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Coccidiosis |
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Coccidiosis is a particularly serious disease for the fancier because
it happens so quickly and can kill many birds of all ages within a matter of
days. My first introduction to this ‘Bug” was in our 1st season
breeding when we had all these babies dieing, called my local Vet who put us
onto Dr. Harry Cooper. Please
remember I am talking about 1986 when there were not many Veterinarians who
knew anything about birds. Dr. Harry being a breeder, Judge and Vet had researched this
‘Bug”. Coccidiosis is spread when one bird eats faecal material from an
infected bird, which contains the infective stage of the coccidia (small
egg-like bodies called oocysts). The oocysts in the droppings need moisture
and warmth to mature. These oocysts
can be seen in a ‘faecal’ smear and that is what he saw at this time so put us onto a Coccidistat called Amprol
Plus. Mind you, this medication was sitting in our Services
Section and our Branch Services manager did not inform us of this type of
medication and what it was for. After
this episode, when the position became available I took it over and made sure
all our Branch members knew what all the products were and what they were used for and even
though I don’t have a Services Section any more, I still advise breeders
about these basics. We were advised to have concrete floors, which we had,
except for one small section, and that is why it all started. It was soon
concreted over. The Coccidia like as it says above moist warm conditions
and being summer at the time, it had both.
Moisture from rain, and also from the humidity. We in the warmer climates have a lot of
moisture from humidity, and if one observes carefully you will see the
droppings swell at this time. As we know the Budgerigar likes to pick at the droppings,
getting some of the nutrients it does not get from it’s diet, one being
Vitamin B12 so each day you will see them down there having a pick. All part
of nature. As it happed to us, we had the sudden deaths of birds, and
now a days if there is sign of rain then the preventative measures go in. The
signs and symptoms of Coccidiosis. Sudden death of birds within a week of rain or high
humidity. Watery droppings on aviary floor A sudden decrease in noise level and activity in birds –
this is a universal sign of sickness not necessarily Coccidiosis. Birds fluffed up on perches, they are weak and they
tremble. The “go light” probably from lack of food and water. Dark tacky green droppings sticks to the tail feathers and
around the vent, and on the floor. Ill birds go to ground and pick around. One may also be able to smell that something is going on
as the droppings get a characteristic smell – a sign that a secondary E.Coli
infections is happening as well. Current
treatment is: Baycox or Carlox for 2-3 days as per instructions on the
bottle, then treat with an antibiotic for 7 days for the infection. e.g
Baytril or Sulfa AVS. In Australia
these drugs have to be dispensed via a Veterinarian. In some parts of the
world they do not even have a Veterinarian let alone a Avian Veterinarian so
this information is relayed to them in the hope that they may be able to buy
the products on the open market. Preventative Program Treatment if one can get the products is a)
Coccidistat like Baycox which is the preferable
treatment. Treat birds every 4-6 weeks and in times on heavy rain then more
frequently especially if using Coccivet. b)
Coccivet – a Vetafarm product Lastly The one
thing in the preventative program is concrete floors; this prevents the bug
from breeding in the soil and remember intestinal worms and canker
(trichomanosis) can also breed in the soil so you are preventing 3 things. Article Kindly
Donated By Betty Berry |