Disease

Cause

Ages affected

Species

Mortality

Signs and Symptoms

Control

1. Velogenic viscerotropic Newcastle Disease (VVND)

Virus

Any

Most domestic birds

Mortality may reach 100% but often lower in ducks

Sudden mortality, often with few or minimal signs Nervous: Balance & walking problems, twisted necks

Respirators: gasping, difficulty breathing, swelling of the head

Digestive: diarrhea

Reproductive: decreased egg numbers

Vaccination,

biosecurity

2. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)

Virus

Any

Most domestic birds

Mortality may reach 100% but often lower in ducks and pigeons

Sudden mortality, often with few or no signs

Respiratory: gasping, swelling of wattles & combs

Nervous: tremors of the head and neck

Digestive: diarrhea, thirst

Reproductive: soft-shelled or shell-less eggs, decreased egg numbers

Biosecurity, depopulation,

(vaccination)

3. Duck viral enteritis (duck plague)

Virus

Any, although adults more severely affected

Wild and domestic ducks and geese

5- 100% with the highest mortality in older birds

Sudden mortality, often with few or no signs

Digestive: watery diarrhea, decreased appetite, thirst

Reproductive: decreased egg numbers

Nervous: difficulty walking, tremors

Respiratory: pasted eyelids, nasal discharge

Biosecurity, (vaccination)

4.Duck virus hepatitis

Virus

Young, < 6 weeks

Ducks

Close to 100% in ducklings 1< wk old. 50% in 1-3 wk old, very low in > 4 wk old

Death may be the first sign of disease.

Nervous: birds fall on their sides, kicking

Isolation of young ducks, (vaccination)

 5. Fowl cholera

 Bacteria

 Birds >4 weeks are most susceptible

 Chickens, ducks, geese, most birds

 10-90% mortaility. Mortality is highest in turkeys, ducks.

 Sudden death is the first sign of disease.

Respiratory: Gaping, difficulty breathing

Digestive: diarrhea, especially in ducks

Medication, remove reservoirs, vaccination

6.Coccidiosis

 Protozoa

 Young birds, older birds become immune

Most although the coccidian of one species do not infest other birds

 Variable depending on how severe the case is and the type of coccidian

 Depression, weakness, decreased weight gain, dehydration.

Digestive: may have mucold or bloody diarrhea.

 Self immunization, medication

7.Aflatoxicosis

Toxin from fungus

Young birds more severely affected

signs more severe in duckling

Variable

Nervous: difficulty walking, convulsions, feather picking

Reproductive: Reduced fertility and hatch rates. Decreased egg numbers

Remove contaminated food

8. botulism

Toxin from fungus that grows in rotting material

Young birds more severely affected

signs more severe in duckling

It depends on how many birds consume the toxin

Nervous: paralysis, especially of the neck. Birds will be flaccid.

Remove source of toxin , pick up carcasses, control flies, fix leaking water

9. vitamin deficiency

Lack of complete nutrition

Young birds more affected

signs more severe in duckling

moderates to high in young, confined birds

Vitamin E: Death before 4 days of age, Decreased hatchability

Nervous: Difficulty walking and standing, 15-30 days of age.

Vitamin A: Slow growth, drowsiness, ad mortality.

Respiratory: Discharge from nose and eyes.

Reproductive decreased egg numbers and hatching, increased blood spots in eggs.

Supplement vitamins in the water or feed..