Diseases

Animal Husbandry > Turkey

Disease management

Turkeys are relatively more resistant to some of the diseases as compared to chicken. Infection from Marek's disease and Infectious Bronchitis are extremely rare. Ranikhet disease and Coccidiosis occur only in mild form. The most common diseases are Fowl pox, Fowl cholera, Fowl typhoid, Mycoplasmosis, Blue comb and round worm infections. Although effective drugs are available for prevention and treatment of most of these diseases, greater emphasis should be placed on prevention.

Although turkeys are resistant to various diseases but the veterinary care is required at initial stages and for vaccinations etc.
The turkeys are completely resistant to Marek's and Infectious Bronchitis, Ranikhet, Fowl pox and Coccidiosis occur in mild form. Some of the commonly encountered diseases in turkeys are Fowl Cholera, Erysipelas, Haemorrhagic enteritis and Avian Influenza. The turkeys are protected from fowl cholera and Erysipelas by vaccination.

Some disease that can be seen in turkey is given below.

Common disease of Turkey	Cause	Symptoms	Prevention
Arizonosis	Salmonella arizona	Poults unthrifty and may develop eye opacity and blindness. Susceptible age 3-4 weeks	Elimination of infected breeder flock and hatchery fumigation and sanitation
Blue comb disease	Corona virus	Depression, loss of weight, frothy or watery droppings, darkening of head and skin	Depopulation and decontamination of farm. Give rest period.
Chronic respiratory disease	Mycoplasma gallisepticum	Coughing, gurgling, sneezing, nasal exudates	Secure Mycoplasma free stock
Erysipelas	Erysipelothrix rhusiopathidae	Sudden losses, swollen snood, discoloration of parts of face, droppy	Vaccination
Fowl cholera	Pasturella multocida	Purplish head, greenish yellow droppings, sudden death	Sanitation and disposal of dead birds
Fowl pox	Pox virus	Small yellow blisters on comb and wattles and scab formation	Vaccination
Haemorrhagic enteritis	Virus	One or more dead birds	Vaccination
Infectious synovitis	Mycoplasma gallisepticum	Enlarged hocks, foot pads, lameness, breast blisters	Purchase clean stock
Infectious sinusitis	Bacteria	Nasal discharge, swollen sinuses and coughing	Secure poults from disease free breeders
Mycotoxicosis	Fungal origin	Haemorrhages, pale fatty liver and kidneys	Avoid feed spoilage
New castle disease	Paramyxo virus	Gasping, wheezing, twisting of neck, paralysis, soft shelled eggs	Vaccination
Paratyphoid	Salmonella pullorum	Diarrhea in poults	Prevention and flock sanitation
Turkey coryza	Bordetella avium	Snicking, rales and discharge of excessive nasal mucus	Vaccination
Coccidiosis	Coccidia spp	Bloody diarrhea and loss of weight	Proper sanitation and management of litter
Turkey venereal disease	Mycoplasma meleagris	Lowered fertility and hatchability	Strict sanitation

Vaccination Schedule

Day old	ND-B1 strain
4th and 5th week	Fowl pox
6th week	ND- (R2B)
8-10 weeks	Cholera vaccine

(Source: Central Poultry Development Organisation, Hessarghatta)

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