John Froelich

Paratyphoid

Background: Caused by Salmonella typhimurium var, Copenhagen; it is a gram-negative rod shaped bacteria. Paratyphoid is probably the most common and important bacterial disease in pigeons. It is often subclinical (not apparent) in adults and an acute fatal disease in squabs.

Adult subclinically infected birds remain carriers and are a souce of infection to young birds. Transmission is orally and via eggs. Outbreaks are often seen in the breeding loft late in the breeding season.

Signs: Squabs -- death in the shell, retarded growth, dying in the nest at 5-10 days of age, pin feathers don't open, diarrhea, lameness at weaning, it is possible for only one of two youngsters in a nest to be infected.

Older birds: Poor performance, acute death (especially in cocks), thickened joints, dropped wings, wing "boils", lameness, unable to fly, severe weight loss, diarrhea, reproductive problems, torticollis, opistothonus (twisted heads).

Diagnosis: Bacterial culture-tetrathionate or selenite enrichment broth onto brilliant green agar from intestinal or crop contents.

Serology: agglutination test; cavvinated birds will react positive; subclinical carriers can test negative.

Necropsy: gut ulceration, lung abcesses, mucopurulent arthritis; liver, spleen, pancreatic abcesses, hepato-splenomegaly (could be only finding), purulent meningitis, degeneration or inflammation of ovary or testis.

Treatment: Antibiotic therapy determined by culture and sensitivity. Effective antibiotics may include: Enrofloxacin, Ciprofloxacin, Trimethoprim, Trimethoprim/Sulfa, Amoxicillin, Cephalexin, Nitrofurazone, Sodium Sulfachlorpyridazine.

Treat for minimum of 10 days.

The use of a quinolone such as enrofloxacin or ciprofloxacin for 30 days may eliminate infection in subclinical carriers.

Prevention: Rodent Control -- if a loft has a rodent problem, it most likely has a Salmonella problem. Loft sanitation and/or acidification of loft litter may help control it in the environment. Quarantine new birds and those returning from shows and races for 14 days. Screen birds with serology and bacterial culture. The organism can be hard to grow from live birds. Subclinical carriers may be intermittent shedders and be the source of infection in a loft.

Vaccination: About 70% effective, its use is recommended. It is often given at the same time as PMV-1 vaccination. A booster vaccination 2 weeks after initial vaccination is recommended. Vaccination at 6 month intervals is probably a good idea in lofts with a documented Salmonella problem.

"The Pigeon Guide" by Shannon Hiatt and Jon Esposito, D.M.V. Published by Silvio Mattacchione & Co., 2000