Fungal Infections in Poultry...Often Mistaken for CRD/Mycoplasmosis

[Bloomin' Chickens]

I'm currently treating my Serama Rooster and one of his girls for Respiratory Fungal Infection. I've been putting Oxine in a vaporizer and misting them in a covered cage twice per day for 2 days now. I'm not noticing a huge difference, but I'm seeing a gray/black discharge coming out of his nostrils and bubbles coming from his eyes. I'm wondering if the black/gray discharge means that the oxine is starting to break up the infection and he's sneezing it out of his nostrils and eyes. I think I'm using the wrong vaporizer because everything I've read says cold vapor and I used a warm one. I'm going to dig out the cool vaporizer. He's pretty bad, so I'm getting pretty worried.

 

[PoultryPedia]

I haven't heard whether using the warm kind of humidifier is alright for Oxine nebulization? Anyone else?

Oxine won't help a lot with every respiratory infection but will with some. If it doesn't help clear up the problem inside him, it can at least reduce contaminants in his environment as the mist lands on surrounding materials.

Are you also giving him any antibiotics? If his condition is very bad, I'd strongly suggest adding some into his treatment.

Gray/black discharge--That's unusual. I have never heard of that. Maybe it is just clearing out going on, like you're kinda thinking.

I hope your little roo & hen get doing better soon.

 

[Bloomin' Chickens]

I was reading tonite that I should try Tylan 50 injectable. I've already given him 5-in1 and Oxytetracycline Hydrochloride Soluble Powder (for respiratory infections). What I didn't mention in my last post is that he hasn't been able to crow for at least 3 weeks. So this has been going on for awhile. He seemed to get better for awhile then his wheezing and sneezing got bad again. I took him in the garage so I could regulate the temperature and keep a close eye on him. So far he's eating and drinking fine, but I can see his breathing isn't right.

 

[kathyinmo]

I have been reading that it is recommended to activate the Oxine before use. Here are copies of of a couple of them I read..........

Proper use of Oxine

Oxine is applied using one of three methods. Hose-end-sprayer, air mister or proportional pumping. The typical use and activation for each application method are outlined as follows:

Hose-end-sprayer

Fill sprayer with Oxine and add 2.0 ounce of citric acid (1 tablespoon) per 16 fluid ounces of Oxine and allow to set for five mintues. A yellow color should develop as an indicator that the product is being activated for use. Set adjustment on sprayer to deliver 1.0 fluid ounce of Oxine per gallon of water (1:128) for control of bacteria, mold and fungi. Use a setting of 3.0 fluid ounce of Oxine per gallon of water (1:42) for control of virus and spores.

Air Misters

In order to apply Oxine around pipes and other difficult areas to disinfect, an air mister is an excellent tool. Also, better air quality can be obtained in confined areas by using periodic applications to the air. A concentration of 3.0 fluid ounce of Oxine and two tablespoons of citric acid mixed and allowed to stand for five minutes can be diluted with one gallon of water and used in the mister. Another way to fill the mister is to use the hose-end-sprayer at a setting of 3.0 fluid ounces per gallon as mentioned above. This solution is then misted into the air. Compatible misters are available from Bio-Cide International, Incorported.

Proportional Pumps

Some applications of Oxine can be made using a pump to dose treat volumes of water. If this is the case for your facility it is recommended that a BCI representative be contacted to assist with the calculation and set-up. However, understanding that a typical 1:128 ratio is equivalent to 1.0 fluid ounce per gallon and a 1:42 ratio is equivalent to 3.0 fluid ounces per gallon will be very useful in setting up a proportional pump unit.

Other Applicators

High pressure spraying units are often used to apply chemicals in rooms previously cleaned. This method is adequate for Oxine as long as the high pressure adjustment on the end of the wand is changed to a low pressure setting. A high pressure setting will cause the active ingredient of Oxine to be displayed at the nozzle outlet and very little if any activity will be observed on the surface being disinfected.


__________________________________________________________________________________________
OXINE USES FOR THE POULTRY INDUSTRY (revised 3/7/08)

To get the full power of Oxine, we must retrieve the gas back from its stable salt. This is easily accomplished by simply lowering the ph of Oxine to approximately 2.2—2.5, this is activation. Activation can be accomplishing by using 2 methods:
1. hand mix the Oxine with citric acid, or
2. use an automated wall unit that activates the Oxine for larger volume requirements (for example—supplying Oxine into the water system for the whole poultry barn).
By activating Oxine you are increasing by 100% the pathogen killing power of Oxine. This is a necessary step to ensure that you are killing Avian Influenza, E.coli, and Salmonella, etc. Activation should be done in a well ventilated area; avoid breathing any fumes. A Moldex face mask, #2500n95, works well for activation.

DEFINITION OF ACTIVATED OXINE
Activated Oxine simply means Oxine that has had an acid added to it.
Activated Oxine CANNOT be stored until the appropriate amount of water has been added to it.
After the water is added, this solution can be used for 7-10 days.

OXINE CONCENTRATION LEVELS
Concentrations Ounces per Gallon
5 ppm 0.032 fl. oz. use for water sanitation

200 ppm 1.25 fl. oz. use for removing bio-film, and misting
500 ppm 3.50 fl. oz. use for surface and equipment sanitation.

Suggested Equipment List to Hand Activate Oxine
measuring cup with ounce scale
teaspoon
tablespoon
clean 5 gallon bucket

Remember, activated Oxine can be stored in a closed container, out of direct sunlight, for 7—10 days.
OXINE USES IN SURFACE DISINFECTING
Measure out 3 ½ ounces of Oxine,
Add a tablespoon of activator (citric acid),
Stir this mixture and wait 5 minutes (it will turn yellow),
IMMEDIATELY pour this mixture into 1 gallon of water.
You can use this mixture in hatcheries, wall surfaces, cages, etc. Oxine can be applied with a high pressure washer, backpack sprayer, etc. Oxine should be allowed to dry completely; this prolongs contact time to the surface aiding in the destruction of pathogens. Oxine should never be rinsed; it should be applied and allowed to dry.
Rule of Thumb: ratio of 1 ounce of activator to 10 fluid ounces of Oxine.
OXINE USED IN POULTRY WATERING SYSTEM
Oxine is EPA approved for water sanitation for human and poultry consumption. In populated barns make a stock solution* by using 3 to 5 ounces of activated Oxine to 1 gallon of water that will be injected into the watering system. This can be done by using a medicator set at 1 ounce to 128 gallons of water. Oxine treated water kills water borne pathogens and eliminates bio-film (refer to instructions for removal of bio-film). Oxine used continuously through the watering system has consistently shown that it maintains the health and production of broilers, turkeys and laying hens.
*A stock solution is a highly concentrated mixture of activated Oxine. This mixture must be diluted to obtain the proper parts per million (ppm). This is accomplished by running the stock solution through a proportional type pump or a medicator set at 1 ounce to 128 gallons of water to obtain the desired ppm. Stock solutions are used for water sanitation purposes.
MISTING OXINE OVER POULTRY
Measure out 1 ¼ ounces of Oxine,
Add 1 teaspoon of activator (citric acid),
Stir this mixture and wait for 5 minutes (it will turn yellow),
IMMEDIATELY pour this mixture into 1 gallon of water.
All ages of poultry can be misted with a solution of 200 ppm (1 ¼ ounces of Oxine to 1 gallon of water). It is recommended to routinely mist for airborne microbes and surface pathogens. A backpack mister, a thermo fogger, or a whole barn misting system can be used for misting. It is recommended that the mist be directed into the cages or at the level of the birds so that they breathe in the mist. Mist the poultry facility until there is a goodly amount of visible fog. This aids in upper respiratory problems and kills surface pathogens.

 

[kathyinmo]

I'm not saying one way is right or wrong, I am just sharing what I have found in researching the product.

 

[PoultryPedia]

Thanks for sharing more info on Oxine! I'm trying to add more on my Fungal Infections page on my website. Could you give links to the places where the info is found that you shared? Thanks!

 

[PoultryPedia]

Garlic can help with mucus.
There is a medicine chart on the website linked in my sig which lists some of the illnesses that various meds are used for, if that would be helpful. If your birds have Coryza, Sulfadimethoxine comes to mind as another maybe for treating.
Best wishes!

 

[ChristineR]

There were no respiratory symptoms. I've lost two parrot species to this (whatever it is). The first one happened a few years ago. It was my pet Sun Conure and I took her to multiple local vets, finally to an avian specialist, and no one could figure it out. We treated for heavy metal toxicity, also tried antibiotics, antifungals, etc. Nothing worked. The birds both displayed nervous system symptoms. No weight loss, no breathing problems. Finally my vet decided it must either be PDD or a brain tumor, although she admitted if it was PDD, it was an unusual case.

I lost my parrotlet last weekend. Again, no breathing problems, no weight loss. Just weird tremors and loss of coordination. I can't imagine that a virus or bacteria from my conure would still be lurking in my house, which leads me to suspect a fungus of some sort.

 

[Lacy Blues]

Ok, I came to this thread via the "necropsy result, not Coryza or CRD, parasites are rampant" thread...

My birds don't have ANY visible symptoms except when it gets cold... some of them hunch up and look miserable. I check them out and can't find any bugs of any sort, no discharges anywhere, and of course they're off their feed. What they DO exhibit is rattly lungs that I cannot hear unless I put my ear against their back. No wheezing, coughing or sneezing either. Sometimes, some of them will breathe through their mouth.

When I hatch chicks from them, the chicks rattle in their breathing without me even putting my ear close to them. It doesn't take long but the chicks who don't rattle at hatch, soon do if others are, if I listen closely. I sterilize my incubator between hatches by washing it out and then spraying it generously with Lysol disinfectant and then allow it to dry out in the sun.

Is this fungal?

Is this CRD?

They don't eat like crazy and continue to lose weight so I don't suspect worms.

I currently live in a desert and we get MAYBE 5" of rain/year. Pretty dry. Last summer, I set up a misting system to try to keep my birds cool during the hot hours of the day but this problem existed before we moved here. I don't know when it all started, probably a few years back. We have not experienced losses due to this but it troubles me and I wish I knew exactly what it was.

I suppose I could try the Oxine with a cool mist vaporizer and see if it cures the problem. I've tried a hand spray bottle and I couldn't get it to actually "mist."

Anybody have any other ideas?

Somebody said "If he sounds like a percolator, it probably is." It probably is what? I couldn't get the gist of what was meant here. I have had a few birds sound like a percolator but these were quickly dispatched.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[PoultryPedia]

Some respiratory diseases that can pass through the egg to chicks: Mycoplasma Galllisepticum can, I don't know about Mycoplasma Synovaie, Coryza can't except possibly in extremely rare cases.