VMD 513: Pet animal Breeding, Management, Nutrition and Health Care (1+1)

CLINICAL SIGNS

• Clinical diseases may be per acute, acute, sub acute or chronic in nature.
• The incubation period varies from 5 to 98 days in psittacines.
• In pigeons it is between 7-14 days.
  • In per acute form sudden death or death within a short time without market premonitory signs.
  • In the acute form common signs are ruffled feathers, depression, decreased appetite, greenish or grayish diarrhea and a soiled vent.
    • Weight loss and emaciation often occur. Blepharitis, conjunctivitis and a serous or seropurulent oculonasal discharge are frequently seen.
    • Due to weakness and listlessness, flight is inhibited. Breathing may become laboured and even ratting in nature.
    • Birds often tend to shiver or huddle together and show drooping wings.
    • Progress of the disease may be over 1-2 weeks, followed by prostration, convulsions and death.
    • Alternatively there may be sudden death or a slow recovery with retarded growth.
  • In sub acute form has a protracted course with a variety of clinical signs that may disappear and then reappear after a few days.
  • Growth is retarded, and some birds may become cachectic.
  • The chronic form is characterized by severe pectoral muscle wasting, leg and wing weakness, fluffing of the feathers, and lack of feathering around the eyes from previous bouts of conjunctivitis and blepharitis.