Reduce the chances of your flock contracting deadly bacterial duck disease by using simple biosecurity measures.
As a duck or waterfowl owner, you may go years or even decades and never see any major disease outbreaks in your flocks. Waterfowl are amazingly resilient and resilient, so it’s sometimes easy to forget that there are still a few diseases that can decimate a flock within a short period of time. anatipestifer infection—also known as new duck disease, new duck syndrome, or duck poisoning—is one such disease. While anatipestifer infection is not something to panic about, it is something to be aware of and a good reason to keep a clean living area for your waterfowl. We’ve heard a lot about avian influenza over the past few years, but anatipestifer infections can also lead to significant economic losses for waterfowl farmers around the world.
transportation methods
Anatypestifer infections are caused by Riemerella anatipestifer bacteria. There are currently at least 21 known strains or serotypes of this bacteria, all of which have the potential to cause disease in waterfowl. (Older disease information may list the bacteria that cause this Pasturella anatipestifer). While two or three strains of R. anatipestifer They are commonly found in most outbreaks, and it is common for many subspecies to be present in one area. The bacteria can be carried by wild waterfowl and is found on all major flight paths in the world. It is highly contagious and can easily be transmitted to local waterfowl if wild waterfowl share the same pond or pasture areas. It can also be transmitted by mosquitoes.
Anatipestifer infection is highly contagious and can occur in ducks, geese, turkeys, and other barn birds. Most infectious outbreaks occur in flocks of ducklings 1 to 7 weeks old. In waterfowl, the route of transmission is usually the respiratory tract. However, bacteria can also be transmitted easily through cuts, scrapes, or other sores on a duck’s exposed feet. In turkeys and other poultry, transmission is most common via the respiratory tract, and usually spreads as a secondary infection when another respiratory infection is present.
None of the strains R They are known to cause disease in humans. However, great care must be taken when handling birds, water, feces, or any bedding potentially infected with the bacteria. The human caregiver can, unfortunately, become an effective transmission agent for the disease.
Signs and symptoms of Anatypestifer infection
The onset of the disease, especially in ducklings, is characterized by a mild cough, discharge from the eyes and nose, greenish-white diarrhea, and a lack of coordination. Bacterial infections of the central nervous system and meninges (the tissues that cover the brain and spinal cord) can develop after only a few days. The incubation period of the disease is from 2 to 5 days. Many birds begin to have head tremors, and some can be found on their backs, paddling their feet in the air. Internally, lesions can develop in the respiratory tract and alveoli of the lungs. in the peritoneum (tissue that lines the abdominal cavity and visceral organs); in the pericardium (a membranous sac that surrounds the heart); and in the oviducts of mature female birds. Hepatitis and spleenitis are common. Once the anatipestifer bacterium has established itself in a bird’s system, it enters the bloodstream, causing rapid septicemia. While any of the physical effects of the infection can be fatal, dehydration is the most common cause of death.
Mortality can approach 75% in infected ducks and 60% in infected turkeys. The surviving birds often suffer from stunted growth and reduced vitality. If the ducks are raised commercially for meat, the surviving birds may be culled at the time of slaughter due to internal lesions and scarring within the carcass.
Treat your flock
Any chicks, young, or other birds showing symptoms should be immediately removed from the flock and isolated. If you find your ducks losing their balance or with discharge from their eyes or noses, consider the possibility of an anatipestifer infection, and take preventative measures to prevent it from spreading. Immediately remove infected litter, water and feed, and follow with application(s) of sterilizing solution.
The most effective disinfectants for these strains of bacteria include chlorine-releasing agents, Iodopar, and quaternary ammonium compounds. Before applying these antimicrobials, the birds should be removed and placed in another area. Because anatipestifer is highly contagious, consider getting a lab test from a veterinarian, your local county agricultural extension office, or university department of agriculture. Unfortunately, with budget cuts in state and university programs, these services may not be available in all areas, and lab tests from private veterinary services can be prohibitive for a small herd owner.
There are vaccines for both young and mature birds (including breeder birds), which will protect against the most common strains of Riemerella anatipestifer. If you keep large numbers of birds in close quarters, consider spending a little extra money on vaccinations.
If your flock has an outbreak, you can give medications such as sulfaquinoxaline or a combination of penicillin and streptomycin — both available from veterinarians — via their drinking water. However, once the disease is present, treatment can have varying levels of success. Clean and disinfect living areas to eliminate bacteria from the property.
One of the biggest problems faced when trying to control this highly contagious disease is the fact that most strains of Riemerella anatipestifer Not cross reactive. This means that a vaccine or drug that works on one strain may not work on another. There are also drug-resistant strains that occur in outbreaks. Once bacteria and disease occur in an area, they become endemic, and recurring outbreaks can become common if not treated and eradicated.
Simple but effective precautions
bacteria like Riemerella anatipestifer Anytime waterfowl or other poultry are raised, there is always a possibility. Some of the best ways to keep disease outbreaks out of your flocks include keeping facilities clean, implementing commonsense biosecurity practices, changing contaminated litter, water, and feed, and avoiding overcrowding. Having a way to keep drinking and swimming water fresh, keeping cages and housing dry and well-ventilated, and keeping bedding as clean and dry as possible can all help avoid bacterial build-up that can infect a flock. These precautions will go a long way to help reduce the chances of this disease spreading in your flocks.
Originally published in the December 2022 / January 2023 issue of Backyard Poultry and has been regularly checked for accuracy.