Candidiasis (Sour Crop)

Also known as Thrush. It’s an infection in the chicken’s crop (digestive tract) caused by the build up of the yeast-like fungus Candida (primarily, albicans). 

Symptoms: You can identify these through changes in behavior, delayed crop emptying, regurgitation, reduced appetite, depression/lethargy, white oral lesions in the form of plaques or patches (inside their mouth or under the tongue), brownish and watery droppings. When a bird’s normal digestive tract flora is altered, or they become ill, contaminated feed or water can result in mucosal invasion. 

Causes: lack of proper sanitation, prolonged antibiotic treatment, heavy parasitism, vitamin deficiency, high carbohydrate diets, immune suppressing or debilitating infectious diseases. 

Diagnosis: Can usually be diagnosed via characteristic gross lesions, but a histopathologic exam of the affected mucosa will confirm the invasion. 

Prevention: high standards of sanitation, proper disinfectants and iodine preparations. Avoid treating with antibiotics or any other drugs for a prolonged time, and without veterinary guidance, as that can affect their bacterial flora. 

Treatment: Sour Crop is usually the result from impacted crop, so it’s important to withhold food first 24 hours, give poultry probiotics at double dose and Poultry Cell at double dose.

Copper Sulfate diluted in drinking water, may help. Nystatin in feed or water will work as treatment for fungal infections, (as a feed additive at 100g/ton) and will have no egg withdrawal. Fluconazole may be indicated for severe infections, orally at 20mg/kg every 49 hours for 14-17 days.

From our CVC AC, Elena Johnson – Miconazole/Monistast is another antifungal that has been proven effective – Monistat suppositories. (the generic brand without Propylene Glycol), 1/4 for bantam, 1/3 for large birds, give orally. Massage crop several times a day. Do treatment for 3 days minimum. Warm mash of regular feed after 24 hours.

References: Avian Disease Manual: Seventh Edition, MSD Veterinary Manual, https://poultrydvm.com/condition/candidiasis