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

Introduction

A disease of turkeys caused by the viruses of the Pneumovirus genus, Paramyxoviridae. Morbidity is 10-100% and mortality 1- 30%. Rapid transmission occurs laterally, possibly involving fomites; vertical transmission is uncertain, maternal antibody may protect.

Signs

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

Post-mortem lesions

• Serous rhinitis and tracheitis, sometimes pus in bronchi.
• If there is secondary E. coli infection then pneumonia, airsacculitis and perihepatitis.

Diagnosis

Clinical signs, serology (using an Elisa test to demonstrate rising titre), isolation and identification of the ciliostatic virus.

Treatment

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

Prevention

All-in/all-out production. Vaccination at day-old seems to be most effective.