CONTROL OF POULTRY DISEASES
  Dr. JAYASREE. K.S VETERINARY SURGEON,
  REGIONAL POULTRY FARM, MUNDAYAD, KANNUR


    In Kerala , poultry is reared mainly as backyard venture. Small scale farmers also engaged in egger nurseries , broiler farms & commercial layer farms . Breeder farms are functioning under Animal Husbandry Department .The management practices & disease control measures are different in these systems .The hot & humid climate of Kerala , nutritional deficiencies & lack of disease preventive measures play an important role in the outbreak of diseases. The annual economic loss from poultry due to various diseases alone is 13.55 crores (Animal Disease Surveillance Scheme – Annual Report - 2006) .This shows the need of proper disease control measures to enhance the production performance & for better health status of the birds.

REARING SYSTEMS
BACKYARD POULTRY
                           

 The poultry include desi and crossbreds . Practically there is no disease control  measures are taken by the farmers.

EGGER NURSERIES

The  poultry  reared  are day  – old  crossbred chicks up  to the age  of  60  days . The  egger  nursery  owners  have to do  the vaccinations & take control measures up to the age of 2 months.

COMMERCIAL BROILER & LAYERFARMING
                      
The birds reared are crossbred day old broilers up to the age of 5 - 6 weeks in commercial broiler farms & pure bred stock up to the age of 72 weeks in commercial layer farms . The farmers must do necessary vaccinations as per the schedule.

 











BREEDER FARMS
     Parent stock pure bred  birds are reared  with an objective of  production & distribution of day - old  crossbred chicks. The parent stock must be free from vertically transmissible diseases. 
    










   
 COMMON DISEASES

 

 

BACTERIAL                            
The main bacterial diseases are Pasteurellosis (Fowl cholera) , Infectious  coryza , Coli septicemia ,  Necrotic enteritis , Chlamydiosis  ,    Staphylococcosis ,   Bumble foot  ,   Omphalitis , Botulism .   Salmonellosis  & Mycoplasmosis are mainly seen in breeder farms & are vertically transmissible  also.                      

VI RAL
The  main  viral diseases are Newcastle disease , Infectious
Bursal disease, Mareks   disease  , Pox , Infectious bronchitis ,   Infectious laryngiotracheitis   ,    Avian influenza     . Egg drop syndrome & Avian leucosis complex are mainly seen in breeder farms & are vertically transmissible  also. 

PROTOZOAN
Coccidiosis   &    Histomoniases    are the main protozoan diseases affecting poultry.
     

 PARASITIC 

Round  worms ,  Tape worms &  Trematodes are the main endoparasites of poultry.Ticks  ,  Mites  ,  Lice  &  Fleas  are the main disease causing ectoparasites of poultry.

FUNGAL
Brooder pneumonia , Mycotoxicosis , & Mycotic dermatitis are the main fungal diseases.

NUTRITIONAL
Deficiency    of   Proteins , Fats,  Vitamins & Minerals cause various  diseases  in  poultry . Fatty liver  hemorrhagic syndrome &  Gout cause mortality & lowered egg production.
 
MISCELLANEOUS

Impaction of crop , sour crop , Egg bound condition ,Sudden death  syndrome  ,  Hydro pericardium Syndrome ,  Cage layer fatigue are main miscellaneous diseases of poultry.

VICES : Pecking , Cannibalism , Egg eating & pica 

HEALTH MANAGEMENT AND VACCINATION SCHEDULE

 

   

AGE	NAME OF VACCINE OR MEDICINE	DOSE	ROUTE
Day old	Mareks  vaccine	0.2ml	s/c( nape)
2-6 days	Any antibiotic- powder                           liquid	0.5g/lit 1ml/2lit	Drinking water
1-7 days	Vitamin ADEK  liquid               B-complex liquid	5ml/100 chicks 10ml/ 100chicks	Drinking water
2-6 days	OR Aureomycin -NF	1g/lit	Drinking water
7 day	Ranikhet disease vaccine- F/LaSota	1drop	Eye/nostril
9-11 day	Tab. Fluconazole	4mg/ kg	Drinking water
14 day	Infectious bursal disease              vaccine		Drinking water
21day	Ranikhet disease vaccine- La Sota		Drinking water
22-26 days	Amprolium hydrochloride Codrinal Nitrofurazone+ Furazolidone	0. 5g/lit 1g /4lit 4mg/kg body wt.	Drinking water
28 day	Infectious bursal disease  vaccine		Drinking water
6 week	Piperazine hexahydrate/ Piperazine hydrate	50ml/ 100 chicks	Drinking water
42-51 days	Vitamin supplement	5ml/100 chicks 10ml/ 100chicks	Drinking water
7 week	Ranikhet disease vaccine –  K	0. 5ml	S/C/ I/M
15week	Albendazole suspension	30ml / 100 birds	Drinking water
16 week	R2B  / Ranikhet disease vaccine + Infectious bursal disease vaccine	0. 5ml	I/M
40 weeks	Ranikhet disease vaccine                                                La Sota ( Based on RD titer)		Drinking water

NOTE: If endemic do Fowl pox vaccine at 6- 8weeks , Eggdrop syndrome vaccine on
             16- 18 weeks of age.
  

 

 

OTHER PREVENTIVE MEASURES

1 .Administer   antibiotic   @  10 – 20  mg  / kg  body weight  for 5-7 days for
treatment.
2 .Administer  coccidiostat  @ 0.5g /  litter  of  water for 5 days /  month up to 5 months of age. During outbreak administer 1g / litter for 7 days.
3. Deworm the birds every month with Piperazine hexahydrate & Albendazole   suspension alternatively.
4. Supplement   with   vitamins& mineral supplement  every   month  for  one week .During stress & summer months give vitamin– c @ 4-5 drops / bird . Provide cool water &sodium bicarbonate @2g/litter of water  to reduce heat stress.
5.Provide   hepatobiliary  compounds  to  counteract  the   adverse  effects of mycotoxins .
6. Screen   the   breeding  stock   to detect  vertically  transmissible diseases at 20 -22 weeks of age.
7. Debeak at day old , 4 weeks & 16 weeks of age to avoid pecking.
8. Disinfect the poultry sheds and cages before restock.
9. Top    dressing    of    litter    should   be   done  .  Rake  the  litter  with lime @ 1kg / 1sq.m.
10. The mycotoxin content of the feed should not be above the permissible limit. Feed should not be stored for longer periods.
11. Down time should be given before restock.
12. Isolate the diseased birds and medicate.
13. Carcass should be disposed as deep burial or incineration.
14. Do not allow visitors.
15. Proper hygienic & sanitary measures should be taken.