Lesson 99 - Infectious Diseases of Poultry

What is a behavioral non-infectious disease in poultry?

cannibalism

What is cannibalism in poultry?

pecking of the flesh and feathers of themselves or other birds

What causes cannibalism in poultry?

stress from poor management

What poor management practices lead to cannibalism in poultry?

1. overcrowding

2. excessive heat

3. excessive light

4. absence of feed and water

5. diet deficiencies

6. mixing of ages and colors of birds

7. keeping injured or dead birds in the flock

How do we prevent cannibalism in poultry?

1. keep birds busy with other things to peck

2. beak trimming

3. proper lighting

4. proper space and stocking density

What is a role of vitamin E?

1. antioxidant

2. spare selenium

What are common forms of selenium used?

1. sodium selenite

2. organic chelates

What are good feeds for selenium?

1. feeds grown on high-selenium soil

2. fish meal

3. dried brewers yeast

What is the quantity of vitamin E needed in the diet proportional to?

amount of linoleic acid and other polyunsaturated fatty acids in the diet

What is the form of vitamin E used?

synthetic supplement in the form of alphatocopherol

What are the main disorders seen with vitamin E deficiency?

1. encephalomalacia

2. exudative diathesis

3. muscular dystrophy

What age birds can have encephalomalacia from vit E deficiency?

2-5 weeks old

What are the lesions seen with encephalomalacia?

1. swollen cerebellum

2. hemorrhage

3. areas of necrosis

What are the signs seen with encephalomalacia?

1. sudden prostration with legs outstretched and toes flexes

2. lateral twisting of the head and falling back

3. incoordination

What age poultry can have muscular dystrophy from Vit E deficiency?

4-8 weeks old

What are the lesions seen with vit E deficiency muscular dystrophy?

degeneration and necrosis of muscle fibers causing white streaks

What muscles can have muscular dystrophy from Vitamin E deficiency?

all muscles of the body including the heart and gizzard

What can we give to prevent muscular dystrophy?

1. vitamin E

2. selenium

3. cysteine

What age poultry can have exudative diathesis from vit E deficiency?

5-11 weeks old

What lesions are seen with exudative diathesis?

greenish-blue edema fluid of subcutaneous tissue in the abdominal region

What is a sign of exudative diathesis?

chicks stand with their legs apart and edema of abdominal region

What causes colibacillosis in poultry?

avian pathogenic E. coli

What type of E. coli is APEC?

1. extraintestinal E. coli

2. gram-negative rod-shaped

What bacteria have clusters of acquired virulence genes on plasmid-borne pathogenicity islands?

Avian pathogenic E. coli

3 multiple choice options

What are virulence factors of APEC?

1. capsule to resist phagocytosis

2. siderophores for iron acquisition

3. adhesins

4. antimicrobial resistance

What are the routes of transmission for APEC?

1. airborne particles

2. fecal-oral contamination

3. contaminated hatchery equipment

4. transovarian

What are predisposing factors for APEC?

1. immunosuppressive diseases

2. environmental stress

3. co-infections

What co-infections can be predisposing factors for APEC?

1. mycoplasma

2. eimeria

What are the pathogenesis of colibacillosis?

1. inhalation leading to respiratory tract infection

2. spread from air sacs to underlying reproductive tract

3. ascending cloacal infection

4. extraintestinal spread from GI to other organs

What does colibacillosis cause in the reproductive tract?

salpingo-peritonitis syndrome

What bacteria can cause ulcerative pododermatitis?

avian pathogenic E. coli

3 multiple choice options

What bacteria is involved with swollen head syndrome?

Avian pathogenic E. coli

3 multiple choice options

What are some inflammatory conditions caused by colibacillosis in poutlry?

1. airsacculitis

2. nephritis

3. perihepatitis

4. myocarditis

5. pericarditis

You examine a chick that is showing signs of omphalitis, lethargy, and poor growth. What bacteria would most commonly cause these signs?

avian pathogenic E. coli

3 multiple choice options

You examine a group of broiler chickens and they are experiencing respiratory distress. They are showing signs of cellulitis and septicemia. What bacteria is most likely causing these signs?

avian pathogenic E. coli

3 multiple choice options

You examine a few layer hens that are showing signs of reduced egg production. You notice that they are showing signs of salpingitis and peritonitis. What bacteria could cause these signs?

avian pathogenic E. coli

3 multiple choice options

What are the common postmortem findings for colibacillosis?

1. fibrinous pericarditis

2. airsacculitis

3. perihepatitis

What is used to diagnose colibacillosis?

1. culture

2. PCR

3. antibiotic sensitivity testing

What antibiotics could be used to treat colibacillosis?

1. ampicillin

2. neomycin

3. nitrofurans

4. oxtetracycline

5. chloramphenicol

6. sulfonamides

What drugs are not allowed to be used for colibacillosis in the USA?

fluoroquinolones

What does APEC show resistance to commonly?

1. antimicrobials

2. disinfectants

What vaccines are used for colibacillosis?

1. subunit nobilis INAC

2. live attenuated Poulvac

3. various inactivated and autologous vaccines

What are the best control practices for colibacillosis?

1. sanitize water lines and closed water systems

2. ensure adequate ventilation

3. maintain moisture control of litter

4. implement pest control

What kind of bacteria is salmonella?

gram-negative rods

What are the host-adapted serotypes of salmonella?

1. S. enterica serotype gallinarum biovar pullorum

2. S. enteric serotype gallinarum biovar gallinarum

What is the agent that causes pullorum disease?

S. enterica serotype gallinarum biovar pullorum

3 multiple choice options

What are the non-host adapted serotypes of Salmonella?

1. S. enterica serotype enteritidis

2. S. enterica serotype typhimurium

What are the zoonotic risk Salmonella serotypes?

1. S. enteritidis

2. S. typhimurium

What are the routes of transmission for Salmonellosis?

1. transovarian

2. fecal-oral route

3. contaminated equipment

4. rodents, insects, humans

5. contaminated environment

What age of poultry does Pullorum disease affect?

chicks

What age of poultry does Fowl typhoid affect?

adults

You are called out to a farm because they have found a few dead and moribund chicks in the incubator. The brooder house chickens are showing signs of incoordination, respiratory distress, thirst, huddling together. Some chicks are showing swelling of hock joints and blindness. What bacteria commonly causes this?

S. enterica serotype Gallinarum biovar pullorum

3 multiple choice options

You are examining some chicks and they are showing signs of white diarrhea. What bacteria could cause this?

S. enterica serotype Gallinarum biovar pullorum

3 multiple choice options

A few adult chickens were showing signs of lethargy and diarrhea. 5 days later they died. What bacteria could cause this?

S. enterica serotype Gallinarum biovar gallinarum

3 multiple choice options

What lesions would you see on postmortem finding for fowl typhoid?

1. enlarged and congested liver

2. multiple white necrotic foci on liver

3. mishappen heart with nodules

4. enlarged spleen

5. mishappen ovary with nodular gray and yellow follicles

6. distended hock joint

What is used for diagnosis of salmonellosis?

1. clinical signs

2. isolation and identification

What is used for surveillance for salmonellosis?

serology

You are surveillancing a flock of poultry with serology for salmonella. You tested a group and the results were negative, but 6 weeks later tested again and they were positive. What does the first negative result mean?

1. true negative and chickens were noninfected

2. tested too early and 3-10 day delay of antibodies resulted in negative even though they were infected

What sample should be used for acute infection of salmonella?

liver

What sample is preferred for diagnosis of chronic salmonella infection?

1. liver

2. spleen

3. bone marrow

What is the treatment for salmonellosis?

1. antibiotics

2. supportive care

3. antibiotics do not eliminate carriers

4. sometimes don't treat due to zoonotic risk

What are the methods for prevention and control of salmonellosis?

1. cleaning and disinfection

2. rodent control

3. vaccination

4. avoid overcrowding and stress

5. use salmonella-free breeding stock

What is mycoplasmosis?

chronic infectious disease

What systems are mostly affected with mycoplasmosis?

1. respiratory

2 reproductive

What is true about mycoplasma?

1. small, wall-less

2. slow growing

3. fragile outside host

What is the most pathogenic avian mycoplasma species?

Mycoplasma gallisepticum

3 multiple choice options

What animal is more susceptible to M. gallisepticum?

turkeys

What does M. gallisepticum mainly cause in chickens?

chronic respiratory disease

What does M. gallisepticum mainly cause in turkeys?

infectious sinusitis

What are the main affects of M. synoviae?

1. infectious synovitis

2. respiratory disease

What animals does M. meleagridis affect?

turkeys

What is the main affect of M. meleagridis?

1. poor hatchability

2. poor growth

3. bowing of tarsometatarsal bones

4. airsacculitis

What are the routes of transmission for mycoplasmosis?

1. infected hens transmit via eggs

2. airborne droplets

3. fomites and contaminated equipment

4. asymptomatic birds

What are some general clinical signs of mycoplasmosis?

1. reduced feed efficiency

2. poor growth

3. decreased hatchability

You examine some chickens that are coughing and have nasal discharge and tracheal rales. You also notice conjunctivitis and facial edema. What bacteria could cause this?

Mycoplasma gallisepticum

3 multiple choice options

You examine some chickens that are showing signs of joint swelling and lameness. Some hens also are having decreased egg production and eggshell abnormalities. What bacteria is causing this?

Mycoplasma synoviae

3 multiple choice options

What are the postmortem findings for M. gallisepticum?

1. thickened airsac membrane

2. fibrinous/fibrinopurulent perihepatitis

3. pericarditis

4. congestion and consolidation of the lungs

You examine some turkeys and you suspect M. gallisepticum. What signs are you seeing to make you think that?

1. clear mucoid exudate

2. dried nasal exudate

3. swollen infraorbital sinus

4. sinusitis

5. weight loss

What samples can you take for diagnosing mycoplasmosis?

1. tracheal swabs

2. sinus aspirates

3. joint fluid

4. egg yolks

What diagnostic tools are used for mycoplasmosis?

1. culture

2. real-time PCR

3. serum plate agglutination test

4. ELISA

5. haemagglutination inhibition test

What antibiotics are used for mycoplasmosis?

1. tylosin

2. tilimicosin

3. tiamulin

What antibiotics do you want to avoid with mycoplasmosis?

beta-lactams like penicillin

What are the prevention and control measures for mycoplasmosis?

1. prevent contact with wild birds

2. biosecurity

3. vaccination

4. monitoring

What are the presentations for fowl cholera?

1. acute septicemia

2. chronic local infections

3. subclinical carrier states

What is the infectious agent causing fowl cholera?

Pasteurella multocida

3 multiple choice options

What type of bacteria is P. multocida?

1. gram-negative

2. non-motile

3. encapsulated coccobacillus

You stain a slide with Giemsa stain and look under the microscope. You see bipolar stained organisms. What bacteria is this?

Pasteurella multocida

3 multiple choice options

What poultry are the most susceptible to fowl cholera?

turkeys

What is the transmission for fowl cholera?

1. direct contact

2. contaminated equipment

3. water, feed

4. rodents, flies, mites

5. wild birds

6. no vertical transmission

You get called out to a farm to check on some adult chickens showing anorexia, ruffled feathers, and drop in egg production. Your examination shows a fever and diarrhea. A few other chickens have suddenly died. What bacteria could cause this?

acute infection with Pasteurella multocida

3 multiple choice options

You examine a few dead chickens and find caseous exudate in their wattles, joints, and sinuses. A few other chickens in the flock have torticollis and facial edema. What bacteria could cause this?

chronic infection with Pasteurella multocida

3 multiple choice options

What are the postmortem findings for acute fowl cholera?

1. generalized hyperemia

2. petechial and ecchymotic hemorrhage

3. pericardial and peritonieal effusion

4. hepatic necrosis

5. hemorrhagic ovaries

What is used to diagnose fowl cholera?

1. clinical signs

2. isolation from blood, spleen, liver

3. bipolar microorganism seen

4. PCR and serotyping

What is the treatment for fowl cholera?

1. sulfonamides

2. tetracyclines

3. supportive care

What are the prevention and control measures for fowl cholera?

1. sanitation

2. rodent control

3. vaccination

4. management

What is the causative agent of infectious coryza?

Avibacterium paragallinarum

3 multiple choice options

What type of bacteria is Avibacterium paragallinarum?

1. gram-negative

2. rod shaped

3. nonmotile

What does Avibacterium paragallinarum need for growth?

nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (V-factor)

What animals does infectious coryza affect?

chickens

What is the route of transmission for infectious coryza?

1. bird to bird via oculonasal secretions

2. contaminated equipment, feed, water

3. rodents, insects, humans

4. chronically sick and carrier birds

5. not transmitted vertically