Adeno Virus
Since the middle of 1991 I became familiar with a new phenomenon of a terrible disease in mainly old birds. With mortality-rates up to 30% of the loft. The disease hits (strikes) very fast. In the morning there is nothing special to be seen, everything is normal. In the afternoon the pigeon(-'s) don't want to eat or drink and look a little sick. They start to produce yellow (sometimes green) droppings. the next morning they are succumbating, while breathing heavily, within 24 hours. The rest looks okay, but a couple of days later new casualties may emerge. In the second half of 1991. I saw and heard of thousands of dead pigeons in the South-West of Holland. Unfortunately there is no specific vaccine available neither an effective treatment, as in most virus diseases.
During abduction we found massive liver destruction and spleen swelling. Gradually the problem stopped, but came back little by little and more spread out. Not linked to a special period of the pigeon season. And more and more we saw young birds being involved in this syndrome. We used to know the so called E-coli enteritis in young birds with symptoms such as: vomiting, green slime diarrhoea, getting skinny, etc. etc.. With quick adequate therapy of NFZ or furaltadone especially in combination with polymixine, this E-coli enteritis can be cured.
Now we see more severe cases of this disease, with also high mortality rates in young birds. This is to be seen as a combination of Adenovirus and E-coli bacteria.
These cases can be treated better than the acute adeno problem in old birds, although we see far more cases in young birds. Giving the therapy as mentioned (4 in 1 mix): re-hydration therapy also is very important, due to the massive loss of tissue fluid.
This young bird adeno-coli syndrome reaches a peak shortly before the first races. Probably the Common Use Of Cortisones (a steroid hormone) to stop the moult (primary flights) triggers this problem. In the meantime we see many lofts where never cortisones were used, but yet had these problems.
We treated many lofts with 4 in 1 mix and found out that a certain number of young birds who fell ill, survived and even performed well on the races.
In comparison with other diseases of virus-origin such as pox and paramyxo this new adeno (coli) syndrome is a tremendous problem since there is riot a specific vaccine available. Some vets try the chicken vaccine E.D.S. against the so called Egg-drop syndrome, caused by a different adeno virus. However, the manufacturer of the vaccine denies that it could be effective in pigeons.
The University of Gent, Belgium, is the best institute for pigeon research in the world. Hopefully they can produce guidelines for the industry to develop a specific vaccine. An other important disease in pigeons is ornithose-complex a combination of virus, chlamydia, mycoplasmas and bacterias. We have good results with various specific drug-combinations (Orni Special or the combination with W.N.). This ornithosecomplex is the major cause for lack of condition and decreasing results during race season. Especially here, we see very light symptoms like: less down fall, dry feathers, feathers near the ears standing up, decreasing joy in training.
And last but not least there is the Herpes-virus, also important in ornithose cases. But sometimes seen as a mean killer of especially young birds after 6 to 10 weeks of age. With following symptoms, respiratory problems and very sick; birds don't eat or drink, green droppings and closed eyes (eye lids stick together), yellow pseudomembranes in mouth and throat. Pigeons will die within a week. Regularly seen in our large world-wide pigeon practice, but not attacking many lofts.
Dr. H.J.M. de Weerd
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