Author Archives: RVO

Infectious Coryza

Synonyms: roup, cold, coryza Species affected: chickens, pheasants, and guinea fowl. Common in game chicken flocks. Clinical signs: Swelling around the face, foul smelling, thick, sticky discharge from the nostrils and eyes, labored breathing, and rales (rattles—an abnormal breathing sound) are common clinical signs. The eyelids are irritated and may stick together. The birds mayContinue reading “Infectious Coryza”

Infectious Laryngotracheitis

Synonyms: LT, ILT, trach, laryngo Species affected: Chickens and pheasants are affected by LT. Chickens 14 weeks and older are more susceptible than young chickens. Most LT outbreaks occur in mature hens. In recent years, LT has also caused significant respiratory problems in broilers greater than 3 weeks of age, especially during the cooler seasonsContinue reading “Infectious Laryngotracheitis”

Chlamydiosis

Synonyms: ornithosis, psittacosis, parrot fever The disease was called psittacosis or parrot fever when diagnosed in psittacine (curve-beaked) birds, and called ornithosis when diagnosed in all other birds or in humans. Currently, the term chlamydiosis is used to describe infections in any animal. Species affected: Affected species include turkeys, pigeons, ducks, psittacine (curve-beaked) birds, captiveContinue reading “Chlamydiosis”

Swollen Head Syndrome

Synonyms: Facial cellulitis, thick head, Dikkop, SHS Species affected: Chickens and turkeys are the known natural hosts. Experimentally, guinea fowl and pheasants are susceptible but pigeons, ducks, and geese are resistant to the infection. SHS does not presently occur in the United States, but is present in most countries of the world. Clinical signs: InContinue reading “Swollen Head Syndrome”

Mycoplasma Synoviae

Synonyms: MS, infectious synovitis, synovitis, silent air sac Species affected: chickens and turkeys. Clinical signs: Birds infected with the synovitis form show lameness, followed by lethargy, reluctance to move, swollen joints, stilted gait, loss of weight, and formation of breast blisters. Birds infected with the respiratory form exhibit respiratory distress. Greenish diarrhea is common inContinue reading “Mycoplasma Synoviae”

Mycoplasma Meleagridis

Synonyms: MM, N strain, H strain Species affected: MM affects turkeys of all ages, although poults are affected more severely than mature turkeys. Recently, MM has been shown to infect pigeon, quail and peafowl. Clinical signs: A drop-off in production and hatchability can be expected in breeder flocks. There can be very high mortality inContinue reading “Mycoplasma Meleagridis”

Aspergillosis

Synonyms: brooder pneumonia, mycotic pneumonia, fungal pneumonia, Aspergillus. When the source of the disease is the hatchery, the disease is called brooder pneumonia. In older birds, the disease is called aspergillosis. Species affected: All birds (domestic poultry, pigeons, canary and zoo bird species), animals, humans, and plants are susceptible. Clinical signs: Aspergillosis occurs as anContinue reading “Aspergillosis”

Infectious Bursal Disease

Synonyms: Gumboro, IBD, infectious bursitis, infectious avian nephrosis Species affected: chickens Clinical signs: In affected chickens greater than 3 weeks of age, there is usually a rapid onset of the disease with a sudden drop in feed and water consumption, watery droppings leading to soiling of feathers around the vent, and vent pecking. Feathers appearContinue reading “Infectious Bursal Disease”

Equine Encephalitis

Synonyms: EE, EEE, WEE Note: This disease should not be confused with St. Louis Encephalits (SLE). Chickens are used as sentinels (test animals) in SLE suspect areas, such as southern Florida. While SLE is also carried by mosquitos, that is where the similarities between the two encephalitis diseases end. Chickens do not get SLE. ReferContinue reading “Equine Encephalitis”