Infectious diseases and nutritional deficiency in birds

Year 2020, Vetexpo-2019, KHVD-2019, 28 - 28, 31.03.2020

Serhat Özsoy

Abstract

Mycoplasma infections in poultry are generally more severe then those reported for house finches. The
prominent field signs are puffy or swollen eyes and crusty appearing eyelids. Initial field signs observed
during a natural outbreak of mycoplasma infection in a back yard gamebird operation included foamy
eyes, excessive tearing and severely swollen sinuses. Routine cleaning and disinfection of bird feeders
with household bleach is recommended to prevent mycoplasmosis and other diseases that can be
transmitted at bird feeders. A 10 percent solution of household bleach applied weekly for feeders with
high bird use will reduce the potential for contaminated surfaces to transmit disease. Invarıably birds that
have signs of a single nutritional deficiency problem. Calcium and phosphorus should be present in the
diet in a 1.5-2: 1 ratio. Seed diets have low calcium and phosphorus levels. Vitamin D precursors are
present in vegeterian diets but require metabolism by ultraviolet light to be converted to the usable form
vitamin D3 Calcium and vitamin D3 deficiences will lead to egg-binding and osteodystophy in growing
and breeding birds unobstructed egg-binding may be relieved by injecting calcium solution or
administering it orally. Oxytocin may or may not be useful in these cases, as the bird is more likely to be
calcium deficient than oxytocin deficient. Vitamin A is essential for growth, optimum vision and
maintaining the integritiy of the mucous membranes. Vitamin A deficiency predisposes to upper
respiratory and alimentary tract disease by causing the mucous membrane’s simple epithelium to become
stratified squamous keratinized epithelium. The keratin plugs the ducts of the mucus secreting and
salivary glands, causing pustule formation and even salivary gland abscesses. In breeding birds there is
decreased egg hatchability and ın (poultry) chicks it prevents the kidney from excreting uric acid which
remains visible in the kidney and ureters (this is commonly seen in post-mortem examination of grey
parrots, the most vitamin A deficient birds).

Keywords

mycoplasma infection, osteodystophy

References

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