10 diseases in poultry and their symptoms

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Disease is an abnormal condition of the body of an organism. Diseases affect both the structure and function of an organism

In today's article, I will be talking about 10 common diseases in poultry and their symptoms for you to easily identify them in your poultry farm if any of them occurs. So stay through and read to the end to get the best out of this article.

But, before we proceed I had like to quickly state that diseases in poultry are classified into this four main categories which are

  • Viral/infectious diseases
  • Bacteria diseases
  • Parasitic diseases
  • Deficiency/nutritional diseases

All the diseases below are from either of the above named categories

1. Newcastle Disease

This is a viral or infectious disease caused by paramyxovirus. It is highly contagious and often spread by direct contact with respiratory discharges or droppings from affected birds. Though there is no known cure for Newcastle disease, but, it can be prevented with the use of vaccines.

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Symptoms Of Newcastle Disease:

  • Nervous signs: Twisting of the neck, tremor and paralysis.
  • Yellowish-green and an abnormal watering feaces.
  • Loss of appetite.

2. Fowl Cholera

Fowl cholera is a bacterial disease caused by Pasteurella multocida. It is a highly contagious disease and it spreads through contaminated drinking water as well as droppings from infected birds.

Symptoms Of Fowl Cholera:

  • Sudden death.
  • Lameness may occur in a chronic case.
  • Nersal, ocular and oral discharge.
  • Swollen joints.
  • coughing.
  • Dejection.
  • Comb, wattles and face may turn a bluish colour.

3. Coccidiosis

This is one of the most dangerous and highly contagious diseases in poultry. Coccidiosis is a parasitic disease of the intestinal track and it is caused by coccidian protozoa. This disease spreads through contact with infected birds and ingestion of infected tissues. Coccidiosis can easily be prevented through proper clean up of the poultry pens.

Symptoms Of Coccidiosis:

  • Blood stained feaces or bloody diarrhea.
  • Retarded growth.
  • Weakness or listlessness.
  • Ruffled feathers.

4. Salmonelloses

Salmonelloses is also a contagious diease caused by a bacterial. It can be transmitted via infected birds.

Symptoms Of Salmonelloses:

  • Poor growth.
  • Dehydration.
  • Diarrhea and weakness.
  • Enlarge liver with necrosis.

5. Egg Drope Syndrome (EDS)

Just as the name implies, this disease affects laying hens. Egg Drope Syndrome (EDS) is a viral or infectious disease which leads to sudden drope in egg production when present in your flock.

Symptoms Of Egg Drope Syndrome:

  • A drope in egg production which can be up to about 40%.
  • Production of soft-shelled, thin-shelled or shell-less eggs.
  • Egg size reduction may also occur.

Read also>> 5 types of poultry farming

6. Cage Layer Fatigue

This is a condition that affects caged hens that are at their peak in terms of egg production. It is a relative condition that may be associated with osteoporosis in chickens. Cage Layer Fatigue is believed to be caused by malnutrition hence it is a nutritional or deficiency disease.

Symptoms Of Cage Layer Fatigue:

  • Fragile bones.
  • Affected birds may tend to always lie down.
  • Reduction in feed intake may also occur.

7. Histomoniasis

This is a parasitic disease caused by Histomonas meleagridis which is an anaerobic protozoan parasite. Histomoniasis is also known as blackhead disease that mostly affects turkeys and chickens. Isolation of infected birds is an effective way of preventing the spread of this parasitic disease.

Symptoms Of Histomoniasis:

  • Dropping wings.
  • Listlessness.
  • Yellowish coloured droppings.
  • Unkempt feather.

8. Marek's Disease

This is a higly contagious viral or infectious disease that commonly affect chickens, though, turkeys, quil, pheasants and gamefowl can also be affected by this viral disease. It is one of the most common diseases in poultry. While no effective treatment has been discovered for this disease yet, vaccines can be used to prevent its potential outbreak.

Symptoms Of Marek's Disease

  • Vision impairment.
  • Paralysis of the legs, wings as well as the neck are clinical signs.
  • Weight loss is also a sign.

9. Infectious Bursal Disease (Or Gumboro)

Infectious Bursal Disease or Gumboro is a viral disease caused by "infectious bursal disease virus(IBDV). It has no known affective cure and it is one of those diseases that are mostly part of the vaccination routine in most of the poultry farms.

Symptoms Of Infectious Bursal Disease (Or Gumboro):

  • Sudden death may occur at the onset of the disease
  • Vent pecking
  • Poor appetite
  • Dehydration

10. Fowl Pox

Fowl pox is a viral disease of poultry caused by viruses of the family poxviridae. This disease is said to be a slow-spreading virus and it is mostly prevented with the use of vaccines. Fowl pox occurs in dry and wet form.

Symptoms Of Fowl Pox

  • Blindness
  • Facial swelling
  • Weight loss
  • Pox also occurs in the comb of infected birds.
  • Lowered egg production

Read also>> Broilers feeding system

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