Pasteurellosis in chickens: symptoms and treatment, diagnosis and danger to humans

A dangerous and rapidly transmitted disease among poultry must be detected in time by the breeder. Timely treatment started will prevent its spread and save the livestock population. Therefore, it is important to distinguish the symptoms of pasteurellosis in domestic chickens from other diseases even in the early stages of the disease, to know how to prevent it and how to deal with it.

Characteristics of the disease

This disease, also called chicken cholera, is common throughout the world. It is transmitted through the digestive and respiratory tract, as well as through damaged areas of the skin, then spreading through the blood throughout the body.

Pasteurellosis is caused by bacteria of the species Pasterella multocida and Pasterella Haemolytica, which are weakly resistant to high temperatures and disinfectants. Not only poultry, but also other small animals are susceptible to the disease. The infection can also be transmitted to humans.

Pasteurellosis is especially dangerous for eggs and chickens. The infected embryo not only dies on its own within 1.5 weeks, but also transmits the infection through the shell to other eggs. If death did not occur (when the future chick is infected with non-aggressive Pasteurella species), the hatched chick is a carrier of pasteurellosis from birth, dangerous for its brethren.

Causes of occurrence

Infection spreads along with food and water contaminated with bacteria, with the bites of sick animals (mice, dogs), insects (gadflies, mosquitoes) and parasites (bird mites), through the remains of the bodies of dead animals, by airborne droplets, less often by contact with the manure of sick livestock.

The most dangerous is infection from a fallen infected bird. Too close being in the same room has a bad effect on the he alth of chickens.

Bacteria thrive in cool, wet weather in spring and winter.

Symptoms of the disease

The incubation period of the disease lasts from several hours to 4 days.

Then the following symptoms appear:

• heavy ragged breathing;
• discharge from the nasal cavity of the beak;
• darkening of the beard and comb;
• loss of appetite against the background of intense thirst;
• reducing the number of eggs.

Signs of illness can appear either gradually or all at once.

Pasteurellosis can occur in birds in three forms: hyperacute, acute and chronic. Each form is characterized by its own symptoms and features of the course.

Super Sharp

Super-acute form of the disease entails mass death of birds. In this case, there are no symptoms, the infected individual suddenly closes its eyes and falls to the ground, dying. This form of the disease mainly affects waterfowl, but it can also affect chickens.

Spicy

The acute form is characterized by the sudden onset of symptoms of the disease. The temperature of the chicken rises to 44C, green diarrhea appears, containing bloody inclusions, the bird breathes heavily, drinks a lot and refuses to eat.

The disease can quickly spread to the entire livestock. With this course of the disease, chickens die within 1-3 days. Surviving individuals remain carriers of pasteurellosis for life. With timely medical measures taken, up to 70% of the livestock can survive.

Chronic

After suffering an acute form, as well as when a non-aggressive type of Pasteurella enters the body, chickens develop a chronic form of the disease. You can notice this by the following signs:

• bird exhaustion;
• heavy breathing, nasal discharge;
• poor appetite;
• swelling of limbs, crest, pain on movement;
• eye inflammation;
• formation of bumps on the head;
• decrease in egg production.

With this form of the disease, chickens live for several months. With proper treatment, recovery occurs, but the bird remains a carrier of bacteria for life.

Methods for diagnosing the problem

Since the symptoms of pasteurellosis are similar to those of other chicken diseases (avian flu, salmonella), it is difficult to identify the disease by external signs alone.The diagnosis is made either on the basis of a post-mortem examination of a dead chicken, or after a laboratory analysis of organ particles from dead individuals.

Therefore, if even a single symptom occurs in an individual, it is isolated from the rest as soon as possible, and the use of medications is immediately started.

How to cure Pasteurellosis in chickens

Pasteurellosis is treated with antibiotics and a special serum. In this case, the bird needs a dry, warm room and enhanced nutrition. The effect will be achieved only if the drugs were applied in the first 2 hours after the onset of symptoms. In factories and large farms, diseased chickens are immediately killed and disposed of. Eggs of sick individuals are also subject to destruction.

The latest developments in the treatment of pasteurellosis in chickens are Cobactan, Trisulfon and Levoerythrocycline.

Cobactan

An antibiotic of a new generation, available in the form of suspensions for injection. It is administered once a day intramuscularly for 3-5 days. The dosage is agreed with the veterinarian. After the introduction, you need to monitor the condition of the bird, as allergic reactions are possible.

Trisulfone

Antibacterial drug in the form of a white powder. It is given to the bird along with drinking water for at least 5 days. The solution must be prepared daily. The eggs of laying hens taking the medicine must not be eaten.

Levoerythrocycline

Complex preparation in the form of a viscous dark liquid. It is administered intramuscularly for 5 days. It can be used for both treatment and prevention. The dosage is determined by the doctor.

Tetracycline and Doxycycline

Broad-spectrum antibiotics classically used to treat pasteurellosis. It is administered intramuscularly, the dose is determined by the veterinarian. Can be used topically as an ointment to treat skin lesions and eye infections.

Prognosis and timing of treatment

Pasteurellosis is considered an incurable disease.

Even if the chicken does not die, it remains a bacillus carrier for life. Only preventive treatment of he althy individuals makes sense. The course takes five or more days.

Vaccines and vaccination

Prevention of the disease is the most effective way in the fight against pasteurellosis. The following drugs are used for vaccination:

• Avivak-Postavak or Avivak in the form of a suspension;
• Diavak;
• VGIIVIP (suspension).

Chickens begin to be vaccinated at the age of one month. After that, immunity to Pasteurella develops in birds within six months.

Together with vaccines for prevention, chickens are given Floron, Avidox or Norsulfazol, antibiotics (levomycetin, doxycycline, tetracycline) are added to the feed, and other antibacterial drugs are used. Vaccination is recommended only in areas unfavorable for pasteurellosis.

Possible consequences

With frequent epidemics of chicken cholera, it is recommended to stop breeding birds for several years.

Danger for people

When in contact with sick chickens, a person can also catch pasteurellosis through microcracks in the skin.

Therefore, it is important to be in an infected chicken coop only in special clothes and gloves.

At the first suspicion of infection, you must urgently contact a medical organization.

Despite the fact that Pasteurella dies during heat treatment, and cooked chicken meat is not dangerous for humans, it is still recommended to dispose of the carcasses of sick birds. This is due to the fact that it is impossible to guarantee the correct cooking of meat, which means that there is a risk of infection.

Prevention

The most effective way to prevent is disinfection of the chicken coop. Processing takes place in the presence of chickens in order to kill bacteria found in the bird's plumage. Used for this aerosol Monklavit and its analogues.

After the first treatment, the hens are transferred to another room, and the chicken coop is sprayed with 5% bleach. After that, the room is whitewashed. Whitewash the walls and ceiling three times, each time letting the previous layer dry for an hour.

The area where the chickens walk is also being processed. The grass is mowed from it, the site is left under the sun, and two weeks after that, the earth is dug up with lime.

To prevent the disease, it is important to monitor the quality of water and feed, pay attention to hygienic conditions, and protect the house from possible contact with potential vectors of pasteurellosis.

Infection with pasteurellosis always causes great damage to the breeder. Since treatment is ineffective, the best way to deal with the disease is prevention.

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