Poultry and Game Birds

Hexamitiasis is seen in 1-9 week old turkey poults. Also occurs in gamebirds, peafowl, ducks, and pigeons. It is caused by a motile protozoon Hexamita meleagridis (Hexamita columbae in pigeons).
Recovered birds often are carriers and shed the parasite in their faeces which contaminate feed, water and range. Susceptible birds get the organism by ingestion.

Initially birds are very nervous and active. They shiver, crowd around any heat source and have subnormal temps. There is watery or foamy diarrhoea and the birds dehydrate rapidly. Later on the birds are depressed, stand with their heads retracted, feathers ruffled and wings drooping before going into coma, and dying.

Diagnosis is by post mortem.

Hygiene is the most important factor in the prevention of outbreaks. Various treatments are available.

Trichomoniasis occurs in pigeons and doves and raptors that feed on them and also in turkeys, chickens, and game birds. Outbreaks usually occur in warm weather.

The disease is caused by Trichomonas gallinae, a motile protozoon. Pigeons are carriers and contaminate surface water or water containers. Pigeons can transmit trichomonads to their young during feeding. Raptors expose themselves and their young by feeding them infected doves and pigeons.

The main clinical sign in pigeons, doves, and raptors is that they have trouble closing their mouth due to oral lesions. There is drooling and repeated swallowing movements with watery eyes in birds and lesions in the sinuses or periorbital area. In rare cases with penetrating cranial lesions may show CNS signs. Turkeys have a gaunt appearance with a hollowed area over the crop.

In game birds Trichomonas is a normal inhabitant of the bird’s gut but when present in large numbers it can cause disease. Affected birds become depressed and pass yellow, frothy caecal droppings, disease is usually seen in birds under stress and the removal of stress together with treatment with re-hydration salts and possibly an antibiotic should be effective in reducing losses.

This is caused by Histomonas meleagidis, a protozoon and it occurs most frequently in exposed, unmedicated turkeys, esp. under 3 mths. It also occurs in chickens and captive game birds. Young birds are more frequently and severely affected.

It is transmitted by the ingestion of fresh faeces containing the infected ova of Heterakis gallinarum that are within earthworms.

The clinical signs initially are listlessness, anorexia, drooping wings and yellow faeces the head may be cyanotic. In chickens there may be bloody faeces. In the later stages there is depression, drooping wings, eyes closed, head drawn close to the body, and emaciation. Mortality may be 100% in young turkeys.

Diagnosis is by post mortem. Pr3vention is by practising good hygiene and not mixing turkeys with other species of birds. Also it is important to de-worm regularly. There is no treatment available.

Gapes is caused by the gapeworm Syngamus trachea. The adult worms live in the trachea (windpipe) of game birds, poultry and several other birds such as rooks, crows and starlings. The female and male are permanently attached to each other forming the typical Y shape.

The gapeworm eggs are coughed up, swallowed and passed out in the droppings. Game birds may be infected by eating the eggs, larvae, or by eating earthworms that have themselves eaten eggs or larvae. The larvae may remain infective in the earthworm for up to 5 years, thus release pen can build up a large reservoir of infection. When swallowed by the game bird the larvae migrate through the body or bloodstream to the trachea via the lungs.

Respiratory signs, such as coughing and snicking, are caused by irritation of the trachea by the worms. Death occurs by respiratory failure when worms block the airways. Partridges seem to be especially susceptible and mortality can be rapid and high.

Flubenvet is effective and can be added to the feed, either in proprietary feeds on prescription or by mixing food on site.

Prevention means rotating pens, hygiene of feeders and drinkers, discouraging wild birds from entering pens, avoiding high stocking densities and preventative medication.

This virus causes an intestinal infection in birds up to 14 days of age will often produce a very watery, frothy scour. Affected birds will huddle to keep warm and deaths may occur.

The infection is easily transmitted by people moving about the site and viruses spread rapidly within a hut once introduced. Overcrowding of chicks, excess humidity and poor temperature control all contribute to making conditions more severe.

There is no specific treatment for viral infections but treating with re-hydration preparations and antibiotics to control secondary bacterial infection can cut down losses markedly.

The clinical signs observed in birds with mycoplasmosis are red, swollen eyelids and conjunctival tissue with a clear ocular discharge. The condition can become more severe resulting in extreme swelling of the eyelid and conjunctiva, crust formation along the eyelid margins resulting in ulcerations on the cornea and purulent discharge and loss of sight. Inflammation of the sinuses may occur resulting in discharge flowing from the nares. The birds may also display wet, matted feathers on the face (especially around the eyes), fluffed body feathers, inactivity, weight loss, loss of appetite and death due to starvation, exposure or predation.

Domestic poultry display respiratory symptoms such as coughing, sneezing and nasal discharge. They are lethargic, stop feeding and undergo severe weight loss. In turkeys, the sinus under the eye becomes swollen.

A diagnosis can be made using blood samples and post mortem. There are a number of treatments available once a diagnosis has been made. The response to treatment often depends upon how early the disease was identified and treatment started.