Preventing 5 diseases in poultry during the rainy season and floods.

(Baonghean.vn) - The rainy season can cause localized flooding or widespread inundation, creating favorable conditions for the outbreak of diseases in poultry flocks.Livestock farmers should be aware of the following common diseases affecting their animals.

1. Avian influenza

The reasonn: Caused by the Influenza A virus, this is an acute, highly dangerous, and rapidly spreading infectious disease affecting all types of poultry: chickens, ducks, geese, and other birds of all ages. The disease can be transmitted to humans.

Chickens infected with avian influenza show signs of bleeding in the eyelids and face, and a bluish head.

Symptom:Respiratory symptoms often manifest as a rattling cough, wheezing, beak scaling, excessive nasal and eye discharge; head swelling, thickened wattles due to edema, cyanosis, numerous petechiae, and bleeding on the skin of the legs.

Bleeding eyelids, face, and head turning purple; symptoms include fatigue, lethargy, severe diarrhea, loose white, yellow, or green stools.

Disease preventionOnly buy poultry from reputable breeding facilities that guarantee disease-free conditions.

Do not keep newly purchased poultry together with existing poultry; they should be isolated and kept separate for 21 days.

Regularly disinfect and sanitize livestock pens; ensure feed and water are clean. Limit access to the livestock area.

Preventive measures include avoiding raising different types of poultry or poultry of different ages in the same area; and regularly removing sick or weak birds from the flock.

Vaccinate against diseases according to the instructions of the veterinary authorities.

2. Hemorrhagic septicemia

Reason:Caused by the bacterium Pasteurella multocida, which has many strains. The disease occurs in poultry, usually in birds over one month old.

Poultry infected with the disease die at a rate of 90-100%.

Clinical symptomsPoultry die suddenly, with purple combs, sluggish movement, and paralysis of the legs or wings. They may have loose, white or greenish droppings, or droppings containing fresh blood. They may experience difficulty breathing, nasal discharge, and drooling. Bacteria enter the bloodstream, causing septicemia and leading to rapid death.

The eyes are swollen and inflamed due to conjunctivitis. Laying rate decreases, mortality increases; 90-100% of affected poultry die.

Disease preventionEnhance care and nutrition, improve the breeding environment, hygiene, and disinfect the inside and outside of the livestock pens.

Poultry over 1 month old should be vaccinated with alum: 0.5 ml/bird. A second booster dose should be given after 4-6 months.

Clean and disinfect the barns, both inside and outside, regularly every 1-2 weeks.

3. Chronic respiratory diseases

ReasonThe primary causative agent of chronic respiratory disease is Mycoplasma gallsepticum. The disease occurs in poultry of all ages.

The disease is transmitted through eggs from parent flocks to offspring; poultry can become infected through contact with sick poultry or pathogens from the environment; or due to polluted and poorly ventilated breeding environments.

SymptomChickens often have poor appetite, reduced weight gain, and high feed consumption. Adult chickens commonly show symptoms such as watery eyes and nose, and especially difficulty breathing. Laying hens experience a 20-30% decrease in egg production.

The disease is generally not fatal to chickens, but in its chronic form, it reduces weight gain, increases feed consumption in broiler chickens, and decreases egg production in laying hens.

Disease prevention:Buy chicks from disease-free sources to avoid chicks contracting various diseases from eggs. Isolate sick chicks from healthy ones.

Use vaccines to prevent disease; regularly disinfect barns and the surrounding environment.

4. Coccidiosis

Reason:Coccidiosis is caused by protozoan parasites. The disease commonly occurs in chickens, with the most frequent onset between 3 and 6 weeks of age.

The disease is primarily transmitted through the waste products of infected chickens. The incubation period is 4-6 days.

SymptomsChickens become emaciated quickly, their combs turn pale, and they have loose, white, bloody diarrhea. Post-mortem examination reveals thickened cecum or duodenum, with hemorrhages, and sometimes the intestines are filled with blood.

Each type of poultry has its own species of coccidia, which are not transmitted between them.

Disease prevention:Chickens should be raised on raised floors so they don't eat droppings containing pathogens.

Keep the coop floor dry and change the bedding regularly to prevent coccidia from developing and spreading.

Use the coccidiosis vaccine (Coccivac) according to the manufacturer's instructions.

5. Duck cholera

Reason:Duck cholera, also known as duck viral enteritis, is a highly contagious infectious disease caused by a Herpesvirus. This virus causes cholera in ducks, geese, and other poultry.

To prevent the disease, vaccination is necessary; ducklings should be vaccinated at 2 weeks old and a booster shot should be given at 2 months old.

Symptom:The incubation period usually lasts from 2 to 7 days. Sometimes outbreaks occur due to highly virulent strains; ducks and geese die immediately while swimming without showing any clinical symptoms.

Initially, ducks and geese become less active, stop eating, lie down, their wings droop to the ground, they have difficulty walking, and are reluctant to swim; in ducklings and geese, the first symptoms may include keratitis, watery eyes, and wet feathers around the eyes; discharge from the nose, beaks pointing downwards into the water, and a dirty, mucous discharge.

Sick animals exhibit ruffled fur, diarrhea, yellow or pale green feces, sometimes mixed with blood. They stop eating, show neurological symptoms, and lower their beaks; the birth rate decreases significantly, sometimes to only 15-16%.

After 1-3 days of illness, some ducks and geese show signs of recovery, but after only a few days the symptoms reappear more severely, the animal becomes emaciated and dies.

Disease preventionTo prevent the disease, healthy ducklings and goslings must be vaccinated against duck cholera. Vaccinate ducklings and goslings at 2 weeks old and repeat the vaccination at 2 months old. For breeding ducks and goslings, repeat the vaccination every 6 months.

Provide good care and an adequate supply of clean drinking water. Clean the pens, and disinfect the inside and outside of the pens and bathing areas regularly, once every 1-2 weeks.

Ngoc Anh

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