Infectious diseases can occur in poultry for all type of pets and breeds.
When a chicken looks sick it will behave strange and there are many causes.
A healthy chicken will have bright eyes and scavenges for food.
whereas, an unhealthy chicken will look dull and have dull eyes and are less active with ruffled feathers.
And you may notice abnormal breathing i.
e.
,coughing, abnormal digestion i.
e.
,watery or bloody diarrhoea, dirty feathers and the chicken are laying fewer or abnormal eggs.
Causes of Infectious Diseases Infections are generally caused by germs.
These germs act as pathogens which means they cause disease.
Some of the disease caused by pathogens are mentioned below, 1.
Viruses causing e.
g.
Newcastle Disease, bird flu or avian influenza, fowl pox and Gumboro disease.
2.
Bacteria causing e.
g.
fowl cholera, typhoid and pullorum disease.
3.
Fungi causing e.
g.
Aspergillosis or brooder pneumonia.
Some of the above mentioned diseases can cause high mortality rates.
Of all the microbes, only a few parasites are visible to the naked eye.
All other germs can only be seen with special microscopes.
Fungi or moulds can produce toxic substances called mycotoxins.
If birds eat feed with mycotoxins, their resistance may be lowered.
Feed should therefore be stored properly to avoid fungal growth.
Parasites also cause disease or growth retardation: internally like roundworms, tapeworms and coccidiosis or externally like fleas, ticks, lice.
Diagnosis The right diagnosis should be carried out by a veterinarian and suitable remedies should be taken to save the lives of the chickens from pathogens or else it will end up in high death rate of the chickens.
When a chicken looks sick it will behave strange and there are many causes.
A healthy chicken will have bright eyes and scavenges for food.
whereas, an unhealthy chicken will look dull and have dull eyes and are less active with ruffled feathers.
And you may notice abnormal breathing i.
e.
,coughing, abnormal digestion i.
e.
,watery or bloody diarrhoea, dirty feathers and the chicken are laying fewer or abnormal eggs.
Causes of Infectious Diseases Infections are generally caused by germs.
These germs act as pathogens which means they cause disease.
Some of the disease caused by pathogens are mentioned below, 1.
Viruses causing e.
g.
Newcastle Disease, bird flu or avian influenza, fowl pox and Gumboro disease.
2.
Bacteria causing e.
g.
fowl cholera, typhoid and pullorum disease.
3.
Fungi causing e.
g.
Aspergillosis or brooder pneumonia.
Some of the above mentioned diseases can cause high mortality rates.
Of all the microbes, only a few parasites are visible to the naked eye.
All other germs can only be seen with special microscopes.
Fungi or moulds can produce toxic substances called mycotoxins.
If birds eat feed with mycotoxins, their resistance may be lowered.
Feed should therefore be stored properly to avoid fungal growth.
Parasites also cause disease or growth retardation: internally like roundworms, tapeworms and coccidiosis or externally like fleas, ticks, lice.
Diagnosis The right diagnosis should be carried out by a veterinarian and suitable remedies should be taken to save the lives of the chickens from pathogens or else it will end up in high death rate of the chickens.
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