Poultry Respiratory Concerns Abound (Continued from Pago Al 9) ease) that tends to spike about this period,” said Ziegler. In this case, there has been a decrease in the number of IB cases since last year. In broilers, there has been six cases from November 1995-February 1996, in roasters one case, and layers one case. All are confirmed cases. Of the broil ers, four of the six have been typed. For 18, there have been 12 sus pected cases. For a number of rea sons, according to Ziegler, the laboratories have not been able to isolate the viruses. The reasons given have been the length of time of exposure to the flock of the vir us, the incorrect sample of birds, and so so. Of the four confirmed cases, three of them had an “untype ablc” strain, and several Mass., Conn., and Ark. types have been ruled out. Most confirmed cases have beel Del. 072 and field strains. The signs of IB include foamy air sacs. In many cases, the secon dary infections, such as e. coli and others, create the biggest prob lems. Most companies are using vaccines, either a Mass, or Conn, at the hatchery, or field boosts at 14-16 days of age, “sometimes older if they’re going for roasting birds,” said Ziegler. Another challenge for producers Gauge your savings Call today for savings with lease financing for equipment, buildings and vehicles. Lease new or used equipment from public and private sale Ken Darlington (717) Mike Dixon (814) 684-5707 has been fowl pox. “Fowl pox is a problem we’ve been seeing a fair amount of in the past year,” he said. “This is typically a problem with layers, birds that have been in production. Typically we see this problem after about 40 weeks or so of age.” There are two forms of fowl pox, including the cutaneous, or skin form, and the diphtheritic, or wet form. In the skin form, there are evi dent scabs or crusts on the comb, wattles, and face of the birds. In the wet form, there is material in the mouth of the birds, usually in the trachea or the esophagus as well. In the past year, New Bolton has diagnosed 18 cases of pox in lay ers. Both the skin and wet form of the disease have been seen and producers can have both in the same flock. Clinical signs and lesions are “typical,” said Ziegler. They include nodules above the eyes of the birds, “probably the beginning of problems,” he said. A more moderate case would include raised, proliferative nodules on the wattles, face, and comb as well, which can get significantly worse. Nodules can also appear in feath ered areas as well. Diagnosis can often been con fusing because of the similarity with tracheitis. A histo- Telmarklease.* \s your rain gauge fills... your wallet doesn’t empty. Measure your savings with a new Telmark lease signed between February 1 and April 15. Telmark offers tax deductible payments and a choice of the following: • 10% down; balance of this year’s payment after harvest • 60-day waiver of payments OR • Ist year payments reduced. Patrick Rush (412) 587-3989 Lisa Sonnen (717) 866-9217 Paul Shipper (302) 456-1931 Tilmarklnc. 800-451-3322 * Credit approval required. OR Jody Underwood Mike Fullam (301) 898-0095 (717) 966-9202 Frank Hunter Andrew McLean (716) 595-3954 (410) 827-5052 (412)346-3455 fa NEW leases only. pathological evaluation is required. Various vaccines can be used to battle fowl pox. There are four dif ferent types—a fowl pox vaccine, a combination fowl and pigeon pox. a quail pox (used by North Carolina turkey growers), and a canary pox (used by turkey growers). New Bolton is working on a research project with a grower to evaluate the way the fowl pox vir us gets into the bird and what it does when it’s inside. They are seeing if the same virus can be used to infect the combs as it can the trachea. They’re looking at the DNA of the tissue isolates. They’re also evaluating the com pany’s vaccine procedures to “establish for the company what the best vaccine protocol and pro tection is (for die birds),’’ said Ziegler. Several common tumor virus diseases are under research at New Bolton. One of those is lymphoid leukosis, tumors that appear in the liver, spleen, and kideys, but no enlarged nerves. Also Marek’s Disease is under investigation, similar to lymphoid leukosis, but with the nerve involvement A sign of Marek’s Disease, which affects broilers, is a raised “plaque” on the surface of the skin on birds. Also, there is enlargement of the I? p Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 17, 1996-A23 sciatic nerve, along with the plaque and nodules on the skin. One type of infection is called “grey eye,’’ with tumors creating a white appearance in the iris of the bird. Another tumor disease is retic uloendotheliosis, which often doesn’t involve visceral tumors. But researchers have been seeing some quite prominent ones. The disease resembles Marek’s Dis ease, but there’s a less common immunosuppressive form where it doesn’t show up as any obvious lesions. However, birds can fall prey to other infectious, secondary diseases. Ziegler said it is often vary diffi- Mastitis, Milk Quality WILLIAMSON (Franklin Co.) —A mastitis and milk quality seminar will be held from 9:45 a.m.-2:15 p.m. on Feb. 27 here at the Williamson Community Center. Speakers will be Dr. Larry Hutchinson and Dr. Lorraine Sor dino from Penn State and Dr. Bruce Beachnau with Upjohn. A sampling of the topics to be addressed are udder preparation, heifer mastitis, vaccines, treat- cult to properly diagnose the dis eases. One method under research, but not yet available commercial ly, is to look at the tumor surface to evaluate the presence of that antibody. Another disease that can chal lenge producers is colibacillosis, usually a secondary disease that flocks can be afflicted with as a primary pathogen. An antibiotic is available for broilers and growing turkeys, but not for layers and pul lets. One can be written by pre scription, with one packet of vac cine costing about $3O, with a cost of $2,500 to treat about 30,000 broilers. It may be costly, but is effective, said Ziegler. Seminar Set merit, antibiotics in milk, and test ing procedures. The cost is $5 per person, which includes lunch and morning refreshments at 9:30 a.m. Please call the Franklin County extension officer by Feb. 22 to indicate how many will be attending. Paymem can be made the day of the meeting. For more information, call the Franklin County extension office at (717) 263-9226.
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