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A Guide to Backyard Chickens | Show Poultry

Chronic Respiratory Disease | Vent Gleet | Fowl Pox

Kevin Everson Questions

What are the best methods to treat and control Chronic Respiratory
Disease?
Dr Rob Marshall's Answer
(CRD) in Poultry
By Dr Rob Marshall

Chronic Respiratory Disease in Poultry

Most poultry breeders know Chronic Respiratory Disease (CRD) as a serious eye infection that is difficult
or impossible to cure. This article will describe how best to treat and manage this common ailment.
Mycoplasma gallisepticum is considered the primary cause of Chronic Respiratory Disease (CRD) in
poultry. The most common symptoms of Mycoplasma gallisepticum infections in poultry are eye problems
and inflammation around the face and cere. Other symptoms include open mouth breathing and gurgling
throat sounds.
There are three stages of the disease.
Stage 1.
The sudden appearance of wetness around the eye, sometimes referred to as one eye colds, may be
due to Mycoplasma gallisepticum infection.
One eye colds appear as wetness around the eye with minimal swelling of the eyelids. This type of eye
condition may also be the result of stress factors such as drafts or vitamin A deficiency. When detected at
this stage, the best treatment method is to apply an appropriate eye cream prescribed by a veterinarian.
In most cases, this treatment will clear the eye within 2 days. When no response is seen, the disease is
likely to progress to stage two or underlying diseases may be complicating the infection.

Stage 2
As the infection progresses, further symptoms may include swelling of the orbital sinus ("donut" shaped
swelling around the eye), pussy eye discharge, sticky eyelids and open mouth breathing. Afflicted birds
and the entire flock should be treated when this stage of the disease is seen. Treatment involves the
administration of a combination of antibiotics (e.g. doxycycline hydrochloride and tylosine tartrate) into
the drinking water for 7 days. An appropriate eye cream is applied to those birds with eye symptoms for 2
days. To accelerate recovery and help reduce the effects of any stressful factors, Turbobooster and Epowder should be mixed into a seed treat each day for 7 days. For stage 2 of this disease this treatment
should give a good response. A poor response indicates that underlying stress factors remain and if not
seen to, the disease will progress to stage three.
Stage 3
More advanced symptoms of Mycoplasma gallisepticum infections include a swollen cere, red eyes,
cheesy eye discharge, pasted eyelids and an open (gaping) mouth. These more serious symptoms are a
good indication that complicated CRD is present and these birds will not respond well to treatment.
Those birds with longstanding and complicated Chronic Respiratory Disease should be culled as it is too
late for a full recovery and they will spread the disease to other birds in the flock.
The remainder of the flock should receive a 5 day treatment course as described for stage 2 of this
disease.
Birds that have recovered from clinical signs of the disease have some degree of immunity. Such flocks,
however, carry the organism and can transmit the disease to susceptible stock by direct contact or by
egg transmission to their progeny.
The complicated form of CRD occurs when other underlying diseases are involved. A virus infection
called Infectious bronchitis (IBV) is a highly contagious disease causing acute illness, coughing,
sneezing and impaired kidney function. IBV may precipitate outbreaks of Mycoplasma gallisepticum,
although when present together, mortality in adult flocks is negligible. There is however, a marked
reduction in egg laying and mortality in broilers can be high especially during colder months.
E.coli infections have also been found to be a frequently complicating organism while other diseases
which may complicate CRD include Mareks disease (Herpes), ILT (infectious laryngo-tracheitis) and Pox
virus.
Prevention
It is difficult to prevent infections caused by Mycoplasma gallisepticum because the disease is
transmitted by egg and any new birds must be free of the disease. Vaccinations have not proven to be a
successful preventative measure because CRD is so often complicated by underlying diseases. Careful
management strategies that minimise stress and the ability to determine the stage of CRD are important
preventative measures in the treatment and long term prevention of Mycoplasma gallisepticum
infections. The attached health programmes help to protect flocks from CRD.
Copyright 2010 Rob Marshall, All Rights Reserved.