Monthly Surveillance Report April 2005 - Published June 2005 Highlights Further outbreak of goose parvovirus disease Fowl Pox confirmed

Fowl Pox

Fowl pox was diagnosed in an adult Light Sussex chicken, from a flock of 20 that had been wheezing for several weeks. On examination, the respiratory signs were found to be due to a yellow exudate that had accumulated in the larynx, which was almost totally occluded.

There was also yellow plaque- like lesions in the mouth and pharynx and yellow and pale white nodules in the oesophagus. Fowl pox was confirmed by histopathology.

Waterfowl: Duck Viral Enteritis

The carcase of a 10-month of Muscovy duck was submitted to Winchester for post mortem examination, one of 6, which had died from a group of 8 similar birds. The affected birds were reported dull and fluffed up prior to death. The carcase was in good bodily condition. Post mortem examination revealed a haemorrhagic enteritis and diphtheritic cloacitis. Virus isolation yielded duck enteritis herpes virus, confirming the suspicion of duck viral enteritis. Preston also reported an incident.

Goose parvovirus

Goose parvovirus was suspected on a farm, which had bought in day old goslings in 2004 from a unit, which was known to have had goose parvovirus infection. 50% of the bought-in group were reported to have died in 2004 between 2 and 4 weeks of age. The majority of the survivors were killed for the Christmas market but 20 were kept for breeding and mixed with 40 other breeding birds on the farm.

No losses had occurred in the early part of the 2005-breeding season but deaths in goslings had started to occur at the beginning of April. 60 goslings had died in a 4-week period. Clinically the affected goslings had poor growth rates and terminally showed difficulty in standing, rocking on their legs and shaking their heads before death around 14 days of age. Virus isolation is now in progress.

To read the full report please click here (PDF)

Source: Veterinary Laboratories Agency - June 2005