Infectious coryza is a common respiratory disease caused by Haemophilus paragallinarum that invade the respiratory tract of chickens. It is common in poultry farming, especially in intensive farming environments. Infectious coryza is usually difficult to distinguish from other respiratory diseases. The disease is mainly characterized by inflammation of the nasal cavity, runny nose, swelling around the eyes and dyspnea. If left untreated, it may lead to a decrease in the production performance of the flock, such as a decrease in egg production rate or a slowdown in growth rate. The following will introduce in detail the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment methods of chicken infectious coryza to help farmers effectively deal with this disease.
What is Chicken infectious coryza?
It is an acute respiratory tract disease caused by the bacteria Haemophilus paragallinarum or Avibacterium paragallinarian. These bacteria are most common in warm environments. Infectious coryza can also be called haemophilus infection. It is a respiratory disease that causes chickens to exhibit respiratory distress and spread through respiratory droplets. Respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing by infected birds can be inhaled by other birds and then spread the infection.
The spread of Chicken infectious coryza
In most cases, infectious coryza is not fatal. Survivors of infection will build immunity to bacteria, but they will still be carriers of the disease for the rest of their lives. Non-infected chickens exposed to infected chickens are also considered carriers of the disease, even if they never show any symptoms. This is because chickens can build immunity to infection without showing any symptoms of infection. Despite their immunity, they can still spread the disease to other chickens that are not immune to infectious coryza.
Symptoms of Chicken infectious coryza
Chickens are often not susceptible to infectious coryza until they are at least 3-4 months old. As they age, they become more susceptible to infection. Infectious coryza usually starts suddenly, and all susceptible chickens show signs of disease within 24-72 hours after exposure to infection. Typical symptoms are facial swelling and obvious sinus secretions that gradually become foul-smelling and purulent. The rooster may have swollen nettles. There are obvious conjunctivitis and tears. Infected birds may partially or completely close their eyes due to excessive eye secretions, making it difficult for them to see food and drinks. The course of uncomplicated cases of infectious coryza is usually 7-11 days. If the disease is complicated by concurrent infections, it can last for a month or more. Infectious Coryza in Chickens Understanding Guide
The following are some common symptoms of infectious coryza infection:
Increased nasal secretions: Chickens will have a runny nose, and the secretions may change from clear water to sticky, and even have an odor.
Facial swelling: Swelling around the eyes and sinuses is a common manifestation, sometimes accompanied by conjunctivitis, causing the eyes to be half-closed or tearful.
Dyspnea: Due to obstruction of the respiratory tract, chickens may open their mouths to breathe or make abnormal breathing sounds.
Mental malaise: The appetite of the sick chicken decreases, activity decreases, and the feathers appear messy.
Decreased production performance: laying hens may produce fewer eggs and the growth rate of broilers slows down.
There will also be watery eyes, decreased food and water intake and other symptoms. The course of the disease is usually acute, and the symptoms appear quickly within 2-3 days after infection. If other bacterial or viral infections (such as mycoplasma or Newcastle disease virus) are secondary, the condition may worsen and the mortality rate will increase.
Treatment plan for Chicken infectious coryza
The mortality rate of infectious coryza is 20-50%. Acute infectious coryza is often more deadly because it spreads faster and gives chickens less time to build immunity against infection.
Isolation
Chickens infected with infectious coryza can usually recover on their own if they receive proper supportive care. Any chicken you suspect of having infectious coryza should be quarantined away from your flock. This can help reduce bacteria exposure to healthy chickens and enable them to gradually build immunity to infection.
Once quarantined, infected chickens will be easier to care for and treat. Ensure that the quarantined chickens are safe and protected, and have access to food and water. You can also provide supplementary probiotics during this period to help improve intestinal health. A healthy intestine will help chickens fight bacterial infections faster. It can also provide natural antibacterial agents to resist pathogenic bacteria that cause infection.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics can be used on hens that are not laying, but antibiotics will only help relieve symptoms, they will not treat infections. The infection must be fought naturally by the chicken’s body. Most antibiotics cannot be used on laying hens because they require a withdrawal period and are not approved for use in animals that provide food. In any case, regardless of whether the chicken is treated with antibiotics or not, it will become a carrier of the disease for life.
Preventive care
Since infectious coryza will run naturally, early intervention and veterinary consultation are effective ways to control infection. By catching the infection before it spreads to many chickens in your flock or early, you will be able to prevent the infection from becoming serious or fatal. Infectious coryza will be fatal when it interferes with the chicken’s ability to breathe, eat, and drink. If the infection becomes severe, the chicken’s breathing may become very difficult, and its face may swell so that it cannot eat or drink.
When proper preventive care is given to infected chickens, the swelling should subside within 10-14 days, but other symptoms may last for several months, especially if a secondary infection begins. A chicken that has recovered from infectious coryza can easily be reinfected if its immune system weakens.
Environmental management
At the same time as drug treatment, it is essential to improve the breeding environment：
Ventilation and ventilation: Maintain air circulation in the chicken coop and reduce ammonia and dust irritation.
Reduce density: avoid overcrowding of chickens and reduce the chance of spreading germs.
Cleaning and disinfection: Clean up the feces in time, and disinfect the chicken coop and utensils with peroxyacetic acid or other disinfectants.
Early preventive measures
Prevention is better than treatment. Farmers can take the following measures to reduce the incidence of infectious coryza in chickens：
Vaccination: In epidemic areas or high-risk areas, inactivated vaccines for chicken infectious coryza are used, usually for the first time when the chicks are 6-8 weeks old, and innoculated once more before laying eggs.
Biosafety: Strictly control the entry of foreign personnel and vehicles into the chicken farm to avoid the introduction of pathogens.
Regular monitoring: Regularly check the health of the chickens and deal with abnormalities in a timely manner.
Infectious coryza is a common poultry disease that can affect backyard chickens. It is equivalent to the common cold, and if left unchecked, it can become serious. Fortunately, if proper supportive care is given, chickens can recover from infectious coryza on their own. Although it is a common infection, you can prevent infectious coryza from becoming a problem in your flock by maintaining a closed flock as much as possible and implementing good hygiene procedures. A balanced diet, proper care and good biosafety can keep your backyard chickens safe and healthy!
