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
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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-
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deductible payments and a choice of the following:
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Patrick Rush
(412) 587-3989
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(717) 866-9217
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(302) 456-1931
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Frank Hunter Andrew McLean
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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.