Ornithosis in pigeons is understood as an infectious pathology of the respiratory tract that affects domestic and wild birds. It is transmitted by airborne droplets or through various contacts. However, the most unpleasant thing is that the pathology also poses a danger to people. To prevent infection, you need to understand the mechanism of disease development.
Causes of the disease
Ornithosis is also called psittacosis or respiratory chlamydia. The causative agent of the pathology is chlamydia, which is an intracellular infection.It provokes the destruction of the respiratory system and lungs of birds. Chlamydia is considered a resistant microorganism that does not die at elevated or low temperatures.
The disease can be acute or chronic. Sometimes pigeons are completely healthy, but spread psittacosis. The key characteristic of the disease is its rapid transformation from a latent form to an acute one.
The provoking factor for problems is the following:
- violation of conditions of detention;
- hypothermia;
- vitamin deficiency;
- unbalanced diet.
The incubation period, on average, lasts 30-40 days. Psittacosis is characterized by instantaneous spread. If the housing is crowded, there is a possibility that all the birds in the same room will become infected.
Main symptoms of infection
In most cases, it is pigeons who suffer from psittacosis. The pathology is most difficult for chicks to tolerate. They show signs of the disease within a day after infection. Within 20-24 hours the birds die.
The first symptoms of psittacosis include the following:
- diarrhea;
- loss of appetite;
- lacrimation;
- hard breath;
- growth disorders.
Even if there is a slight suspicion of the development of the disease, infected birds need to be isolated and sometimes destroyed. The clinical picture of the disease depends on the characteristics of its course. In acute psittacosis the following symptoms appear:
- purulent discharge from the beak;
- loss of appetite, severe weakness, diarrhea;
- breathing difficulties, sneezing, coughing, loss of feathers, severe wheezing in the lungs.
With the development of advanced pathology, there is a risk of developing paralysis of the legs and wings. It is not possible to cure such a disease. If therapy is not started in a timely manner, the pathology almost always provokes death.
The latent form can be asymptomatic for a long time. In such a situation, chlamydia affects not the respiratory organs, but the gastrointestinal tract. There are no external symptoms for latent psittacosis. Quite rarely, the disease is accompanied by a slight decrease in appetite, diarrhea and general weakness.
Diagnostic methods
To detect psittacosis, it is recommended to perform laboratory tests on a swab from the bird's throat. This will help detect chlamydia and make an accurate diagnosis. The veterinarian must also take into account the clinical picture. The main signs of ornithosis include:
- loss of appetite;
- diarrhea;
- purulent discharge from the beak;
- watery or inflamed eyes;
- enlargement of the periocular ring;
- mucous discharge from the eyes and beak;
- negative reactions to light;
- loss of feathers;
- wheezing in the chest;
- breathing disorder.
How to treat psittacosis in pigeons
If signs of psittacosis appear, the infected bird must be immediately isolated and the poultry house disinfected. For this purpose, bleach is used. A solution of caustic soda is also suitable.
Medications
Treatment of the disease is carried out with the following drugs:
- “Tetracycline” – 20 grams of the drug should be used per 1 kilogram of feed. It is recommended to give it to birds up to 7 times a day.
- “Azithromycin” – for 1 kilogram of food you should take 10 milligrams of antibiotic. It is recommended to use it on days 1, 7, 14 of treatment.
- “Erythromycin” - the drug should be added to the feed in a dosage of 0.5 grams. The composition is used from the 5th day of therapy.
- "Eriprim" - 20 grams of the product are used for 1 kilogram of food. It should be used maximum 1 time per day.
Another effective remedy is Nifulin-Forte. It should be used in a volume of 20 grams per 1 kilogram of feed. It is also worth adding vegetable oil to the composition.
It is recommended to treat eye inflammation with tetracycline ointment. Colbiotsin drops are also suitable for this purpose. To cleanse the ear and nasal passages, it is recommended to rinse them with Miramistin or Chlorhexidine.
Folk remedies
Effective folk remedies that are used to treat pigeons include:
- chamomile decoction - helps cope with diarrhea in birds, eliminates flatulence and symptoms of inflammation;
- pine infusion – saturates the body with vitamins and minerals;
- beebread – has pronounced immunomodulatory properties and increases the body’s defenses, which helps pigeons cope with pathology.
Danger to humans
Psittacosis is also dangerous for people. Typically, the infection becomes more active during the cold season. When chlamydia enters the human body, they are distinguished by intracellular reproduction. The cells then enter the bloodstream and lead to damage to the lungs and central nervous system by toxins.
At the same time, people develop unpleasant symptoms - fever, general weakness. In addition, there is an increase in the size of the liver, spleen, heart, and adrenal glands.
A person can become infected not only from wild birds, but also from domestic birds. At the same time, a sharp increase in temperature is observed. There is also a risk of cough, conjunctivitis, and sore throat.
This disease poses the greatest danger to employees of poultry houses, farms, and meat processing plants. Also at risk are people who process and package poultry carcasses.Infection can occur through inhalation of dust, which includes lint or fragments of dry feces from infected pigeons.
However, psittacosis does not spread between people. Therefore, there is no need for immediate hospitalization or isolation. To avoid contracting psittacosis, it is recommended to adhere to the following rules:
- Observe personal hygiene rules when working with birds.
- Disinfect hands and tools, wear protective clothing.
- Carry out sanitary measures at enterprises that deal with down and feathers.
Prevention measures
If you purchase a pigeon, it must be quarantined for a certain time. A spacious plastic carrying cage can play the role of an insulator. When you are sure that the bird is healthy, it can be released into a common poultry house.
To prevent infection, it is important to keep the area where birds are kept clean. They should be fed exclusively high-quality food with added vitamins and minerals. The use of fresh and clean drinking water is of great importance.
To avoid the development of psittacosis, it is important to vaccinate birds in a timely manner. Even in the absence of symptoms of pathology, it is necessary to disinfect the poultry house. To do this, use a solution of soda or formaldehyde. Ultraviolet irradiation is also used. Psittacosis in pigeons is considered a fairly serious pathology that can lead to negative consequences not only for birds, but also for people. This is why it is so important to prevent the disease.
