The April UCD newsletter is out:
Poultry and Other Avian
Clostridium septicum was attributed as the cause of severe cellulitis and myosits in 14‐week‐ old tom turkeys with signs of leg trembling, going down on legs and acute death. There was increased mortality (10 turkeys per day) in a flock of 4,000 birds, in which six out of 12 houses were affected. Skin was reddened, there was red frothy fluid in the subcutaneous Tssue and some of the underlying muscles were dark red or black.
Mycoplasma gallisepticum, Mycoplasma synoviae and Escherichia coli were responsible for increased mortality in 16‐week‐old pullets in a flock of 5,000. The chickens had respiratory signs and necropsy revealed severe airsacculitis, pericarditis, pleuritis, perihepaTs, bronchopneumo‐ nia and tracheiTs in most of the birds. The underlying cause might have been InfecTous bron‐ chiTs virus (IBV). This virus was detected by immunohistochemistry on the trachea and lungs of several birds.
Gizzard worms and intestinal Capillaria spp. were found in three adult breeder pigeons from a flock experiencing increased mortality and severe weight loss. At necropsy, the birds were ema‐ ciated. One bird had an enlarged gizzard, rough and eroded koilin and large numbers of round worms consistent with Hadjelia truncata below the koilin layer. Two other birds had segmental intestinal dilatation with watery contents and intestinal scrapings revealed thread‐like round worms containing operculated eggs consistent with Capillaria spp., which can cause severe chronic enteritis in birds.