LPM 222: Diversified poultry production and current concepts in poultry management and marketing [Livestock Production Management (Regional Interest)] (1+1)

ERYSIPELAS 

• Erysipelas is generally an acute, sudden infection of individual geese within the flock.
• In both young and adult birds it is caused by the bacterium Ervsipelothrix riusiupatiae.
• Outbreaks of this disease which are economically significant are uncommon in avian species, with the exception of turkeys, but some cases have been reported for geese.
• ErYs ipe loth rix rhusiopathiae is somewhat unique in that it can infect over 50 animal species and can also infect humans.
• In the latter case, the infection usually enters through scratches or puncture wounds and is considered a safety issue for people working with infected animals. Human infections can he treated with antibiotics.

Symptoms

• Infected geese will appear depressed, have diarrhoea and die suddenly. Lesions are suggestive of generalised septicaemia.

Treatment

• The antibiotics of choice are rapid-acting forms of penicillin that can be administrated together with an erysipelas bacterin. Since the presence of the disease in geese is sporadic, routine immunisation is not generally recommended. However, in areas where the disease is prevalent, and particularly for breeder flocks, vaccination is recommended.
• Birds that have recovered from acute infections have a high degree of resistance to re-infection.