneal cavity in breeder hens and layers.
Acute oophoritis and peritonitis are often seen.
The lining of the upper intestine is reddened and gut content is
slimy.
In chronic cases
Darkened breast muscle is frequently noted and haemorrhagic
lesions are often missing.
Serous membranes and abdominal fat- presence of multiple
petecchial and ecchymotic hemorrhages.
Some important duck diseases confirmed
reported to be present locally are as follows: