Advance poultry hygiene 1.docx

**[Poultry hygiene:- ]** The best fed and housed stock with the best genetic potential will not grow and produce efficiently if they become diseased or infested with parasites. Therefore, good **poultry hygiene** is an important component of poultry production. Infectious disease causing agents wil...

**[Poultry hygiene:- ]** The best fed and housed stock with the best genetic potential will not grow and produce efficiently if they become diseased or infested with parasites. Therefore, good **poultry hygiene** is an important component of poultry production. Infectious disease causing agents will spread through a flock very quickly because of the high stocking densities of commercially housed poultry. For poultry hygiene to be effective a primary aim must be to prevent the onset of disease or parasites, to recognise at an early stage the presence of disease or parasites, and to treat all flocks that are diseased or infested with parasites as soon as possible and before they develop into a serious condition or spread to other flocks. To be able to do this it is necessary to know how to recognise that the birds are diseased, the action required for preventing or minimising disease and how to monitor for signs that the prevention program is working. Principles of poultry hygiene. The key principles of poultry hygiene are: 1. 2. 3. As much as is possible disease should be prevented. It is easier and less damaging to prevent disease than it is to treat it. However, it must not be assumed that all disease can be prevented. Inevitably, some will get past the defences, in which case it becomes imperative that the condition be recognised as early as possible to allow treatment or other appropriate action to be implemented as soon as possible to bring the situation under control to limit damage to the flock. Disease:- A disease is any condition that interferes with the normal functioning of the cells, tissues, organs and the whole body systems. Diseases of poultry have many causes and include: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Diseases that result from nutrient deficiencies, consumption of toxic substances and physical damage are referred to as non-infectious diseases. These diseases cannot be passed from bird to bird and members of the flock must share a common experience for individuals to contract these non-infectious diseases. In the widest sense, infectious diseases are caused by microorganisms that include parasites, fungi, protozoa, bacteria, mycoplasmas, chlamydia and viruses. These diseases are often also called contagious diseases meaning that they can be passed from one bird to another either directly or indirectly. **Direct transmission** occurs when one diseased bird passes the cause of the disease via direct contact to a susceptible healthy bird. Such passage may be horizontal transmission (from one bird to another) or vertical transmission (from parent to offspring) via the egg or sperm either inside the egg or on the shell. **Indirect transmission** occurs when the causal organism is passed from one bird to another via an intermediate host such as insects, earthworms, snails or slugs, wild birds or animals or some other object such as equipment, feed or water, vehicles, people, respiratory droplets, litter or faeces. Causes of infectious disease:- Organisms and microorganisms that have the potential to cause harm, such as disease in animals, are called pathogens or disease vectors. There are many different types of pathogens that may be transferred from one bird to another or from one flock to another by many different means. These pathogen types include: - - - - - - **Viruses** Viruses are the smallest pathogens and can only be seen through an electron microscope. Viruses consist of an outer layer/s surrounding special protein material similar to the genetic material of the cells they invade. They can multiply and do harm only when inside the animal cell and if they invade and damage enough cells, the animal can show signs of that infection. Antibiotics and other medications as a rule do not affect viruses and, as a consequence, there are very few medications that can treat diseases caused by viruses, although there are times when a drug may be used to control secondary infections. The best way to manage diseases caused by viruses is by quarantine and good hygiene to lower the challenge, and vaccination to maximise the birds' immunity to future challenges. Some have the ability to survive for very long periods of time in the bird dander and feather debris, litter and manure, insects and rodents. **Bacteria:-** Bacteria are single cell organisms with a nucleus and multiply by simple fission, which means that one divides into two, and some can do this very quickly inside the host or in a suitable environment. Some are very fragile and do not survive long outside of the host while others may survive for long periods even in a harsh environment. Many have the ability to turn into spores by forming a very tough wall that protects them from most of the materials used to kill them. These types of bacteria are much more susceptible to these compounds when not in the spore form. Bacteria may be described as being gram positive or gram negative. This characteristic is to do with differences in their cell walls that affect their staining for viewing under the microscope. Whether they are one or the other also influences their response to certain chemicals, including disinfectants. Different types of bacteria harm the birds in two predominant ways: 1. 2. There are several antibiotics and other drugs that are effective against different bacteria. However, quarantine and good hygiene that lower the numbers to be targeted by the drugs are the important first lines of defense against these organisms. **Chlamydia** Chlamydiae are a little larger than viruses. They live inside the cells they infect particularly in the cells of the respiratory system. They can be treated with antibiotics. **Mycoplasmas.** These are single cell organisms slightly larger than chlamydia( they have a cell wall and nucleus). The most commonly known disease caused by this organism is Mycoplasmosis or Chronic Respiratory Disease (CRD) caused by *Mycoplasma gallisepticum*. Diseases caused by Mycoplasma organisms respond to some antibiotics. These organisms do not survive long outside of the host and good quarantine and hygiene procedures coupled with a suitable house de-population period will provide good control. **Fungi** Fungi are organisms larger than bacteria and are considered to be members of the plant kingdom. They multiply by forming spores that are released and enter the local environment. When conditions are satisfactory the spores start to grow to repeat the cycle. Fungi harm the birds in two ways: 1. 2. **Protozoa** Protozoa are single cell organisms larger than bacteria. Protozoa have a complex reproduction system that, in many cases, allows them to multiply into extremely high numbers very quickly. A good example of protozoan diseases is coccidiosis of poultry. Protozoa generally harm the birds by destroying tissue. A number of chemicals have been developed that can be used to treat birds infected by the different protozoans. Others have been developed that interfere with the protozoan life cycle and may be used as preventive treatments while the birds develop a natural immunity. These preventive drugs are often referred to as coccidiastats. **Internal parasites** Parasites are organisms that live off the host. Internal parasites in poultry are multi-celled organisms that live inside the bird usually located in specific organs. Most internal parasites, and particularly those found in Australia, are visible to the naked eye. While there are many different internal parasites found in poultry, only three are likely to cause harm. These are: - - - **External parasites** These parasites live outside of the bird. Some spend all of their life on the bird while others spend only some time on the birds. Some cause harm by irritating the bird while others are bloodsuckers that, in sufficient quantity, will cause anaemia. Some of the bloodsuckers often carry organisms called spirochaetes that they inject into the bird while feeding. The spirochaetes may cause harm and tick fever is a good example that can kill many birds. Prevention of disease This aspect of poultry management must receive constant, close attention. Failure to maintain a high standard will usually result in an unhealthy flock. The basis of poultry hygiene is: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. **Quarantine** The principle need is to maintain control over the means of entry by disease causing organisms. These may enter by several routes: - - - - - - - ***[Hygiene:-]*** The practice of good hygiene kills microorganisms, including those that cause disease, and all farms carry populations of microorganisms. Therefore, good hygiene practices are an important part of poultry health management. There is an overlapping in the use of the terms quarantine and hygiene. Good hygiene practices include: - - - - - - - Resisting disease There are a number of factors that influence whether a bird will succumb to a disease. These include: - - - - - Many disease outbreaks only occur because there are predisposing circumstances that ensure the success of the invasion by the causal organisms. Stress in the flock is a major factor in this regard. A high level of stress reduces the bird's ability to fight the invasion by disease causing organisms. Stress, in this regard, may be environment extremes, overcrowding, nutrient deficiencies (even marginal deficiencies), infection, harassment or any other factor with the potential to stress the bird. In some situations, a primary infection may reduce the ability of the bird to fight invasion by other organisms called secondary invaders or subsequent invaders. In many cases the bird is able to live without harm with the secondary invaders until such time their defences are lowered by the primary infection. It is in this situation that the secondary invaders cause serious harm. A good example of this situation is the disease, collibacillosis. Collibacillosis is caused by bacteria called *Escherichia coli* which is endemic in the environment and, provided normal standards of hygiene are practised and the bird is well nourished and managed, causes no real harm. However, quite often, an invasion by the organism *Mycoplasma gallisepticum* opens the way for the *E. coli* bacteria to become virulent, or for more virulent strains to gain entry resulting in the disease *collibacillosis*. \*Disease severity From the point of view of flock health management, disease in poultry may be one of two levels of severity: - - In each case, affected birds and in many cases recovered birds, are carriers that may be a source of infection for other stock with which they have contact and may transfer the causal organism either directly or indirectly to other stock not involved in this particular outbreak. Vaccination Vaccination is aimed at triggering the birds immune system to produce antibodies to fight infection. While not all diseases can be vaccinated against, all potential infectious disease threats should be identified and a suitable vaccination program developed to help combat those that Can. Veterinary advice may be necessary to design a suitable vaccination program for each farm. The keys to effective vaccination are: - - - - Preventative medication Vaccines are not available to combat all disease threats. It may be necessary to use a preventive medication to combat infection by some organisms. Veterinary advice may be necessary to determine an appropriate preventive medication program. Monitoring program It is not possible to see most infectious agents. Therefore, it is appropriate to have a monitoring program. This may consist of: 1. 2. 3. 4. These techniques can be used to monitor the current disease situation including the presence of parasites, the success or failure of cleaning procedures and the success or failure of vaccinating procedures. Recognising healthy and sick birds A very important skill for all poultry stock persons to have is the ability to differentiate between healthy and sick birds. It is normal when a flock is diseased to find healthy birds and those with varying degrees of illness. Therefore, it is necessary to be able to tell as early as possible when some of the birds in the pen are sick. While the manager may be able to identify some diseases from available evidence, it is unlikely that they will be able to identify all. However, the sooner a disease is noticed in the flock, the sooner appropriate action can be taken. This may include initiation of a medication program; send specimens to the laboratory for examination and diagnosis, and/or to call in expert advice. Early action not only gives the manager a chance to cure the condition but it may help prevent it spreading to other stock. A healthy bird will: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. A sick bird will show some or all of the following signs: - - - - - - - - - - - It is normal to find a continuous low level of mortality and a small number of unthrifty birds in the poultry flock. Even though this does occur, attempts should be made to reduce even this "normal" mortality. Normal levels will be in the vicinity of 4% to 40 days for meat chickens, less than 5% to point of lay for layer and breeder replacements and less than 1% per 28 days for layers and breeders.