Health investigations Flashcards
(75 cards)
1
Q
What flock details are important for health investigations?
A
- Source of replacement stock
- Stocking density
- Biosecurity measures
- Overall flock health
- Vaccine protocols
- Parasite protocols
2
Q
What biosecurity measures needed to be considered for investigation health problems?
A
- source of birds/eggs
- nearby water sources
- waste disposal
- introducing new birds?
- disinfectant usage + effects
3
Q
What management aspects are relevant for health investigations?
A
Feeding regime Feed products Use of grit and treats Water source Vermin control Parasitic control Vaccine protocol Housing + shelter Access to wild bird population
4
Q
What housing aspects are relevant for investigating flock health?
A
Assess their environment
Examine equipment used
5
Q
How should chickens be held?
A
Legs restrained with supporting hands
Support bird’s chest with hand or arm
6
Q
What are the risks posed by improper handling?
A
- respiratory distress
- skeletal injuries
- stress
- death
7
Q
What danger is presented by holding birds tightly by the chest?
A
Movement of air sacs for breathing is prevented
8
Q
What are the main groups of air sacs?
A
Clavicular
Thoracic
Abdominal
9
Q
How should turkeys be handled?
A
Supporting hand should restrain legs
Bird should be tucked under arm
Bird should face away from you
10
Q
What are the normal TPR parameters?
A
T 40-42°C
HR 120-160 bpm
RR 20-130 bpm
11
Q
Which is the most significant clinical exam parameter?
A
(Increased) temperature
12
Q
What should comprise a poultry clinical exam?
A
Temperature Mouth Oropharynx External parasites Vent Abdomen Feathers
13
Q
What should the vent be checked for?
A
Discharge
Prolapse
Diarrhoea
14
Q
What should the abdomen be examined for?
A
Bird’s conformation
Ascites
15
Q
What checks could be done for the feathers?
A
Cleanliness
Breaks
Plumage covering
16
Q
What external parasites affect poultry?
A
- lice
- red mite
- Northern fowl mite
- scaly leg mite
- de-pluming mite
17
Q
How do avian RBCs differ from mammalian ones?
A
Nucleated erythrocytes
18
Q
What elements are there for faecal examination?
A
- Faecal sample
- cloacal swab
- dropping collected - Parasites
* worm eggs
* protozoal oocysts
19
Q
Name the worm species that affect chickens.
A
Trichostronglyes Heterakis gallinarum Syngamus trachea Capillaria Ascaridia galli Trichomonas gallinae Amidostomum nodulosum (gizzard worm)
20
Q
What protozoal species affecting chickens?
A
Eimeria (5 spp in chickens) Histomonas meleagridis Hexamita meleagridis Giardia lamblia Trichomonas gallinae Cryptosporidia
21
Q
What imaging modalities are feasible for poultry diagnostics?
A
- Radiography
- Ultrasound
- Endoscopy
22
Q
What imaging modality can be used for sexing chicks?
A
Endoscopy
23
Q
What features of the head should be checked during a clinical exam? What is normal?
A
Nostril -- dry Comb -- red Comb colour, shape + brightness Beak -- normal shape Feathers -- present, shiny
24
Q
What body features indicate a healthy individual?
A
Good weight Sufficient musculature for age - check breast m Clean vent Smooth, strong shanks Straight toes
25
What features can be used to assess BCS?
| Scale 1-5
* Fat coverage on pin bones
| * Breast m covering
26
What effect does excess weight have for egg production?
Poor number of eggs laid if overweight
27
Which bones are fused in a bird's wing?
Metacarpals
28
What is the name of the bone adjoining the metacarpals?
Alua
29
In the leg, what bone connects the femur and the tarsometatarsus?
Tibiotarsus
30
What is the layman term for the tibiotarsus?
Shank
31
What bone does the spur originate from?
Tibioatarsus (shank)
32
What might curled toes be indicative of in poultry?
Riboflavin deficiency
33
What pathogen could cause swollen hock presentation?
Staphylococcus infection
| -- causing localised arthritis and tenosynovitis
34
What TPR parameter is highly sensitive to anaesthesia?
Temperature
35
What skeletal conditions are poultry susceptible to?
```
Kyphosis
Scoliosis
Spondylosis
Bent breast bone
Rickets
Bent toes
```
36
What does the condition 'roach back' present as?
Kyphosis of spinal column
37
What type of skin glands to poultry possess?
No skin glands
No sebaceous glands
No skin glands
38
What glands are present in poultry?
Specialised glands found at specific locations:
- - uropygieal (preen) gland
- - within auditory canal
- - ventral glands of cloaca
39
What is the function of the uropygieal gland?
Production of lipid secretions for maintaining normal feather oiliness
40
What is the brood patch?
When the caudal ventral apterium loses either part or all feathers prior to laying for better, direct contact with eggs and chicks
41
Describe the feature of the brood patch.
Mostly at the caudal half of the ventral apertium
Hormone controlled feather loss
Becomes highly vascularised
Contains many thermoreceptors
42
What regulates formation of brood patch?
Hormone controlled
43
When do feathers of brood patch regrow?
During subsequent cycle of moulting
44
What are the functions of feathers?
* Flight
* Insulation
* Incubation/brooding
* Moulting
45
What natural behaviours should outdoor kept birds be able to exhibit?
Sun bathing
Dust-bathing
Foraging
Scratching
46
What does wing clipping entail?
Using sharp scissors
| Cuts first 10 long feathers of wings (leave 11th)
47
What problems are associated with feathers?
- feather pecking
- moulting
- wing clipping
- Cnemidocoptes (de-pluming mite)
48
What signs indicate presence of skin disease?
```
Discoloured comb:
-- pale
-- purple/black/yellow
White flakes
White spots
Localised feather loss
Scabs/crusts
Breast blisters
Wounds
Ear infections
Ringworm
Bumblefoot
Overgrown spurs
Vent pecking
```
49
Give a differential diagnosis for a purple, cyanotic comb?
Erysipelas rhusiopathiae
50
What diagnostic method should be used to confirm presence of mites?
Miscroscopic examination
51
What external parasites can affect poultry?
```
Scaly leg mite
Northern fowl mite
Roost mite
Knemidocoptes (de-pluming mite)
Poultry louse
Dermanyssus gallinae (red mite)
Menopon gallinae (fowl louse)
```
52
What potential treatments can be considered for external parasites?
Ivermectin
| Permethrin-based powders
53
Where are red mites predominantly found?
Corners of shelter + housing
54
Where are Northern fowl mite most commonly seen on poultry?
Feathers close to vent
55
What treatment CANNOT be used for Knemidocoptes? Why?
Fipronil -- not licensed in poultry
56
What treatments are available for lice?
Permethrin powders
57
What products are suitable for treating mites?
Permethrin louse powders
58
What roundworm species affect poultry and at what sites of the avian body?
```
Capillaria -- intestines
Ascaridia galli -- intestines
Trichostrongyles -- intestines
Heterakis gallinarum -- caeca
Amidostomum nodulosum -- gizzard
```
59
What tapeworm species affect poultry?
Raillientina spp
60
What are the effects of poultry parasitism?
```
Loss of FCR
Drop in egg production
Malnutrition
Welfare issue
Stress on host body
Loss of BW + condition
Potential immunosuppression
General ill thrift
```
61
What is a particularly severe risk posed by Ascarid parasitism?
Ascarid impaction of intestines
62
Where does Syngamus traches affect?
Trachea
63
What are the signs of parasitism by Syngamus traches?
Gasping by host
| Haemorrhage of respiratory tract
64
What is the genus, species and common name for the 'Y-shaped worm'?
Syngamus trachea
| Gapeworm
65
What treatment should be used for internal parasites?
Flubendazole
66
How should treatment of endoparasites be administered?
Use Flubendazole in feed for 7d
Stir food daily + add small qty of oil to make powder adhere to feed
Alt: use in drinking water
67
How many species of Eimeria affect chickens?
7 species
68
How many Eimeria species affect turkeys?
5 species
69
What is the difference between Coccidiasis and Coccidiosis?
```
Coccidiasis = infection by Eimeria
Coccidiosis = disease caued by Eimerial infection
```
70
What pathogen causes blackhead? What host species are affected?
Histomonas meleagridis
- - affects turkeys esp
- - pheasants
- - quail
- - peacocks
- - guinea fowl
71
What is the name of the pathogen responsible for causing canker in chickens, turkeys and pheasants?
Trichomonas gallinae
72
What can be done to counter Trichomonas-induced canker?
Regular worming protocol
Cider vinegar added to d/w for 7d/mo
Use of probiotics
73
What are the characteristic features of Histomonosis?
Yellow diarrhoea
High morbidity
Fatal if untreated
74
What is the characteristic feature of Trichomonosis?
Yellow lesion (canker) in oropharynx caused by pathogenic damage to mucosa
75
What are the features of infection by Hexamita meleagridis?
* diarrhoea
| * unthriftiness
