Types of organism causing poultry diseases
Poultry farming is a viable business that is beneficial not only to the poultry investor but also to the community based on its contribution to food security. However, like other businesses, the poultry business also has it challenges, such as, outbreak of disease among the flock which leads to loss of profit and capital (if not promptly and properly managed).
Due to the huge impact of disease outbreak among the flock on the investment of the poultry farmer, understanding the poultry diseases, the causes, prevention and control is essential for sustainable poultry farming.
Disease among the flock are categorized differently based on their causes, namely –
- Viral diseases
- Bacterial diseases
- Fungal diseases
- Parasitic diseases
- Nutritional diseases
Poultry Viral Disease –
These are diseases caused by viruses which are microscopic infectious agents that can replicate inside the living cell of a poultry bird. In poultry farming,, Viral diseases are highly contagious and spread quickly. Viral diseases spread through direct contact with infected birds, contaminated food or water or/and through the air. Usually, viral diseases cannot be treated with antibiotics, rather, they are managed through vaccination of the birds and strict biosecurity measures. Effective biosecurity measures on the farm prevent the risk of disease entry and spread among the flock.
Examples of viral diseases that could affect your poultry –
| S/N | Name of Disease | Symptoms | Mode of Spread | Prevention |
| 1 | NewCastle Disease | 1. Nasal discharge 2. Gasping for air 3. Twisted neck 4. Tremor in bird 5. Loss of appetite 6. Weight loss 7. Diarrhea (green colour) | 1 Direct contact with saliva of infected birds 2 Eating contaminated feed 3 Drinking contaminated water 4 Breathing in aerosol from infected birds’ coughing, sneezing etc. | 1 Give vaccine timely 2 Disinfect all equipment and footwear before use at the poultry 3 Isolate infected birds from the flock 4 Maintain cleanliness in the poultry house and farm at large |
| 2 | Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) | 1 Swollen sinuses, wattles and legs 2 Difficulty in breathing 3 Loss of appetite 4 Difficulty in walking 5 Greenish diarrhea 6 Abnormal egg | 1 Direct contact with infected birds secretions 2 Consuming contaminated feed or water 3 Transmission through infected equipment or farm workers wear | 11 Proper sanitation of the farm equipment and workers 2 Effective hygiene in the farm house 3 Quick isolation of infected birds |
| 3 | Infectious Bursal Disease (Gumboro) (Common in young broiler within the age of 3weeks to 6weeks) | Weakness in birds 1 Difficulty in standing 2 Reduced appetite 3 Whitish diarrhea 4 Ruffled feathers | 1 Timely bird vaccination 2 Enforce strict biosecurity measures 3 Isolate promptly infected birds | |
| 4 | Infectious Bronchitis Disease | 1 Watery eyes 2 Nasal discharge 3 Ruffled feather 4 Depression in birds | 1 Droplets from infected birds 2 Consuming contaminated feed or water 3 Contaminated equipment surfaces | 1 Proper ventilation of the poultry house 2 Regularly disinfect farm equipment 3 Promptly isolate infected birds 4 Controlling access to the birds through biosecurity measures 5 Ensure birds vaccination with good practices |
| 5 | Marek’s Disease | 1 Paralysis in birds legs and wings 2 Tumors in skin and feather follicles 3 Blindness (partial or complete) in birds 4 Weight loss 5 Loss of appetite | 1 Inhaling dust or feathers of infected birds | 1 Vaccination within the first day of life. 2 Proper ventilation of the poultry house 3 Effective sanitation of the poultry house 4Breed birds to high genetic resistance |
Impact of viral disease on the flock
The entry of viral disease among the poultry flock is usually devastating, impacting adversely on the farm operations in many ways, such as –
- Huge loss of farm resources ( financial and otherwise) to the poultry farmer/ investor
- Poor productivity of the birds
- Poor growth and weight gain in the birds
- Damage farm reputation in the market place
- Hinder consumers’ confidence in the quality of the farm produce
- Farm closure/ total loss of investment for the farmer
- High mortality rate among the birds, eradicating investment value
Conclusion –
poultry viral diseases are highly infectious and can spread quickly, yet, there is no direct cure for the disease. therefore, preventive measures such as – vaccination, strict biosecurity and early detection are fundamental in reducing the impacts viral disease on the flock.
For early detection, the farmer must be very observant watching out for any changes in the behavious of the birds.
Do you need more information about poultry diseases? We will be obliged to help you – remember, a healthy flock starts with informed and prepared management
I We are all about poultry farming, you can reach out to us for the help you need. – We are your colleague, partner and friend in the poultry business.
Read more on vaccination and biosecurity –
https://poultrygist.com.ng/2024/10/biosecurity-in-poultry-farming/https://poultrygist.com.ng/2024/10/importance-of-poultry-vaccination/
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