Most important poultry diseases in the Caribbean - Cedric Lazarus, FAO/SLC - One Health ...

Most important poultry diseases
       in the Caribbean
       Cedric Lazarus, FAO/SLC

Information from 6 of the main poultry
 producing countries in the Caribbean

Country 1
    RANK             DISEASE                             COMMENTS
1          Coccidiosis                    Only breeder birds are vaccinated
2          Colibacillosis                 Septicemia, pericarditis, perihepatitis,
           (colisepticemia, E.coli        airsacculitis.
           infection)
3          Internal parasites              In layers and turkeys mainly (Ascaridia
                                           galli, Heterakis gallinarium)
4          Omphalitis (navel ill, yolk sac Related to poor incubation or brooding
           infection)                      and infection by opportunistic bacteria
5          Infectious Bursal Disease       Commercial vaccines used

6          Avian Encephalomyelitis        Only breeder birds are vaccinated

7          Vitamin E deficiency           Nutritional deficiency
8          Aflatoxicosis                  Caused by aflatoxins produced by
                                          Aspergillus species of molds on grain or
                                          bedding
9          Infectious Bronchitis          Commercial vaccines used
10         Infectious Coryza              In pullets and layers mainly
           (Avibacterium
           paragallinarum)

Country 2
    RANK              DISEASE                           COMMENTS
1          Marek’s Disease               HVT vaccine used
2          Fowl Pox                      Some flocks vaccinated
3          Gumboro Disease               Field vaccination
4          Chronic Respiratory Disease   (airsaculitis) mycoplasmosis, E.coli
5          Gangrenous Dermatitis         (probably secondary to
                                         immunosuppression due to
                                         mycotoxicosis)
6          Aspergillosis                 (was more common when mainly bagasse
                                         bedding was used)
7          Mycotoxicosis (Toxins of      Toxins of Aspergillosis flavus, A.
           Aspergillosis flavus, A.      parasiticus, Fusarium etc in feed and
           parasiticus, Fusarium etc)    grains

8          Intestinal parasites          (mainly ascaridiasis)
9          External parasites            (mites and lice)
10         Pasteurellosis
11         Avian encephalomyelitis       (epidemic tremor) (not seen recently)

Country 3
    RANK                DISEASE                         COMMENTS
1          Colibacillosis complex        diarrhea, septicaemia

2          Cellulitis                    As a result of scratches and bruises
3          Omphalitis/Yolk saccculitis   from improper brooding techniques

4          Coccidiosis                   E. tenella for example

5          Internal parasites            Round worms (layers)

6          External parasites            mites

7          Chronic Respiratory Disease   CRD

8          Aspergillosis                 Due to poor quality litter
9
10
11

Country 4
    RANK              DISEASE                         COMMENTS
1          Colibacillosis
2          Pasteurellosis
3          Mycoplasmosis
4          IBD                          vaccination
5          Coccidiosis                  Various species of Eimeria

6          Avian metapneumovirus        Swollen head syndrome in broilers/turkey
           (Paramyxoviridae)            rhinotracheitis. Vaccination tried.
7          Inclusion body               Adenovirus
           hepatitis/hydropericardium
           syndrome
8          External parasites           Red mite (Dermanyssus), Feather mite
                                        (Megninia)

Country 5
    RANK             DISEASE                    COMMENTS

1          Salmonella
2          Newcastle Disease   Vaccination
3          Gumboro’s Disease   Vaccination
4          Marek’s Disease     Layers vaccinated
5          M. gallisepticum    CRD

6          M. synoviae

7          E. coli             colibacillosis

Country 6
    RANK              DISEASE                            COMMENTS

1          Coccidiosis
2          Inclusion body hepatitis      Avian adenovirus
3          Newcastle Disease
4          Gumboro Disease or IBD
5          Chronic Respiratory Disease   M. gallisepticum infection

6          Salmonellosis                 S. Enteritidis, S. Kentucky etc

7          Fowl Pox

Vaccination in the poultry sector in the
                 region
• Vaccination is based on the prevailing disease
  situation, prevalence, cost of the disease,
  availability of vaccine and the cost/benefit of
  using vaccine

Vaccination in most countries is
        routinely practised against:
•   ND
•   IBD
•   IB
•   Marek’s Disease
•   Fowl Pox

Vaccination is practised in a few
           countries against:
• Coccidiosis
• Mycoplasma
• E. coli

Vaccine delivery systems used in the
              region includes:
•   In ovo (hatchery) Marek’s, IBD
•   Spray (hatchery and field) (IB, ND, Coccidiosis)
•   Subcutaneous or intramuscular (Marek’s)
•   Wing web (pox) (Field)
•   Drinking water on the farm (IB, ND, IBD)

Other conditions mentioned as having negative
           impact on the industry:
• Spiking mortality syndrome in broilers
• Fatty liver haemorrhagic syndrome
• Leg problems

Other conditions mentioned as having negative
           impact on the industry:
• Heat stress (high temp+ high Relative
  Humidity=deadly combination for broilers)
• Nutritional deficiency
• *Management deficiencies

Conclusion
• Vaccination has been successful in reducing
  the prevalence of several diseases to almost
  zero in may instances

Conclusion
• The other diseases and conditions for which
  there are no vaccines are controlled and kept
  at low levels with good management and
  biosecurity practices

Acknowledge
• Thanks to all the poultry vets in the 6
  countries who supplied the information and
  responded at very short notice.
• (Barbados, TT, Guyana, Belize, Jamaica and
  Suriname)