By Dr Sajid Hussain M.V.Sc, M.B.A
Techno-Commercial Manager (North & East India)
Zamira Australia

Coccidiosis in poultry, a prevalent and economically impactful parasitic disease, primarily targets the intestinal tract. Its repercussions include substantial economic losses within the poultry industry, stemming from reduced productivity and heightened mortality rates.

During the summer period, managing coccidiosis in poultry presents unique challenges due to environmental factors that exacerbate the risk of infection and impact bird health.

A comprehensive approach is required to address the complexity of coccidiosis that considers the multifactorial nature of the disease. Management should incorporate prevention strategies, biosecurity measures, nutritional management, vaccination programs, and proper flock health monitoring.

The complexity of coccidiosis management hinges on several points:

• Multiple Eimeria species: The disease is caused by multiple Eimeria species, each with unique pathogenicity and preferred sites of infection, complicating diagnosis, treatment, and prevention strategies.
• Lifecycle variability: The complex lifecycle of the Eimeria parasite, involving multiple stages and transmission routes, makes breaking the cycle of infection within a flock challenging.
• Diverse clinical presentations: Different Eimeria species cause varying clinical signs, ranging from mild intestinal damage to severe haemorrhagic coccidiosis, complicating diagnosis, and treatment.

Antimicrobial resistance: The prolonged and indiscriminate use of anticoccidial medications can lead to drug resistant Eimeria strains.

• Environmental persistence: Oocysts shed by infected birds can survive in the environment for extended periods, contributing to re-infection within a poultry facility.
• Interactions with other diseases: Coccidiosis can predispose poultry to secondary infections, complicating disease management and underscoring the need for a holistic approach to overall flock health.

Summer-specific challenges in coccidiosis management:

• Increased heat stress: Summer temperatures can weaken poultry’s immune systems, making them more susceptible to coccidiosis.
• High humidity: Elevated humidity levels create favourable conditions for the survival and transmission of coccidia oocysts, increasing the risk of infection within the flock.

Leveraging Anticoccidial Medications for Summer Poultry Health
Managing heat stress with adequate ventilation, hydration, and shade is crucial for maintaining poultry health and minimising the impact of coccidiosis during the summer.

Controlling coccidiosis through the use of anticoccidial medications is another critical aspect of poultry management in the warmer months. These medications are pivotal in reducing the effects of coccidiosis, helping minimise its impact on poultry health and productivity.

Choosing the right anticoccidial medication:
Selecting the appropriate anticoccidial medication should consider the specific Eimeria species present, the severity of outbreaks, the history of use on the farm, and climatic conditions.

Dosage and administration:
Always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations and seek veterinary guidance to ensure the correct dosage, method of administration, and treatment duration for the selected anticoccidial medication.

Rotating or alternating anticoccidial medications:
Implement a rotation or alternation schedule for different classes of medications to reduce resistance development.

Elevate your feed with ZAMIDAN 10: Zamira Australia’s high-quality Maduramicin supplement for optimal poultry health

Mechanism of action: Maduramicin ammonium, a monovalent ionophore anticoccidial, targets multiple early stages of the Eimeria lifecycle within the first 48 hours. It controls coccidia by disrupting the transport of sodium and potassium ions across their cell membranes.

Clinical application: Maduramicin is predominantly utilised prophylactically, serving as a preventive measure rather than a therapeutic intervention. ZAMIDAN 10 has demonstrated efficacy in reducing heat stress compared to other anticoccidials, making it particularly suitable for summer usage.

Protecting poultry health: By incorporating ZAMIDAN 10 into your anticoccidial programs, you improve the defence mechanisms of poultry against the debilitating effects of coccidiosis. This proactive strategy enhances gut health, promotes optimal nutrient absorption, and sustains the overall wellbeing of your flock, particularly during the demanding summer months. Harness the power of Zamira Australia’s ZAMIDAN 10 in your anticoccidial programs this summer!

The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) health impacts poultry productivity. It is known to be the pillar of poultry success. The poultry microbiome has myriad functions which range from protection against pathogens and nutrients production, to host immune system development. Healthy poultry birds possess a natural resistance to infection. Since optimum performance and growth rate are central to animal production, the host-microbiome relationship remains integral.

A healthy gut ensures:

• Proper digestion and absorption of valuable feed nutrients
• Less wastage of nutrients
• Minimum foul odour.
• Provides resistance against entero-pathogens
• Checks mortality and morbidity losses
• Optimizes feed conversion ratio.

Figure 1 : The gastrointestinal tract of a chicken.

Apart from nutrient absorption and digestion, three important part of gut function are gut integrity, gut immunity, and gut microbiome. Intestinal integrity may be described as the intactness of the intestine in maintaining its structure and function or simply an unimpaired and sound intestine.

Gut integrity maintains a strong barrier of defense. Physical barriers protect against the entry of foreign materials and organisms into the bloodstream and access to other viscera thus helping intestinal integrity. On occasion due to improper nutrition or an unhygienic environment, when the load of foreign invaders increases these barriers are breached.

1. Mucus (Mucus: material secreted by intestinal cells) acts as a barrier to bacterial and fungal invasion.

2. Gut epithelial cells (enterocytes): These cells form a semi-permeable surface that selectively allows passage of fluid, electrolytes, and dissolved nutrients. Every epithelial cell in the digestive tract is part of a continuous physical barrier. When organisms and toxic agents damage epithelial cells, the integrity of this protective barrier is broken.

3. Fluid secretion: fluid having large amounts of water mixed with electrolytes. The fluid in the upper small intestine is protective and keeps bacteria in suspension and washes them downstream.

4. Vascular supply: supply under the gut epithelial layer serves to rapidly dilute and carry away any agents or chemicals (endogenous or exogenous) that may breach the mucosal barrier.

Gut integrity can be affected by physical barriers Stress factors, Feed toxins and toxicants, dietary factors, health status and gut microflora.

Gut Immunity: Poultry GIT can be considered an immune organ. GALT (Gut associated lymphoid tissue ) is a secondary immune organ and developed early stage in birds life.

Gut microbiome: Consists of species of bacteria, protozoa and fungi in the GIT.

Early life and Gut health
Early life care is an important factor in maximizing profits from broiler operations. Early nutrition mainly in the first 7 days of life for broilers may program the birds’ systems and set a pattern for growth and productivity. A larger percentage of early growth (upto 5 times the growth rate of other tissues) occurs in the digestive tract and those organs involved in digestion. If digestive growth is hampered during this period, overall growth rate may be compromised. Newly hatched chicks are more prone to gut infections as its natural defence is yet to be strengthened. So proper care should be taken during this period.

Functions of Gastrointestinal Tract

Role of Environment in Poultry Gut health:

Role of Dietary Factors in Improving Intestinal Integrity
1. Quality feed ingredients: Supplementation of quality feed ingredients helps in maintaining natural gut health. Mycotoxins which are present in most of feed raw materials like Aflatoxin, Fumonisins, T2, DON, Zearalenone, Ochratoxins affect the gut integrity thereby affecting the gut health and giving rise to bacterial issues like E coli and Clostridium which is directly correlated with the presence of multiple mycotoxins. .

2. Processed feed: Many incriminating factors of feed are destroyed due to processing.

3. Pelleted feed: Pelleting provides scope for utilization of high fibre feed resources. Use of steam- pelleted feed seems to be of value in maintaining gut health.

4. Feed additives: Like Anticoccidials and Ionophores Coccidiosis, a managemental disease, causes devastating losses to the poultry industry. Other feed additives which can help maintain gut health are organic acids, probiotics, prebiotics, mycotoxin binders etc.

Conclusion: To summarise, gastrointestinal tract is the key organ that converts feed to meat and eggs. It is largest organ exposed to foreign matters and serves as first line of defence. GIT is continuously exposed to multiple foreign materials and irritants. Regardless of the level of hygiene and biosecurity imposed at production level, poultry will be exposed to multiple infections and toxic agents through the feed and environment.

Aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, toxin-producing fungi, and protozoan parasites (coccidian) are challenging to be eliminated from poultry production units.

Because of the potential development of antibiotic resistant human pathogenic bacteria, the use of antibiotics, have come under increasing scrutiny and feed safety concerns in the food chain. Hence, today’s intensive animal agriculture industry must adapt to producing poultry and take care of holistic factors that affect gut health right from maintaining biosecurity ,early chick health and also by implementing nutritional strategies that would strengthen the gut health by securing gut integrity, gut immunity and gut microbiome .

Aspergillosis in Poultry & the Possible Control Measures

(Brooder Pneumonia, Mycotic Pneumonia, Pneumomycosis)

Agriculturist Md Sahidur Rahman Miah, Poultry Specialist,
Farms Operation-Breeder& Commercial (Broilers & layers),
Management & Nutrition, Animal Husbandry, MBA (HRM),
PGDPM PGDHRM, AGM-Farms, Kazi Farms Group, Bangladesh

Introduction
Aspergillosis is a fungal infection generally affecting the respiratory system of young poultry. Aspergillus is a sporulated mold with broad nutritional requirements. Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus are the most common species causing aspergillosis in poultry.

Aspergillosis is a fungal infection generally affecting the respiratory system of young birds, invading the trachea, air sacs and lungs. Infection is typically described as acute or chronic. Aspergillus is a sporulated mold with broad nutritional requirements. Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus are the most common species causing aspergillosis in poultry. This is commonly referred to as mycotic pneumonia, brooders pneumonia, or fungal pneumonia.

It is also called fungal pneumonia, but actually affects the bird’s air sacs as well as the lungs. Fungal spores are found naturally in the environment, and are highly resistant to common disinfectants so complete cleaning is required to prevent young birds from being in contact with heavily contaminated bedding. Barn conditions, and especially litter conditions, must be kept optimum with proper heat and ventilation to prevent growth of the mold. Death losses can be up to 50% of birds in a flock if it occurs due to contamination at hatchery.

• Aspergillus is a sporulated mold with broad nutritional requirements. Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus are the most common species causing aspergillosis in poultry.
• Their wide-ranging thermal tolerance makes them ubiquitous organisms on farms and in hatcheries and laboratories.
• Quite resistant to common disinfectants, Aspergillus can grow in solutions of sanitizing fluids and in formalin-fixed tissues.
  Clinical signs
• In respiratory aspergillosis, birds are seen with dyspnea (difficulty breathing), accelerated respiratory rate, and silent gasping, which is one of the most common findings in poultry (the disease has been called silent pneumonia in the past).
• If the nervous system is affected, birds will show in coordination and poor balance.
• Opacity may develop on the surface of the eyes in cases of ocular infection.
• Necropsy reveals white, creamy nodules in and on the air sacs and viscera.
• The nodules can be found inside the airways, especially near the syrinx, severely occluding air flow and causing the silent gasping condition.
• On rare occasion, the fungal masses can be found in the brain.

Symptoms of Aspergillosis
Symptoms develop in the first 3-5 days after exposure. The most common symptoms are-

1. Rapid, open-mouthed breathing (gasping) due to gradual air passage obstruction & laboured breathing
2. Drowsiness, depression, huddled or isolated behaviour
3. Loss of body condition and general weakness in individual birds
4. Birds may exhibit lethargy,
5. Dehydration & loss of appetite
6. Diarrhea, emaciation, increased thirst, and drowsiness.
7. Eye swelling, blindness, and torticollis (twisting
of the neck to one side) are also typical of Aspergillosis infections.
8. Off feed but may have increased thirst causing wet litter Purchase birds from a good, clean hatchery.

Commonly affected ages?

• Aspergillosis occurs in all poultry. The organisms are present worldwide, but regions with hot and humid seasons are at higher risk of developing a sufficient concentration of mold to cause clinical disease in poultry.
• Mortality spike by 14 days if infected in hatchery or during brooding on moldy bedding. Typically, young birds (first 2 weeks of life) are affected with acute aspergillosis.
•  Mature turkeys can also be affected, but in this case the infection is generally chronic.
•  It is believed that a high concentration of Aspergillus is required to produce infection; however, high bird density and reduced ventilation may also contribute.

How It Is Spread?
Aspergillosis in birds is not contagious from bird to bird. Birds are typically infected by inhaling spores found in the environment through moldy litter, poor quality feed, and poor bedding management practices. Factors that promote infection of

Aspergillosis include:
– Warm, wet environments
– Poorly ventilated areas
– High humidity environments
– Long-term feed storage
-Impaired immunity

Incubation Period of Aspergillosis
The infection has an incubation period of 2-5 days. Morbidity is usually low, but may be as high as 12%. Mortality among young affected birds is 5-50%.

Pathogenesis

• Under certain conditions, Aspergillus can penetrate the eggshell and contaminate eggs, if the eggs break during incubation, the organism spreads into the hatchery.
• In ovo vaccination may present an increased risk of contamination.
• Heavily contaminated litter can also be the source of the infection. The conidia of Aspergillus are inhaled and deposited deep in the respiratory tract. Hyphae develop on and within the affected cells.
• The massive inflammatory response to the infection is linked to necrosis of the affected tissue. It is thought that Aspergillus disseminates though the blood to many tissues in the body (eyes, brain, air sacs, visceral organs, and bones).
• High mortality and morbidity are expected in affected young animals, whereas the opposite is true in mature birds. Interestingly, aspergillosis is not a transmissible disease (it does not spread from bird to bird).

Diagnosis

• Signs and necropsy findings are generally highly suggestive of the diagnosis, which can be confirmed with culture.
• Growth of only a few colonies should never be considered sufficient evidence for diagnosis because Aspergillus is ubiquitous and can contaminate plates.

Action Taken if suspect it?
1. Normally there is no treatment and birds do not recover as per satisfactory.
2. Severely affected birds should be culled for humane reasons.
3. Ideally replace all bedding (down to the soil or floor) from the affected poultry house when pneumonia is suspected. At minimum replace visibly moldy or damp bedding (especially from around waterers) because this is most likely to contain mold spores.

The most effective treatment is a newer antifungal drug, voriconazole (Vfend). Amphotericin B is another option. All antifungal drugs can have serious side effects, including kidney and liver damage. Interactions between antifungal drugs and other medications are also common.

Prevention & Control
Clean and disinfect the hatchery on a regular basis. Commercial preparations of enilconazole have been used successfully to disinfect hatcheries and poultry farms. Develop a plan to monitor the presence of Aspergillus in the hatchery. Use clean, mold-free litter and feed.
1. Purchase birds from a good, clean hatchery.
2. Practice Good Sanitation
3. Use clean, dust and mold-free, good quality Bedding (Litter) and Feed.
4. Remove bedding completely between flock
5. Ensure that litter stays dry.
6. Do not let feed accumulate and develop mold in feeders
7. Collect and incubate clean eggs.
8. Fumigate eggs before placing them in the incubator.
9. Clean and disinfect the hatchery on a regular basis.
10. Commercial preparations of enilconazole have been used successfully to disinfect hatcheries and poultry farms.
11. Develop a plan to monitor the presence of Aspergillus in the hatchery.
12. Use clean, mold-free litter and feed.

Treatment
Actually, there is no effective treatment for Aspergillosis in infected birds, so prevention is key to controlling the disease and protecting flocks. Treatment for Aspergillosis is not effective because the drug used does not reach the fungus that is walled off by the bird’s inflammatory response and therefore, isolated from the blood stream. The best treatment results if the granulomatous lesion is dried and topical treatment in conjunction with systematic therapy is given. Treatment of aspergillosis involves the use of one or more systemic antifungal agent. Drugs which are commonly used include itraconazole, ketoconazole, clotrimazole, miconazole, fluconazole and Amphotericin Acute infections typically occur in young chickens. The most effective treatment is a newer antifungal drug, voriconazole (Vfend). Amphotericin B is another option. Besides, Acetic acid (1%, 30 min), Citric acid (50%, 15 min), Peracetic acid (0.2%, 10 min), and Sodium hypochlorite (2.5%, 30 min) showed effectiveness against Aspergillus spp. Mitigation strategies can include:

1) removing the birds from the contaminated environment.
2) removal of contaminated material(s) to limit further exposure.
3) trying not to disturb the contaminated material(s) in order to limit further aerosolization of spores;
4) increased ventilation or air exchange rates to possibly minimize the severity of the outbreak. Strict adherence to cleaning and disinfection procedures for any contaminated environment (eg, hatchery, barn, etc.) will minimize the risk of future outbreaks.

Conclusion and Recommendations
Aspergillosis is a disease of respiratory system of chicken, humans, mammals and wild birds and caused by genus Aspergillus, which is distributed worldwide and it is soil saprophyte. It is a common mismanagement problem and causes a high mortality in chicken.
Environmental factors play an important role in the development of the disease include the number of spores to which the bird exposed, poor sanitation in the house as well as food contaminated with faces promote for fungal growth. Poor ventilation in conjunction with other factor increases the possibility of occurrence of the infection. There is no effective treatment for the disease.

Based on the above conclusion, the following recommendations are forwarded:

• Cleaning and disinfection of feed and water utensils
• Poultry house must be well ventilated.
• Avoid overcrowding in poultry house.
• Avoid moldy or dusty feed.
• Proper Sanitation of hatching equipment.
• Treat poultry house and disinfect the litter with antifungal compound.
• Cull infected birds to prevent further contamination. Use mold inhibitor in the feed for suspected outbreak.

The bird has evolved an extraordinary respiratory system – one that can maintain a constant supply of oxygen to the muscles during flight and provide enough oxygen to sing at the same time. A bird’s respiratory system takes up about 20% of its internal volume, similar to another animal with a huge oxygen demand—the horse. In contrast, the human respiratory system occupies about 5% of its internal volume. Despite the evolutionary advantages, there can be disadvantages that, if not addressed, can result in decreased health and performance.

One of a Kind: The Unique Avian Respiratory System
The avian respiratory system is structurally and functionally unique among air-breathing vertebrates. Unlike the reciprocating mammalian respiratory system, which terminates in large alveolar air spaces, the avian lung is a unidirectional, flow-through system that terminates in small air capillaries.

The avian respiratory system consists of two lungs where gas exchange occurs and several air sacs that serve as mechanical ventilators. The avian bronchus is a branching, three-tiered system that gives rise to primary and secondary bronchi and tertiary parabronchi. This means that the trachea divides into primary bronchi, each of which passes through the lungs and ends in the abdominal air sacs. Secondary bronchi arise from the primary bronchi in the lungs and supply air to the other air sacs (Figure 1).

The parabronchi form an intricate system of branching and interlacing thin-walled air capillaries surrounded by exchange tissue. The structure of this tissue is such that the blood capillaries are exposed to air on all sides, greatly increasing the surface area available for gas exchange. In contrast, mammalian alveolar blood capillaries are exposed to air on only two sides. This makes the avian gas exchange system highly efficient.

Air sacs make up the largest volume of the avian respiratory system. They serve to facilitate the continuous flow of large volumes of air through the lungs, thereby increasing efficiency. A key difference in the avian respiratory system is that respiration is unidirectional. This means that it takes two complete cycles (two inhalations and two exhalations) to move a given volume of oxygen-rich air through the lung and air sac system. The one direct inhalation and exhalation cycle of mammals may seem simpler, but this system is unable to maintain a constant volume of air.

Figure 1: Anatomy of the bird’s respiratory system.

What does this mean for the bird?
Taking into account the blood-gas barrier, respiratory surface area, lung volume, and pulmonary blood capillary volume, the avian lung allows for a significant increase in efficiency compared to the mammalian lung. This increased efficiency may translate into optimized physiological performance through increased oxygen exchange. However, the unique structure of the avian respiratory system means that care must be taken to maintain health and performance.

There are several factors in poultry management that can affect the health of the bird’s respiratory system. First and foremost is bird management. Zoohygiene, environmental and climatic conditions, ventilation, stocking density, and housing type all play an important role in the “quality” of the available air. In addition, exposure to pathogens plays a critical role.

From the nasal associated lymphoid tissues to the bronchial associated lymphoid tissues, the respiratory tract is the bird’s first line of defense against pathogens. There are several common respiratory pathogens—both bacterial and viral—that challenge birds at different ages (Figure 2).

Several avian viruses can cause, among other clinical signs, airway obstruction, which often leads to decreased performance, morbidity, and ultimately death. In addition, there are numerous common bacteria and non-specific pathogens that directly or indirectly affect a bird’s respiratory system, adding to a complex problem.

What does this mean for the farmer?
Animals with compromised respiratory systems have low blood oxygen levels, leading to discomfort, reduced vitality, and decreased feed intake. Ultimately, this leads to reduced performance and even increased mortality rates. In addition to the economic losses caused by reduced flock performance due to respiratory problems, the above-mentioned diseases also result in additional costs for the farmer that affect the bottom line.

With the goal of avoiding the manifestation of larger complex problems, these additional expenses typically include costs associated with:

• improved biosecurity and sanitation
• vaccination programs
• medical treatments

In addition, certain diseases where prevention has been unsuccessful may require the culling of the entire flock, resulting in a significant financial loss to the farmer. In places where compensation for lost flocks is not available, this can be ruinous for farmers. Therefore, preventive measures are of paramount importance.

Signs That All Is Not Right.
Routine inspection of several metrics of the flock can help determine if something is not well with the birds. These data points can include:

• age
• vaccination status
• previous medicinal treatments
• mortality
• weight gain
• laying rate
• hatchability
• feed and water intake

Behavioral signs—specifically activity level, attentiveness, perching behavior, huddling, and posture—are also important to take note of and can provide many clues to the health of the flock. When considering the clinical signs that are evident in a flock with respiratory problems, we can categorize these into what we can hear and see.

What we see…
A very common sign is an open beak, indicating that the bird is panting. This may be due to thermal stress (trying to cool down) or trying to clear its airways of possible mucus. The nostrils and sinuses often show signs of swelling and some kind of discharge, and the eyes may show signs of conjunctivitis, or they may be foamy and/or sunken (Figure 3). The comb and wattle may be visibly swollen and discolored. The bird’s posture can tell a lot, especially if the feathers appear to be ruffled, the wings drooping, and the bird is hunched over, moribund.

What we hear…

Attentive ears will normally pick up irregular sounds in a flock, like, for example, sniveling. This sound is usually associated with a mild inflammation typically associated with viral infections, although it can sometimes occur with vaccination reactions. When birds are heard sniffing and grunting, this often indicates more irritated mucous membranes in the upper respiratory tract, often associated with signs of conjunctivitis.

Tracheal rales and honking are clinical signs that we can hear with both viral and bacterial infections, especially with Infectious Bronchitis (IBV), Newcastle Disease (ND), and colibacillosis infections. These signs are a clear indication of excess mucus, mucus in the nasal cavity, and tracheal inflammation. It should be noted, though, that all these clinical signs can also be heard when the house’s climate and environment are not satisfactory. On the other hand, shrieking, gasping, wheezing, and coughing are signs of critical respiratory disease and are typically associated with IBV, ND, Infectious Laryngotracheitis (ILT), Avian Influenza (AI), and colibacillosis. These birds have severely inflamed airways with thick mucus and are in danger of suffocating.

How Can We Deal with Respiratory Problems?
For most avian respiratory diseases, the best prevention methods are vaccination and biosecurity. In fact, vaccination is required by law in some countries for certain diseases such as ND and IBV. Outbreaks of ND are considered serious because of their potential to be velogenic, characterized by rapid spread and up to 100% mortality.

There is currently a global focus on AI and how best to manage this disease. Preventive treatment in the form of vaccination is not yet standard, so biosecurity and good farm hygiene play a fundamental role, as the virus is highly contagious, easily spread and is not only highly pathogenic to many bird species but some strains can also spread to the human population. While good biosecurity and farm management are the basic tools to prevent major respiratory problems, antibiotics remain a necessary tool to manage pathogenic pressures on farms that threaten animal welfare, reduce performance, and promote diseases that are harmful to animals and, ultimately, humans.

Phytogenic Additives Can Help
Despite their usefulness, the use—or overuse—of antibiotics in the industry has come under scrutiny. Alternatives to antibiotics have become increasingly important, and the use of phytogenic feed additives as adjuncts to conventional methods is one area that shows promise. This is reflected in the increased research into the efficacy of phytogenic compounds. There are many scientific studies demonstrating the various beneficial effects on poultry.

The use of phytogenics during respiratory challenges in poultry has beneficial effects. Both in combination with conventional treatments or as a preventive aid, they can help alleviate respiratory signs and facilitate breathing, providing comfort and improved well-being. Some phytogenic additives can help thin mucus, making it easier to clear from the airways. In addition, these phytogenic additives, with their antispasmodic and expectorant properties, facilitate airway clearance and breathing during infection.

Other phytogenic compounds are known for their cooling properties. These compounds activate certain cold receptors on mucus membranes, creating a cooling effect and promoting the feeling of easier air intake. Birds benefit from this effect not only when they are congested, but also in situations where there are large temperature fluctuations.

Phytogenic Dietary Feed Supplements in Action
The supportive effects of a phytogenic dietary supplement, BronchoVest, on respiratory signs were investigated in a controlled trial with Ross308 broilers. Birds (n=384) were assigned to one of six groups (T0-T5). All birds were vaccinated against ND with La Sota strain on day 15 and challenged with an intratracheal pathogenic field isolate of Escherichia coli on day 22. BronchoVest was administered either via the drinking water or as a spray application after vaccination and challenge treatment. All birds were monitored, pen-wise, for clinical signs four times per day for up to seven days post challenge. The following respiratory signs were observed: head swelling, nasal discharge, sneezing, coughing, and dyspnea. Each clinical sign was scored on a scale of 0 (no sign) to 3 (severe).

The groups of challenged birds supplemented with BronchoVest had decreasing respiratory signs over the supplementation period compared to the birds in the T1 positive control group (Figure 4).
At the end of the monitoring period, the supplemented groups were similar to the unchallenged groups, in contrast to the positive control group. These trial results clearly demonstrated the ability of phytogenic supplements such as BronchoVest to help reduce respiratory signs in at-risk birds.

BronchoVest combines the synergistic effects of several active phytogenic ingredients to help birds with respiratory signs. This is particularly helpful in cases of viral respiratory disease where the immune system is challenged and damaged mucous membranes are susceptible to bacterial infection. BronchoVest is a flexible and easy-to-use tool for farmers to improve bird health and performance by addressing respiratory issues.

BronchoVest: Your tool for better breathing birds.

Dr Bhaskar Choudhary
Animal Nutritionist
Biochem Zusatzstoffe Handels- und Produktionsgesellschaft mbH

Sometimes water medication treatments fail seemingly without reason, in these situations doubts arise: we begin to doubt the product, the dosage, the employee who applied the treatment, or even the diagnostic, upon seeing negative results.

In order for a molecule to be water soluble it should be capable of self-ionization; if it doesn’t possess radicals capable of ionization it will precipitate and settle on the bottom if treating a tank. This is what will happen if we try to use a ‘premix’ in the drinking water.

A molecule capable of self-ionization when coming into contact with water would be, for example, a salt, and this is one of the most common presentations of soluble medications. A salt will separate itself into two types of radicals: acid (positive) and basic (negative). Not all molecules used will separate into the same quantity of acid and basic radicals. The characteristic of separating into more or less acid radicals is expressed through the constant pKa. The smaller this constant is, the more acidic the molecular character will be. So, with a pKa of 2,7 (that of phenoximetilpenicillin) the molecule will be considered acid, while with a pKa of 7,6 (that of lincomycin) it will be considered basic. When the pH of the medium in which it is dissolved coincides with its pKa, the molecule will become 50% ionized. In order to reach a good solution, the molecule should be fully ionized. So,

– a molecule that possesses a weak basic character will better ionize in an acidic pH (granitic water)

– a molecule with a weak acid character will better ionize in a basic medium (calcareous waters).

Among the molecules that we can classify as weak acids we can find: ampicillin, fenoximetilpenicilina, amoxicillin, quinolones, etc.

Among the molecules that we can classify as weak bases we can find: macrolides, lincosamides, tiamulin, tetracycline, etc.

In practice, slightly acidifying or neutralizing drinking water can be interesting when trying to improve the solubility of the products used.

Tip: In order to avoid problems with weak base molecules such as tetracycline, acidifying the drinking water would be a recommended measure.
In the case of substances classified as weak acids, such as amoxicillin, ampicillin or phenoximeltilpenicillin, avoiding their use in acidified water is recommended. Actually, strongly acidified waters (pH < 5) could even limit the efficacy of these substances, affecting any possible results obtained from these medications.

Some of the most common antibiotics used as a treatment or Agp

Natural Resources: 1. vitamin A & C -Chilly (respiratory disease)
2. Procyanidin- Tamarind (liver toxicity)
3. alkaloids, flavonoids & Vitamin k – Peepal bark , leaves & stem (Nephrotoxicity, bleeding diarrhoea)
For more details references & support in clinical Nutrition please contact

Dr. Sundus Gazal1, Dr. Sabahat Gazal2, Dr. Anvesha Bhan3 and Dr. Shalini Pandey4
1,2,3Division of Veterinary Microbiology and Immunology, SKUAST-Jammu
4Department of Veterinary Microbiology, RPS Veterinary College, Mahendragarh

Introduction:
The increasing human population has created an emerging global agrarian crisis due to limited available land resources. As the world’s population continues to burgeon, the demand for efficient and sustainable means of food production has never been more pressing. These growing demands have ultimately signified the role of livestock in catering the nutritional demands of the population. Among the livestock species, poultry sector has emerged to be the fastest growing enterprise over the years with their significant contribution to the total animal protein production as well as consumption. Accompanying this growth, the poultry industry is faced with an enormous challenge to maintain the health and well-being of the birds. Amid the myriad factors that contribute to successful poultry farming, one often-underestimated element stands out: gut health. The gastrointestinal tract of poultry is not merely a conduit for digestion; it holds the key to their overall health, growth, and productivity. In this comprehensive article, we embark on a journey to unveil the intricate web of significance woven around gut health in the world of poultry.

The Gut Microbiota and Its Role:
At the heart of understanding gut health lies the gut microbiota, an intricate symphony of microorganisms residing in the avian gastrointestinal tract. This intricate ecosystem significantly influences various physiological processes, including digestion, nutrient absorption, and immune response. The presence of a diverse and balanced gut microbiota translates into optimized nutrient utilization, bolstered immune defenses, and enhanced resistance against diseases. Gut health relies on the maintenance of the delicate balance between the host, the intestinal microbiota, the intestinal environment, and dietary compounds. This balance can be significantly affected by factors such as management of the birds, feed quality and the environment. When gut health is optimal, there is complete digestion of the feed and absorption of the nutrient components. If there is a disruption to the normal processes in the gut, incomplete digestion and absorption of nutrients can occur, leading to malabsorption and gut imbalance. If there is any imbalance in the gut environment, gut health gets compromised which can adversely affect the health and performance of the birds.

When digestion and absorption is not optimal, there is malabsorption of nutrients resulting in more nutrients being available to the small intestinal bacteria that can lead to an overgrowth of the bacterial population. A further consequence of malabsorption is the passing of proteins, sugars and fat into the ceca causing an overgrowth in the microbial population and a shift away from the beneficial fermentative bacteria.

Digestive Efficiency and Nutrient Absorption:
The gut microbiota operates as a remarkable partner in digestion. Its orchestrated efforts break down intricate feed components—such as complex carbohydrates and proteins—releasing essential nutrients that are subsequently absorbed by the avian body. A harmonious gut microbiota, with its array of beneficial bacteria, enhances the efficiency of digestion, ensuring that vital nutrients from the feed are harnessed to their fullest potential. Vitamins such as vitamin K, and water-soluble vitamin B such as biotin, cobalamin, folates, nicotinic acid, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, riboflavin and thiamine are synthesized by microbial communities in the gut. A healthy gut optimizes digestibility, reduces nutrient excretion and mitigates ammonia and other gas emissions within the poultry housing environment which may pose an environmental and health risk. Conversely, a disrupted or imbalanced gut microbiota may disrupt digestion, dampen nutrient absorption, and ultimately culminate in diminished growth rate.

Immune System Support:
The gut and the immune system are inextricably linked, their alliance forming a formidable defense against external threats. A thriving gut microbiota nurtures the development and maintenance of a resilient immune system. The microbiota found in the poultry gut promotes the beneficial development of the intestinal mucus layer and epithelial monolayer, the exclusion of pathogenic microorganisms, polysaccharide degradation, and energy provision in the form of amino acids and short chain fatty acids. This facet assumes paramount importance in poultry farming, where disease outbreaks can wreak havoc on flock health and productivity. The intestinal microbiota is involved in modulating host immune system, influences the normal structural and functional organ development, and host metabolism. This microbiota stimulates the production of immune-regulating substances, thereby fortifying the avian body’s capacity to fend off pathogens. The gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), a considerable portion of which resides within the gastrointestinal tract, houses immune cells integral to safeguarding poultry health. Mucosal immune responses to resident intestinal microbiota can distinguish commensal from pathogenic bacteria. The gut microbiota is also involved in the modulation of B-cell response and immunoglobulin A (IgA) production. IgA plays an important role in regulating the composition of the gut microbiota by specifically binding to the bacterial epitopes.

Disease Prevention:
The gut microbiota operates as a natural bulwark against pathogenic invaders. The harmonious interplay between beneficial bacteria and potential pathogens unfolds a tale of competition—where beneficial microbes vie for resources and space, curbing the colonization of harmful organisms. The bacterial community of the intestinal microbiota form a protective barrier which lines the gut, preventing the growth of less favourable or pathogenic bacteria such as Salmonella, Campylobacter and Clostridium perfringens. This principle is known as competitive exclusion. Theories suggest that the commensal (or friendly) microbiota dominate attachment sites on the gut cells reducing the opportunity for attachment and colonization by pathogens. Another proposed mechanism is that the intestinal microbiota can secrete compounds, including volatile fatty acids, organic acids and natural antimicrobial compounds (known as bacteriocins), that either inhibit the growth of, or make the environment unsuitable for, less favourable bacteria. Sustaining a healthy gut microbiota through diligent management practices can markedly reduce the reliance on antibiotics and other therapeutic agents, charting a more sustainable trajectory for the poultry industry.

Stress Management:
Stress occurs as a result of a biological response to an internal or external stimulus that poses threats to the normal physiological equilibrium of an organism. Commercial poultry production is faced with a variety of stresses, including environmental, nutritional, and internal stress which decrease production and reproductive performance and affect the health status of poultry birds. Poultry suffer from various environmental stressors such as heat stress, cold stress, feed restriction, stocking density, pollutants, and many more. Stress can exert a deleterious impact on gut health by disrupting the equilibrium of the gut microbiota and undermining the integrity of the intestinal barrier.
The consequences manifest as impaired nutrient absorption, heightened vulnerability to infections, and compromised overall performance. A resilient and diverse gut microbiota equips birds to better navigate these stressors, bolstering their holistic well-being.

Strategies for Maintaining Gut Health:
The maintenance of optimal gut health necessitates a holistic approach, a symphony of nutritional balance, judicious management practices, and rigorous biosecurity protocols. Some pivotal strategies include:

Balanced Nutrition: Furnishing a meticulously balanced diet that fulfills the birds’ nutritional requisites is the bedrock of gut health. Well-crafted diets provide the substrate for the flourishing of beneficial gut bacteria, and the nutrients essential for overall health. Dietary fibre has been found to have an enormous impact on the gastrointestinal tract development, digestive physiology, including nutrient digestion, fermentation, and absorption processes of poultry. It has been suggested that moderate level of insoluble fiber may increase chyme retention time in the upper part of the GIT, stimulating gizzard development and endogenous enzyme production, improving the digestibility of starch, lipids, and other dietary components. Organic acids are compounds with acidic properties that occur naturally and include carbon. The inclusion of organic acids in poultry diets can improve gut health, increase endogenous digestive enzyme secretion and activity, and improve nutrient digestibility. These organic acids can help not only decontaminate feed but also have the potential to reduce enteric pathogens in poultry. The acids can cross the bacterial cell wall and disrupt the normal actions of certain types of bacteria, including Salmonella spp, E. coli, Clostridia spp, Listeria spp. and some coliforms.

Probiotics and Prebiotics: The introduction of probiotics—live beneficial bacteria—into feed or water, and prebiotics—non-digestible compounds—into diets can invigorate the gut microbiota. These interventions cultivate an environment conducive to optimal gut health. Probiotic supplementation brings about various effects like: modification of the intestinal microbiota, stimulation of the immune system, reduction in inflammatory reactions, prevention of pathogen colonization, enhancement of growth performance, alteration of the ileal digestibility and total tract apparent digestibility coefficient and decrease in ammonia and urea excretion. Prebiotics like mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS), inulin and its hydrolysate (fructooligosaccharides: FOS), as well as other prebiotics are important contributors to the modulation of the intestinal microflora and stimulating a potential immune response, as well as stimulating the development of beneficial microorganisms. Prebiotics can also help reduce pathogen colonization in the GIT.

Hygiene and Biosecurity: Adhering to stringent biosecurity measures thwarts the ingress of pathogens, curbing the potential for gut health disruptions arising from disease outbreaks. Biosecurity is the efficient use of common hygiene procedures that make a remarkable difference between success and failure in a poultry operation. Biosecurity includes Structural biosecurity which encompasses all aspects related to facilities and equipment and Operational biosecurity which includes operations routinely performed on a farm on a regular basis, such as personnel entry, vehicle entry and disinfection, pest control, waste disposal, etc. In addition, only authorized people should be allowed to enter the farms, since they are the most common animate factor involved in disease transmission: this includes farm employees, veterinarians, truck drivers, intervention teams (vaccination, beak treatment, loading and unloading of birds), external workers in charge of repairs and maintenance, etc. Effective implementation of cleaning and disinfection procedures are essential to reduce the risk of health challenge.
Water Quality: Water is the most important nutrient for poultry and plays a key role in thermoregulation, digestion and absorption of nutrients. The provision of uncontaminated and clean water is pivotal for sustaining gut health. Water quality directly impacts digestion and gut microbiota composition. Excellent water quality is important as chickens consume twice as much water as feed. The microbial, chemical and physical quality of water should be monitored regularly.

Reducing Stressors: By mitigating stressors through effective management practices, proper ventilation, and prudent stocking densities, poultry farmers can proactively safeguard gut health. The most common signs of stress in poultry include aggression and fighting, loss of weight, feather shedding, decreased egg production, lethargy and sluggish attitude and loss of appetite.

Stress can be reduced in poultry by providing adequate space, management of heat stress by providing proper ventilation, adjusting feeding schedules, and flushing and cooling waterers. Electrolytes and vitamins can also be added to drinking water to help birds cope with heat stress. Enrichment can reduce stress by providing birds with the outlets for expressing their natural behaviors such as adding straw bales for pecking and scratching, providing opportunities for dust bathing through sand or other substrates, and adding perches or platforms for chickens to roost on.

Conclusion:
The panorama of gut health in poultry farming surpasses the periphery of digestion—it intricately weaves through growth, immune defense, disease resilience, and the holistic well-being of the avian inhabitants. A thriving gut microbiota unfurls a tapestry where nutrient utilization is optimized, immune systems fortified, and the industry’s sustainability bolstered. By embracing the profound implications of gut health and implementing apt strategies, poultry farmers can orchestrate a crescendo of production practices, elevating flock performance, and contributing to the production of nourishing, safe, and sustainable poultry products to satiate the appetites of a burgeoning global populace.

Dr Bhaskar Choudhary
Area Manager – Southeast Asia & West Africa at
Biochem Zusatzstoffe Handels- und Produktionsgesellschaft mbH

The factors that cause leg weakness, include nutritional deficits, mechanically induced trauma, toxins, genetic defects, pathogens infectious diseases, sex, weight and growth rate, age, the efficiency of feed conversion, handling and movement.

1. Leg weakness and lameness due to genetic & Nutritional imbalance
In field broiler birds we observe that compare to Cobb non cobb breed have high breast meat percentage but simultaneously its micronutrients & macronutrients requirements is high specially in case of change of conventional raw materials in field, since demand of growth rate is high to meet this demand only protein & energy in feed formulation consider while micro & macro nutrients of one accord neglect reason may be.

a. commercial constraint
b. Not having enough information about alternative raw materials.

A well-balanced diet is essential in broilers to prevent leg disorders. For example, a shortage of water-soluble vitamins, manganese, or zinc may lead to the development of shorter bones with valgus abnormalities. In addition, ‘rickets’ can be exacerbated by a lack of nutrients in fast-growing chickens. Small shortages of biotin in feeding schedules caused more footpad dermatitis, liver discoloration due to which vitamin D3 absorption hamper which at the end cause leg weakness.

2. Leg weakness due to management :
a. We are well aware about that quarter of time seem the chickens to sleep and more than half of the time they are just not doing anything. A healthy chicken is on average 76 percent of the time spent lying. This percentage is increased with age, and it is indicated that it is significantly larger with a higher degree of lameness (up to 86
percent) , here 23hour light & 1 hour darkness standard to increase the food intake and growth rate . The light can have an influence on behavior, physiology and well-being in different ways. There are studies that have shown that lameness and growth of chicks is influenced by different light periods .

b. Litter
When housing poultry litter on the ground is well important. A good litter material can be defined as a material that can absorb and give off a lot of moisture back. In practice, wine wood shavings and straw, the most commonly used materials . It was also reported all that chicks that sit on wood shavings show higher activity than those sitting on straw. This could also be an occasion for less lameness.

c. Conditioning (Heating and Ventilation)
The high and low temperature is associated with increased incidence of leg disorders. At a low occupancy is apparent that the air has little influence on the chick quality. At a higher occupancy (20 chicks per m2), however, the climate has an influence the proportion chicks with diseased feet are lower and they are less soiled

d. Occupancy :
The use of high occupancy is far-reaching to economically maximum advantage. Use of the surface however, the capacity is limited by the bad effects that this has on the growth and quality. The occupation has a clear influence on the external quality of the chicks. In the lower occupancy of 16 chicks per m2 is the number of chicks with red heels considerably lower and annotating of the soles is significantly less. Moreover, there are fewer varieties for the chicks less soiled at low stocking densities.

3. Gender: Both sexes have problems of lameness However, the male chicks encountered more problems than the female, even when the body weight is considered.

4. Mycotoxins: Articular Gout and Tibia Dyschonroplasia and the list various bone diseases in broilers possibly caused by mycotoxins. Mycotoxins such as aflatoxin, ochratoxin and fusarium toxin lead to rickets due to their toxic effects on liver and kidney, which consequently prevents the conversion of vitamin D3 and its absorption.

5. Infectious Diseases:
a. Reovirus: It is suspected that the virus can spread through ‘avian egg transmission’, especially since the virus was found in apparently normal embryos from commercial chickens. clinical symptoms are characterized by mild to moderate lameness swollen ‘hocks’ met a noticeable increase of fluid in the “hock” joints.

b. Mycoplasma synoviae : Invisible Mycoplasma Synoviae causes respiratory diseases but can also result in airsacculitis and synovitis in chickens.

c. Staphylococcus aureus: Infection with S. aureus can cause many different clinical features such as septicemia (prevention of pathogenic microorganisms and their toxins in the blood), bone and joint infections, abscesses and dermatitis.

Field Observation:
1. Chondrodystrophie &Tibia dyschondroplasia: Poultry with a shortage of B complex vitamins, Manganese (Mn), can develop shorter bones with varus abnormalities.

It is observed that Liquid organic minerals & Biotin.
Zinc-40mg/litre
Mn-25mg/litre
Cu-4 mg/litre
Biotin-80 mg/litre

First 10 days 1ml per liter of drinking water in broiler chicken helps in this varus abnormalities.

Femoral head necrosis: These diseases may affect the entire house. The clearest indicator is the inability of the broilers to stand up. When there is an autopsy is carried out on the birds, it is the end of the femur. The broilers can respond to vitamin D3 in the drinking water.

Contact dermatitis: This is a managemental problem due to bad litter effect of ammonium chemical burning in the litter. Contact
dermatitis is clear due to very long time spent for sitting and bad litter. The time that is spent for sitting and lying by the chicks, increases with the age from 75 percent in the first week to 90 percent at five weeks. Footpad dermatitis is a type of contact dermatitis, which is characterized by lesions on the soles of poultry.

Conclusion:
1. Mycoplasma management where ND & IB titer which need to be managed by proper vaccination schedule & use of eucalyptus oil in drinking water after 12 hour this vaccination so that ND & IB titer improve in birds.

2. Avoid Antibiotics in drinking water & feed the first 10 days unless it is not required for treatment which is mostly used in the field as Agp or yolk absorption (as a myth among farmer) or some field practitioner in 3rd to 5th day for mycoplasma prevention which aggravates the situation.

3. Due to effect of Global warming Mycotoxin threat is worldwide which need to be mange with good multiple toxin binder which have good adsorption & desorption at different pH (pH 2-8.5)

4. Nutritional formulation not only consider protein or energy but also macro & micronutrients specially when consider non-conventional raw materials, in farm application liquid organic minerals Biotin & Vitamin D3 important tool to overcome this nutritional deficiency problems.

5. Lighting, ventilation & litter management in poultry shed is very much essential for proper growth & food pad dermatitis.

Dr. N.K. Mahajan
Prof. & Head (Retd), Department of Veterinary Public Health & Epidemiology,
Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Hisar-125004 (Haryana, India)
First Choice Veterinary Diagnostic Lab, Safidon Road, JIND (Haryana)

Various infectious diseases affect broilers at different ages and cause economic losses due to heavy mortality, poor FCR and weight loss. Some of the important viral diseases are discussed here:

1. New Castle Disease
It is one of the most dreaded diseases of poultry as it can cause very heavy mortality at a very high speed. The disease is caused by a virus of paramyxovirus group and classified into many serotypes based on the virulence. Chicken is the natural host, but vast majority of birds are susceptible to infection including ducks and turkey.

Source:https://www.poultryhub.org/

Signs
Depression, prostration, loss of appetite, greenish/yellowish diarrhea, nervous signs like in- coordination, twitching of neck, heavy mortality in acute outbreaks.

Postmortem Lesions
Pin pointed hemorrhages at the tip of proventricular glands, hemorrhagic/ diphtheritic ulcers in the intestine and caecal tonsils.
Diagnosis
Typical postmortem lesions mentioned above are diagnostic.

Laboratory diagnosis:
hemagglutination (HA), hemagglutination Inhibition (HI) and ELISA tests can be employed for confirmation of antibody titers. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is done for confirmation of the virus.

Treatment and Prevention
Effective vaccines are available for prevention. F/ B1 / clone vaccine is given at the age of 4-5 days followed by LaSota vaccine at 21 days can protect the bird.
If challenge in the area is high, can also inject ND Killed vaccine along with first vaccine at 4/5-day Vaccination can be done if not done earlier at the time of outbreak also. Provide supportive therapy in the form of Cough syrup (@ 10 ml / 100 birds in drinking water – twice a day), Immunomodulators like Vit. E (@ 5 ml/ 100 birds) once a day for 3-4 days.

2. Infectious Bursal Disease
(Gumboro Disease)
Infectious Bursal Disease (IBD) is a highly contagious viral disease of young chicken causing serious economic losses, occurs mainly between 3-5 weeks of age in broilers. The virus targets the Bursa of Fabricius, an important part of immune system making the bird susceptible to other infections. Vaccination failures may happen due to the associated immuno-suppression.

Signs: Dullness, depression, stretch legs backwards, whitish diarrhea and death.

Mortem Lesions: Hemorrhages in the thigh and pectoral muscles, bursa enlarged, edematous and hyperemic with bloody or mucoid contents inside, bursa firm and atrophic in chronic form, kidney may show nephrosis and mottling.

Diagnosis: Bursal lesions are characteristic. Age of the birds affected and hemorrhages on muscles help in diagnosis. Confirmation can be done by PCR.

Prevention
Vaccines are available for prevention which can be done between 11-13 days of age or now such vaccines are available which can be given / injected even on first day at hatchery.

Treatment
Segregate the affected birds, provide electrolytes (@ 1g/ lt of water) and paracetamol. Use Disinfectants like Virkon-S for spray (@4g/ lt of water) and in drinking water (@ 1g / 4lt ),also provide Liver tonic and Immuno-modulators.

3. Avian Influenza
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) is a highly lethal systemic disease affecting vast majority of birds caused by the Influenza Type A virus. Because of the zoonotic as well as pandemic potential, the disease gained much public health importance. Water birds and migratory birds act as carriers and spread the infection.
Signs: Sudden, heavy and unusual mortality reaching almost 100% without any clinical signs, edema of face, cyanosis of comb and wattles in less fulminating cases, nervous disorders like tremors, torticollis and opisthotonos.

Post mortem lesions
Extremely variable depending on the severity. Hemorrhagic lesions (petechial to ecchymotic) on all the visceral organs, serous membranes, skin and muscles in acute cases.
Lungs pneumonic, enteritis, air sacculitis, splenomegaly.

Diagnosis
Sudden, heavy, unusual mortality (80-90%) create the suspicion. The disease is to be differentiated from the other fulminating diseases of chicken like Newcastle Disease, IB etc., disease can be confirmed from High Security Animal Disease Laboratory, Bhopal.

Treatment
There is no treatment and birds are to be destroyed and buried as per OIE norms.

4. Infectious Bronchitis
Infectious bronchitis is a disease of chickens only.
Clinical signs: The severity of IB infection is influenced by the age and immune status of the flock, by environmental conditions, and by the presence of other diseases. Labored breathing with some gasping in young chickens. Breathing noises are more noticeable at night.

(Source:https://bitchinchickens.com/)

Diagnosis
Post mortem lesions: Characteristic post mortem lesion is presence of bronchial plug on the bifurcation of bronchioles, heamorrhagic tracheitis and CRD due to complication with Mycoplasma.
Control & Prevention:
There is no specific treatment for infectious bronchitis. Antibiotics for 3-5 days may aid in combating secondary bacterial infections. Raise the room temperature by 5°F for brooding-age chickens until symptoms subside. For Prevention: Establish and enforce a biosecurity program. Vaccines are available which can be carried out in endemic farms on 4-5th day of age by Intra-nasal / Oral route.

5. Avian encephalomyelitis (AE)
It is an infectious viral disease affecting young chickens, quail and turkeys characterized by ataxia and tremors of head and neck.Baby chicks of 1 to 2 weeks age are most severely affected. AE is an egg-borne infection. Adult hens get symptomless infection.

(Source:https://poultrydvm.com/)
Signs: New born chicks show paralysis in the first week after hatching. Progressive ataxia and incoordination, tremors of the head and neck become evident especially after exciting the chicks, mortality rate vary from outbreak to outbreak

Post mortem lesions: No gross lesions are observed. Minute whitish/grayish spots in the muscles of gizzard in a few cases.

Diagnosis/ Prevention
Age of the birds and symptoms are helpful in establishing tentative diagnosis. Screening of breeding stock for infection by carrying out ELISA test for antibody titers and immunization of breeding stock prevent the transmission of virus through eggs.

6. Hydropericardium syndrome (HPS) and Inclusion body hepatitis (IBH):
These two conditions are caused by avian adeno group-1 viruses while fowl adenovirus group-1 serotype 4 is predominantly associated with HPS, most other serotypes cause IBH.

Source: https://www.msdvetmanual.com/

Hydropericardium syndrome is mainly seen in 3-8 week-old broiler chickens and is characterized by sudden death. The most characteristic lesion is hydropericardium. The pericardial sac is filled with a clear or straw coloured fluid. Because of the size of the heart and accumulation of fluid around and the texture, the heart of affected bird appears like litchi fruit and the condition is also referred to as litchi disease which is in fact, a misnomer. The liver may be enlarged and fatty with some hemorrhages. Mortality to the tune of 80% has been recorded.

The liver lesions are prominent in IBH: liver is enlarged and mottled in appearance with necrotic foci. Fatty changes may be seen in liver. Kidneys may be enlarged and filled with urates.

Diagnosis:
The disease can be diagnosed on the basis of clinical findings, postmortem changes primarily in liver, heart and kidneys. Lab confirmation by Serological tests and by virus isolation or PCR for the causative agent.

Prevention and control:
Killed vaccine can be carried out in endemic areas during first week of age along with strict biosecurity measures which can help to prevent the disease.

Treatment:
Provide Aflatoxin free feed, dilute the feed by adding more grains for 4-5 days.
Disinfectants like Safegaurd @ 1 ml / 6 lt of water during the outbreak.
Livertonics and Diuretics in double dose may be helpful.

Conclusion
Preventing important viral diseases in broilers is of utmost importance to maintain the health and productivity of your poultry flock. One crucial aspect of disease prevention is implementing rigorous biosecurity measures. This entails controlling access to your farm, disinfecting equipment and footwear, and carefully monitoring visitor interactions. Additionally, isolating and quarantining new birds before introducing them to the existing flock can prevent the spread of diseases. Furthermore, vaccination plays a pivotal role in disease prevention. Consult with a veterinarian to develop a vaccination schedule tailored to your specific needs and regional disease risks. Regularly clean and disinfect the poultry house, and ensure proper ventilation and temperature control. These proactive measures can significantly reduce the risk of viral diseases among your broiler chickens, ultimately ensuring their well-being and the success of your poultry operation.