Effective Methods for Diagnosing and Preventing Infectious Coryza in Layer Chickens

 

Effective Methods for Diagnosing and Preventing Infectious Coryza in Layer Chickens

Infectious Coryza: Contagious Avian Disease Outbreak in the Midwest

Infectious coryza, an ailment brought on by Avibacterium paragalinarum, has emerged as a highly contagious respiratory condition that can be identified through bacterial culture techniques. Although vaccination has proven effective in combating this disease, its limited availability restricts its widespread use.

It's noteworthy that chickens are the exclusive natural hosts for infectious coryza. Infected birds exhibit visible symptoms such as facial swelling, nasal discharge, and sinusitis. These symptoms typically lead to a noticeable decline in feed consumption and egg production.

Presently, the Midwest region is grappling with a significant outbreak of infectious coryza.

Dr. Yuko Sato, an associate professor at Iowa State University, shared insights during her session titled "Greetings from the Lab: Emerging and Re-emerging Layer Diseases" at the Virtual Georgia Layer Conference. Dr. Sato explained how infectious coryza, which was once more prevalent in warmer climates, has now expanded its reach, creeping into cooler areas of North America.

Diagnosis and Prevention Strategies

To diagnose infectious coryza, laboratory procedures are typically employed. This involves bacterial culture, serotyping, or PCR testing.

Dr. Sato emphasized the importance of confirming the diagnosis even if it seems likely based on clinical signs. A necropsy and bacterial culture of the affected hens' heads should be conducted to ensure accurate identification.

Vaccines are occasionally administered to prevent infectious coryza. However, it's crucial to verify that the vaccine matches the specific bacterial strain causing coryza. Serotyping can help isolate the bacterial strain and determine the suitability of a vaccine.

One of the challenges in vaccinating layers against infectious coryza is the scarcity of vaccines. The vaccination process is a two-step procedure, making it difficult to maintain an adequate stock of necessary therapeutics. Consequently, there has been a shift towards using autogenous vaccines instead of traditional killed vaccines.

In certain cases, antibiotics are employed. However, it's important to note that there are currently no antibiotics specifically designed to target infectious coryza.

In summary, infectious coryza is a highly contagious avian disease, and its recent outbreak in the Midwest has raised concerns among poultry professionals. Effective diagnosis through laboratory techniques is crucial, as is ensuring that vaccines match the specific bacterial strain responsible for the disease. Shortages of vaccines have prompted exploration of alternative options like autogenous vaccines. While antibiotics may be used, their effectiveness against infectious coryza is limited due to the absence of antibiotics designed specifically for this ailment.