I've been thinking about the best way to sanitize everything. Aside from bleach, I'm not sure what else to do. The birds free range around my yard and the Avian Leukosis is carried in feces and survives freezing I think.
I'm not sure you can disinfect for a virus. At least not in a chicken run. Bacteria maybe.
We are all exposed to bacteria, fungus, amobeia, viruses all the time and most are harmless unless we are under a large amount of stress. Our own gut is full of bacteria to the point that up to 80% of our poop is bacteria. Yogert and other probiotics are full of helpfull bacteria.
Several other diseases mimmic Coryza. could it be one of them instead? Lymphoid Luekosis is also simular to other viruses. How were these diseases diagnosed?
Sorry about all the questions but when something goes wrong health wise with chickens things go really wrong fast it seems. and we are all close enough to each other distance wise to keep an eye out for any outbreaks. etc.
I've looked up your diseases and here is what I have found.
"" Infectious Coryza
Infectious Coryza is caused by the haemophilus paragallinarum bacteria, and is very common worldwide in fowl.
Signs
Watery eyes
Facial swelling, including one or both eyes swelled shut
Foul smelling discharge from the nose
Diarrhea
Low egg production
Wheezing
Transmission
This is very contagious, and is easy spread by any kind of contact by sick, or carrier birds.
Diagnosis
The most common signs of this are facial swelling, including eyes swollen shut, with a fowl odor from the nasal area.
Treatment
Streptomycin Erythromycin Sulfadimethoxine
It is recommended to cull infected birds, as symptoms can come back after treatment, and all infected birds become carriers of this disease, and will continue to infect other fowl on your yard.
Lymphoid Leukosis
Characteristically, lymphoid leukosis is a disease of adult chickens; however, the disease appears to be increasing in importance for turkeys and game birds. Although the virus of lymphoid leukosis can produce various responses (blood, bone, lymph), the lymphoid tumor response is the most common.
The disease is transmitted in a variety of ways. The causative viral agent is passed out of the body of infected birds via eggs and feces. The virus may be transmitted mechanically from infected birds to susceptible by blood-sucking parasites or by man in such procedures as fowl pox vaccination.
Lymphoid leukosis characteristically produces lymphoid tumors, particularly in the liver and spleen. The tumors may also affect other visceral organs such as ovary and lungs. Affected birds may die without preliminary symptoms, but the disease usually is chronic in nature and affected birds show loss of appetite, progressive emaciation and diarrhea. Clinically affected birds invariably die. Losses due to the disease are most severe shortly after onset of egg production, but losses will continue for as long as the flock is retained. Total loss may approach twenty percent during the life of a flock.
Clinical diagnosis of lymphoid leukosis is based upon flock history and disease manifestations. The lymphoid disease cannot be readily distinguished from the visceral response to Marek's disease; however, there are some features that aid in differential diagnosis.
There is no treatment for lymphoid leukosis. Although the disease cannot be prevented completely, there are certain steps that can be taken to help control the level of infection within a flock. Some steps are:
Buy resistant strains of birds since genetic resistance is a deterrent,
Brood in isolation and do not mix birds of different ages, especially through six weeks of age,
Keep the incubator clean and disinfected,
Control blood-sucking parasites,
Good care, limiting stress, and adequate ration will be of benefit. ""
I still don't know how common they are here in Kentucky and/or if healthy birds are commonly exposed to them. Here is something we are all exposed to and is normally harmless:
Definition of Histoplasma
Histoplasma: Full name: histoplasma capsulatum; a microscopic fungus that causes the disease histoplasmosis. The fungus is found throughout the world in river valleys and soil where bird or bat droppings accumulate. The spores of the fungus are released into the air when contaminated soil is disturbed (for example, by plowing fields, sweeping chicken coops, or digging holes) and the airborne spores can then be inhaled into the lungs, the primary site of infection. In the US, the fungus is so common that in parts of Kentucky and Tennessee nearly 90% of adults show evidence of exposure by a positive histoplasma skin test. The fungus can be transferred by organ transplantation.
Last Editorial Review: 8/25/2003
Definition of Histoplasmosis
Histoplasmosis: A disease caused by the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum. Most people with histoplasmosis have no symptoms. However, histoplasma can cause acute or chronic lung disease and progressive disseminated histoplasmosis affecting a number of organs. It can be fatal if untreated.
Positive skin tests to Histoplasma occur in as many as 80% of the people living in areas where the fungus is common, such as the eastern and central United States. Infants, young children, and older persons, in particular those with chronic lung disease are at increased risk for severe disease. Disseminated disease is more frequently seen in people with cancer or AIDS.
The fungus grows in soil and material contaminated with bat or bird droppings. Spores become airborne when contaminated soil is disturbed. Breathing the spores causes infection. The disease is not transmitted from an infected person to someone else.
Symptoms start within 3 to 17 days after exposure; the average is 10 days. The acute respiratory disease is characterized by respiratory symptoms, a general ill feeling, fever, chest pains, and a dry or nonproductive cough. Distinct patterns may be seen on a chest x-ray. Chronic lung disease resembles tuberculosis and can worsen over months or years. The disseminated form is fatal, unless treated.
Mild cases resolve without treatment. Severe cases of acute histoplasmosis and all cases of chronic and disseminated disease are treated with antifungal medications, usually for life in those with compromised immune systems.
Last Editorial Review: 7/29/2002
