Avian cholera is a relatively common bacterial disease among poultry It is an alteration that manifests with greater or lesser severity, being, in the latter case, potentially fatal It is highly contagious and can cause a real epidemic if we have several birds living together, as it is also resistant to numerous antibiotics.
In this article on our site, we will see what is fowl cholera, what are its symptoms, what treatment can be implemented and how to prevent it its appearance.
What is avian cholera?
This disease is of bacterial origin Specifically, it is caused by the bacterium Pasteurella multocida. Different serotypes and with different degrees of virulence can trigger the disease. In addition, it is a bacteria very resistant in the environment. Some hens sick with infectious coryza aggravate their condition by also suffering from avian cholera. Birds may have this bacterium as part of the normal flora of the respiratory system, which is why it is considered a secondary pathogen in other diseases, although it may itself be the primary trigger.
In addition to poultry, avian cholera can also occur wild birds The bacteria can be found in other animals, including humans. Birds become infected by ingesting bacteria that have contaminated their water or food. Droppings from sick or carrier birds that stain common places are another source of infection. In addition, another route is the respiratory route, through inhalation or sneezing, and the skin route, through wounds and different lesions.
If you have poultry, here is more information about Poultry Diseases.
Fowl cholera symptoms
The severity of the condition will be influenced by the virulence of the strain. In addition, the affected species, the state of he alth of the sick specimen, the environment in which it lives, its handling, etc. must be taken into account. Depending on the presentation, we speak of acute, acute or chronic infection The acute is characterized by the sudden death of the affected birds, without detecting any symptoms of illness.
Symptoms of acute fowl cholera
In the acute we will appreciate signs like the following:
- Inappetence, the hen does not eat.
- Fever.
- Thirst.
- Drowsiness.
- Prostration, the bird remains motionless.
- Profuse diarrhea that may contain blood.
- Respiratory problems.
- Mucus.
- The combs and barbels turn purple because the bird is not getting enough oxygen.
- Generalized bleeding.
Symptoms of chronic fowl cholera
In the chronic presentation of avian cholera, we find symptoms like the following:
- Chins swollen from pus that may ooze.
- Arthritis.
- Masses or abscesses.
- Hemorrhages.
- Enlarged liver and heart.
- Other internal injuries.
Avian cholera treatment
When dealing with a bacterial disease, the veterinarian, and only he, can prescribe the administration of antibiotics, although they are not always achieved good results, because some strains are very resistant. For this reason, many commonly used antibiotics fail to eliminate this bacterium. To find the right antibiotic, the ideal would be to do a antibiogram This test allows you to determine which antibiotics the bacteria present in the bird are sensitive or resistant to.
In addition, good handling is essential. The Adequate nutrition and hygiene are fundamental pillars for both recovery and prevention. In general, due to the improvement in the living conditions of birds, it is more likely that we will find chronic cases than acute ones.
To properly care for your chicken, you may be interested in this other article on our site about What do chickens eat?
Avian cholera prevention
We can protect our hens thanks to vaccination and always providing them with adequate living conditions. The vaccine can be administered already during the first months of life. It will be the veterinarian who tells us the most appropriate guideline to inoculate this and other vaccines, as well as the protocol in the event of having to repeat the doses, since there are several types of vaccines
For more complete protection, it may be necessary to give two doses 3-4 weeks apart. The application, depending on the vaccine, is subcutaneous, intramuscular or oralOf course, we must bear in mind that, as there are several strains, the vaccine may not protect against all of them. This means that the vaccinated bird could contract avian cholera.
If you have chickens, it's also important to educate yourself on Chicken Diseases and their symptoms so you can be prepared if you notice anything unusual in these birds.
