Veterinary Services

Respiratory disease was reported in a number of small poultry flocks in December. In one flock evidence of sinusitis was present in the resident flock, with subsequent spread to introduced birds one month after the two groups were mixed – infection with Mycoplasma gallisepticum was suspected.

On another site the owner reported that 10 out of 25 birds had died after a period of depression and anorexia. Post mortem examination revealed large caseous nodules in the lungs and an associated purulent airsacculitis, and a heavy growth of Aspergillus fumigatus was isolated from affected tissues. Necrotic lesions were also noted on the mucosa of the larynx and along the length of the oesophagus, suggesting that another underlying condition such as hypovitaminosis A may have predisposed to the respiratory disease. A free-range chick aged five weeks died after exhibiting respiratory distress. On post-mortem examination the trachea was found to be obstructed by a tangled mass of dead adult gapeworms (Syngamus trachea). The owner had suspected that the birds may have been infected with gapeworms and had wormed the flock, but the young birds were unable to eject the dead worms.

Two young layers and a cockerel lost weight on one unit and one bird became recumbent. Gross lesions typical of classical Marek’s disease were found on post mortem examination.

A diagnosis of egg peritonitis was made in two layers submitted from a large poultry unit with a slight increase in mortality. No underlying predisposing factors were determined.

Brachyspira intermedia was identified on culture of faecal samples from layers with a history of poor production, and B. pilosicoli was identified in samples from another site. Both species are believed to be pathogenic in birds. B. hyodysenteriae was also detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and culture from pooled faeces from the latter site, which was adjacent to a pig unit. However the significance of B. hyodysenteriae in birds is uncertain.