Question:
What is Salmonella?
Answer:
The term Salmonella, as it related to food, is used to describe a group of bacteria, which in some cases can cause illness. A person who eats food containing large numbers of these bacteria may become ill and if so the illness will be called salmonellosis.
Small farm flocks of poultry are common in Oklahoma. Disease control and prevention is essential in order to maintain a healthy, productive flock. This fact sheet discusses diseases diagnosed in poultry from small farm flocks.
Since about 1999, West Nile Virus (WNV) has become a public health concern in the United States. Previously known to exist in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, WNV first occurred on the East Coast and has spread west to other states, including Kansas.
Many small farms in Kansas raise turkeys for Thanksgiving and other home use. Kansas also is a major producer of game birds used for restocking programs across the state. Kansas State University often receives calls from producers who describe symptoms of their birds that may be related to a disease known as Histomoniasis or Blackhead. Although many of the symptoms described by producers are common to a number of diseases, it is likely that a large number of these flocks are indeed infected with Blackhead. Most flock owners have heard of this disease; however, few understand the cause and development of the illness.
Avian influenza is a potentially deadly disease that has often plagued the United States poultry industry. This disease can cause decreased production or result in high mortality. In 1983-84, influenza resulted in the depopulation of 17 million birds at a cost of $65 million. Egg producers and poultry growers can reduce the spread of avian influenza by using strict confinement procedures. However, certain management practices necessary for gamebird and ratite production (ostriches, emus, etc.) may render these facilities more vulnerable to infection.
Infectious bronchitis (IB) can he a devastating disease to any poultry operation. It affects chickens of all ages, types, and breeds. The disease is caused by a coronavirus which is known to have a high mutation rate. Thus, many serotypes (and subtypes) of IB virus exist in the United States and throughout the world. The arrival of new IB variants poses a continuous problem for the poultry industry.
During the past several years there has been a great upsurge of interest in maintaining small backyard poultry flocks. These birds are raised for hobby, show and food. Though owners have much interest in their birds, the health status is often overlooked. Several diseases which are easily vaccinated against need to be considered in their health management programs. One such disease is fowl pox.
In recent years, there has been much discussion on the significance of a newly identified disease of poultry, chicken anemia agent (CAA). Concerns have centered on this disease organism's effects on chickens' immune systems and on its relationship to other poultry diseases. This paper will describe the disease and its significance to poultry producers.
Vaccines are used to prevent or reduce problems that can occur when a poultry flock is exposed to field disease organisms. Vaccinations should be thought of as insurance. Like insurance, there is a price to be paid for protection against a potential threat. Costs include price of the vaccine, time spent designing the vaccination schedule and administering the vaccines, and losses due to vaccine reactions from the live-type vaccines and localized tissue damage from killed-type vaccine injections.
Infectious bronchitis (IB) is an acute and highly contagious respiratory disease of chickens. The disease is characterized by respiratory signs including gasping, coughing, sneezing, tracheal râles, and nasal discharge. In young chickens, severe respiratory distress may occur. In layers, respiratory distress, decrease in egg production, and loss of internal egg quality and egg shell quality are reported. Some strains of the virus cause severe kidney damage and may be associated with high mortality.
Infectious bursal disease (IBD) is an acute and highly contagious viral infection of immature chickens. IBD is characterized by destruction of lymphocytes in the bursa of Fabricius (BF) and to a lesser extent in other lymphoid organs. The disease is a major problem in concentrated poultry production areas throughout the world. However, it is often not recognized due to a subclinical form. Affected chickens have reduced antibody response to vaccinations, strong postvaccinal reactions, and increased susceptibility to concurrent or secondary infections.
Prevention of disease in commercial poultry requires the producer to actively enforce an effective/ comprehensive biosecurity program and to maintain an intact and functional immune system in the chicken.
There are many common and important diseases which can affect the respiratory system (air passages, lungs, air sacs) of poultry (see Table 1 ). Poultry refers to birds that people keep for their use and generally includes the chicken, turkey, duck, goose, quail, pheasant, pigeon, guinea fowl, pea fowl, ostrich, emu and rhea. Due to modern systems of management, usually with high poultry densities, these diseases are able to readily spread.
Eye disorders are not generally prevalent in poultry on a flock basis. However, as birds rely heavily on their sense of sight to carry on their daily activities, an increased incidence of eye problems can result in decreased flock performance. A visually impaired bird is at a major disadvantage in competing for food, water, and social position in a population of birds.
Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) infection in the commercial poultry industry is common in many parts of the world. Despite success in eliminating the disease in grand parent (GP) stock and turkeys, it persists in broiler breeders and broilers in many areas. There also continues to be a high incidence of the disease in commercial layers worldwide. The continued presence of MG in commercial poultry suggests that efforts at eradication were not highly successful. MG infection in the commercial poultry industry will likely continue and limiting losses will be the primary objective.
St. Louis encephalitis (SLE) was first recognized in 1932 in Paris, Illinois. One year later, a large epidemic occurred in St. Louis and Kansas City, Missouri (thus "St. Louis" encephalitis) where over 1,100 cases of the disease were diagnosed. Since then, the disease has remained endemic - constantly present in a particular locality - and has spread widely throughout the United States.
Avian influenza is a viral disease affecting the respiratory, digestive and/or nervous system of many species of birds. Avian influenza virus infection can occur in most, if not all, species of birds, both domestic and wild. Influenza viruses vary widely in their ability to cause disease (pathogenicity) and their ability to spread among birds.
Bird-keepers (pet bird owners and poultry producers) should be aware that some avian diseases can be transmitted to humans. It is important to note, however, that such diseases are uncommon enough that they should not discourage bird-keeping. For most people avian diseases do not pose a serious threat, but bird-keepers should be aware of them and seek medical assistance if necessary.
Some diseases of animals are communicable to humans. The microorganisms that cause disease can be protozoal, fungal, bacterial, chlamydial or viral (Jacob et al. 2003). Some examples of avian diseases transmissible to humans include Chlamydiosis from parakeets, pigeons, and parrots and Cryptococcosis from pigeons. Salmonella, E. coli, the viruses that cause Avian Influenza, and some encephalitis viruses are associated with chickens.
Gangrenous dermatitis is a skin disease of chickens that can involve various bacteria including Clostridium sepricum, CI, perfringens type A, Staphylococcus sp., a
