RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS IN TURKEYS-WEST TENNESSEE

[nchls school]

Again this year I'm having problems with my turkeys. I had the same problem last year with no fatalities; just a bunch of miserable birds. The problem last year eventually cleared up.

SYMPTOMS-swollen sinuses (faces swelled up considerably), sneezing
with runny nostrils, and watery eyes. There were no other symptoms; everything else is normal. It seems to affect the young birds the most. Those turkeys that had a problem last year are not effected this year.

Anyone else in West Tennessee or elsewhere have this occur in their flocks? Chickens are also affected. With chickens the problem is more severe causing the eyes to seal shut-temporary blindness-even death in some.

Comments would be most welcome; especially ideas on how to deal with this.

 

[casportpony]

Sounds like it could be mycoplasma, Coryza, or one of the others. Can you get one tested?

 

[dotporter]

Sounds like ammonia or mold exposure to me. During certain seasons (especially when it's more humid out) litter can rot. So, since this has happened for a couple of years at the same time of year, I'd be sniffing around the pen and housing.

 

[casportpony]

Call the lab and ask about getting some testing done:
https://www.tn.gov/agriculture/consumers/pets/animal-health-diagnostic-lab0.html

 

[nchls school]

casportpony-I'm afraid there's no money for testing or a vet. I will investigate the symptoms for the diseases you mention. dotporter-Your thoughts are my own. Beating mold exposure is about impossible in Southwest Tennessee. Temps are often over 90 (over 100 this week) and humidity is way high all the time. Molds are every where. No to ammonia-all pens are cleaned frequently and the flock free ranges.

But--why would turkeys over a year be unaffected? Those affected last year are fine this year. Immune? disease?

Thanks to both of you.

 

[casportpony]

Call the lab because I think testing in TN is free.

I don't know enough about respiratory diseases to tell you why the older turkeys aren't sick, but I know peafowl breeders that go through this every year with there flock, and when tested, it's always a bacterial infection. You could try treating them with Tylan (tylosin), oxytetracyline, or Denagard (tiamulin).

 

[nchls school]

I tried to pull up the site you showed and am unable to do so on my computer. I will try another computer when I can. I'll check with the wife as to what meds we have tried (bad memory) and go from there. Thanks again.

You are correct about there being no fee in TN for testing. How do I have this done??

 

[casportpony]

Copy/paste from the website:

For More Information
The Laboratory Director is Dr. Bruce G. McLaughlin, DVM, MVSc who may be reached at (615) 837-5125.

Laboratory Addresses

The USPS mailing address is:

C.E. Kord Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory
P.O. Box 40627
Nashville, TN 37204-0627

For Overnight Shipping, use this address:

C.E.Kord Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory
Ellington Agricultural Center
436 Hogan Road
Nashville, TN 37220

 

[casportpony]

Avian influenza
Aspergillus fumigatus
Bordetella avium
Infectious bronchitis
Infectious laryngotracheitis
Infectious coryza
Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale
Mycoplasma gallisepticum

The above is a list that this place can test for:
https://www.zoologix.com/avian/Datasheets/PoultryRespiratoryPanel.htm

 

[dotporter]

I agree entirely with casportpony.
However, treating for mold is easy. Get a gallon of water, throw in two packets of cool aid and a quarter cup of salt. Spray everything. The combination of citric acid and salt is great at controlling mold. The cool aid color lets me see where I've sprayed. Ok, really it's because it's cheaper than buying actual citric acid.