Pigeon Pox

Pigeon pox is caused by a virus that is spread by mosquitoes and dirty water but not in droppings. Pox viruses are specific to the animal.Pigeons can develop chicken pox although in a milder form.An infected pigeon is not infectious to humans.

The pigeon pox virus attacks the skin and mucous membrane cells about 4 to 14 days after exposure.There is an internal and an external form of pox.The mucous membrane form can be indistinguishable from canker like, evil smelling deposit in the beak and throat cavities.In the internal form an infected pigeon will have crusty lesions on its unfeathered skin,nostrils and ceres, especially around the eyes around the beak on the feet and around the anus.It is possible for a pigeon to have both forms of the disease at the same time.

 

Pigeon pox spreads via saliva droplets from the nose and mouth and can be picked up with food. The virus can be present in dust that when inhaled infects the bird.You must try to keep mosquitoes out of the loft.The virus can also enter the bloodstream via a wound from a minor squabble

Once in the blood, the virus quickly infects the liver and bone marrow,reinfecting the blood.The pox organisms then migrate to the skin and mucous membranes, forming lesions that are breeding grounds for many bacteria.

Except to monitor the pox lesions. in general,the infection should be left to its natural process.Lesions around the eyes and in the mouth may interfere with seeing and eating and required medical attention,but they should dry up and disappear in a few days.

There are vaccines for pox that work with varying degrees of efficiency , These vaccines are not available in India as treatment i have used the Pox cream from DAC which is found very effective , I also apply a paste of  Neem oil, Salt and turmeric powder  in the lesions

Vaccination plan from chevita

Pigeons products

Merca systems

Coccidiosis

Coccidiosis is a species specific parasite,and every animal including man carries a form of it,although not at levels that interface with activity or digestion. In pigeon ,coccidiosis is an intestinal disease caused by a single-celled protozoan parasite,usually Eimeria labbeana or E. columbarum. The life cycle of the parasite is quite complicated,but basically,when it infects in large numbers, it destroys the cell in the intestinal walls,each time releasing more protozoa into the intestine, infecting the semi digested food, and attacking new cells,Seriously infected pigeons rapidly lose weight and their droppings  become watery

Salmonella/Paratyphoid

Salmonella typhimurium is rod-like enterobacterium causes paratyphoid in pigeons,but it is not considered a treat to human health .Salmonella causes many fatalities in young pigeons even before the babies are out of the nest or the eggshell.Salmonella bacteria also cause diarrhea,problems with the joints, and nervous problems.

Certain old pigeons can be asymptomatic carriers (called the carrier state ), constantly endangering the whole pigeon flock on a recurring basis. certain new generation antibiotics are said to kill this carrier state.Salmonella bacteria are passed through the air, in the droppings of infected birds, via the crop milk,in the saliva,or in infected eggs as they are being laid.salmonella organisms can enter egg within two days.washing egg does not help to stop salmonella.There are four forms of the disease,which can infect the bird at the same time

The intestinal form enters the walls of the intestine, resulting in diarrhoea with foul smelling, soupy,green or brown droppings surrounded by slime and containing undigested food particles.A green colour in the droppings can also indicate an advanced worm infection in the liver

In the joint form the bacteria enter the bloodstream and infect the joints,resulting in excess production of synovial fluid, which causes intense swelling. The "ball" in the foot, or a lump in a joint or on the wing at the elbow are very common symptoms. The pigeon hobbles or a wing hangs, or it "favors" a limb and does not use it in an attempt to relieve the intense pain.

The organ form occurs after the bacteria move from the bloodstream to infect the liver kidneys,pancreas,heart and so on.The sick bird moped in a corner of the loft, and becomes inactive , short of breath,and near sighted

In the nerve form the bacteria infect the nerves and spinal column,spreading along the sinews,causing imbalance and crippling.Twisting the neck,fouling the cloaca, and cramp like contractions of the toes are typical symptoms.A pigeon may recover from this stage,ultimately but it probably will never go on to fly or breed

Vaccinating the birds every year is the best method to prevent it . Chevivac-S is the vaccine available from chevita for Salmonella

Treatment

The loft and birds must be treated at the same time .A probiotic should be given to restore the acidic balance in the intestine . The loft and everything in it must be thoroughly cleaned and sprayed with a disinfectant pr the disease process will repeat itself

Medicines available for treating 

1: Enrofloxacine 10%     dosage 1 to 2 ml per litter of water

2:Trimethoprim Sulfa     dosage 5 grams to 20 kg body weight

3:Furaltadone 6%     dosage 5 grams per liter of drinking water (= 20 to 25 pigeons)

Enrofloxacine is available in India  sold under the names Enflocin / Enrocin/ Meriquin/QuinRocin and outside india under the name Baytril

For more details on the medicine and treatment plan please visit the below links

Useful  Links

Pigeons products

Merca systems

Treatment plan from Chevita

Trichomoniasis ( Canker )

Trichomonas also called pigeon diphtheria, is caused by Trichomonas columbae,a single-celled flagellated protozoan parasite.Many older birds are asymptomatic carriers of the disease,but juveniles that get the disease via the crop milk usually die. Most pigeons live with canker at sub-clinical levels, and this is not considered dangerous.

Symptoms include yellow, cheesy,button-like lesions on the cells in the mouth, esophagus, and crop.Infected pigeons become lethargic sit with feathers fluffed up, and have serious digestive problems, including diarrhea.They quickly lose weight and drink profusely

There are oral,navel, and organ forms of disease , which can appear 4 to 14 days from infection. In the oral form the yellow, cheesy lesions may invade the wind pipe and crop causing the bird to gape, and creating difficulty with breathing,eating and potentially with drinking . The navel form appears as a cheese-like crumbly swelling under the skin around the navel and develops when canker laden crop milk falls into the nest bowl, infecting the babies unhealed umbilicus  in the organ form the previous forms can infect various internal organs leaving visible lesions 

Treatment:Clean the throat with a pigeon feather and give Flagyl-25 mg (powdered) to the infected pigeon.Other medicines are also available for treating canker refer the below link to know more information

DOSAGE: 25 mg for 3 days depending on the degree of the illness. If it is a severe case, dosage is to be increased but it should not exceed 100 mg in any case

Usefull Links
mercasystems
pigeonsproducts
Chevita - treatment plan for canker