Extracted From: A Pocket Guide to Poultry Health and Disease By Paul McMullin © 2004 Click Here to Order Your Copy

Introduction

A condition of turkeys possibly associated with Bordetella avium (previously designated Alkaligenes faecalis) infections. This bacterium usually causes mild respiratory disease in only a proportion of the flocks, and low mortality. It can be synergistic with other respiratory pathogens such as Ornithobacterium, Pasteurella spp, Mycoplasma spp. and pneumoviruses.

Signs

• Decreased appetite, weight gain and feed efficiency.
• Loss of voice.
• Ocular and nasal discharge.
• Conjunctivitis.
• Snick.
• Dyspnoea.

Post-mortem lesions

• Excessive mucus in nasal passages and trachea.
• If there is secondary E. coli infection then pneumonia, airsacculitis and perihepatitis.

Diagnosis

Clinical signs, isolation of agent.

Treatment

Antibiotics are not very effective, control respiratory stressors, chlorination of drinking water.

Prevention

All-in/all-out production. Good drinking water hygiene.