Histomoniasis in turkeys: causes and symptoms, disease treatment and prevention

Histomoniasis is an infectious disease caused by protozoa. They parasitize in the intestines, liver, kidneys and spleen of birds. Under the influence of toxins in the body, inflammatory processes begin. If sick turkeys are not given treatment, tissue necrosis develops, which can be identified by darkening of the skin on the head. Consider the causes and symptoms of histomonosis in turkeys, its treatment and prevention.

Pathogen and causes of the disease

The causative agents of the disease are the simplest histomonads. Transmitted to he althy turkeys from sick ones through contact, wild birds can also be a source.Carriers of histomonads can be insects and earthworms, which turkeys find in the pasture. Birds can become infected from external parasites - lice and fleas, rodents, other poultry - chickens, ducks.

Protozoa can be in dirty bedding, drinkers and feeders used by sick birds. Histomonads can be carried by the owner himself - on shoes, clothes and hands.

Symptoms and forms of the disease

The disease occurs in acute and chronic form. In the acute form, histomonosis mainly affects turkey poults up to 3 months of age. The incubation period lasts up to 3 weeks. A characteristic sign of histomonosis is the darkening of the skin, which is clearly visible on the head, where there are no feathers. But this already speaks of irreparable changes in the body. It is impossible to save the bird at this stage of the disease, so no treatment is prescribed.

Before the symptom appears, other symptoms may be noticed. But they are not inherent only in histomonosis, but are similar to the signs of many infectious diseases. Affected turkeys become lethargic, do not eat, move little, stagger and fall when trying to stand up.

Symptoms of histomonosis: diarrhea, change in color and smell of litter, it becomes brown with a greenish tinge, smells unpleasant. In birds, the body temperature drops to 37.9 ˚С at a normal 39.9-41.8 ˚С. In the chronic form, the symptoms of the disease are blurred and not clearly expressed.

Patological changes

Protozoa can infect up to 100% of the livestock, while a case of 70% can be expected. At autopsy, such violations are found: the walls of the intestines are enlarged, their surface is tuberous, covered with a marble pattern. The large intestines may grow together with the small intestines, and there is a brownish liquid in the lumen of the intestines.

Liver with white spots as large as millet or hazelnut grains, enlarged. The spleen may also be enlarged (1.5-2 times).

Diagnostic rules

You can identify the disease by the plumage, which becomes dull and falls out. The scalp darkens, becomes almost black. The diagnosis of "histomonosis" is made on the basis of external symptoms, pathological changes and examination of liver tissues and intestinal contents of sick turkeys. When making a diagnosis, it is necessary to exclude coccidiosis, tuberculosis, typhus, trichomoniasis, leukemia, coligranulomatosis.

Treatment methods for histomonosis in turkeys

Sick turkeys, in most cases, die. Those who have recovered develop immunity. It is possible to treat histomonosis only at an early stage. Antibiotics are used for therapy. All turkeys on the farm are subjected to preventive treatment, even if they do not show signs of the disease.

Birds that show symptoms are transferred separately to another room and left there until they recover. Where there were sick birds, they disinfect, completely change the litter, clean and disinfect drinkers and feeders, perches and nests.

Treatment of big-6 cross turkeys, other crosses and breeds is carried out with the help of antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs. Use, for example, "Metronidazole", "Trichopolum" in powder or tablets. The medicine is administered in food or drinking water. The course of treatment is 9 days. Then for the same number of days it is necessary to do prophylactic drinking with solutions of drugs with a dosage recommended for he althy turkeys. After 3 weeks, preventive treatment is repeated.

To restore the intestinal microflora after the end of antibiotic therapy, turkeys are given probiotics, and to strengthen the immune system - vitamin preparations. They feed during the recovery period with mashes with the inclusion of greens or complete feed.

Sick turkeys in the late stage of histomonosis are slaughtered and disposed of. Carcasses must be burned or buried. Meat and internal organs should not be fed to pets.Meat from apparently he althy turkeys is also unsuitable for human consumption, it can be infected with histomonads. Therefore, the meat of suspicious birds must also be disposed of.

Prevention

Raising young animals on mesh or slatted floors to minimize contact with droppings. Periodic soldering of livestock with solutions of antibiotics and proticides, anthelmintic agents. Destruction of rodents and insects on the territory of the farm, limiting the contact of turkeys with birds from other farms. Quarantining new turkeys. Cleaning and disinfection of the turkey house, working equipment, drinkers and feeders.

Histomoniasis is not dangerous for humans, but you need to work with gloves, after cleaning and disinfecting the room, change and disinfect clothes.

Histomoniasis of turkeys is an infectious disease that, when it appears on the farm, can infect the entire livestock. In this case, treatment is indispensable.The diagnosis should be established by a veterinarian, he also selects drugs and a treatment regimen. Independently, based only on external signs, it is impossible to make a diagnosis. As well as treating turkeys with antibiotics, which may not be effective due to misdiagnosis.

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