To protect their animals-and the poultry industry-flock owners must be able to identify diseases quickly to prevent them from spreading to other animals. This could cause widespread economic hardship for both commercial and small flock owners. When one of these diseases strikes, a quarantine or embargo could suddenly be placed on a region or nation. WHY IS DISEASE SUCH A CONCERN IN POULTRY?Ĭertain diseases have the potential to decimate a region’s poultry industry. These are birds that have no immunity or other resistance against these agents or whose defense mechanisms have been reduced or overwhelmed at the time of infection. For this to occur in a flock, a sufficient number of disease-causing agents must be able to gain access to the susceptible birds. Infectious agents, commonly referred to as “germs,” move from one susceptible bird to another in order to survive. Parasitic diseases are caused by protozoa, worms, and external parasites such as mites and lice. Infectious diseases are caused by viruses, bacteria, and fungi. It could even lead to the death/loss of one or all of the birds in a flock.ĭiseases can be categorized by common causes, such as genetic, mechanical, toxic, and nutritional. This can result in poor productivity and reduced quality of the affected animals.

Health is the overall condition of an animal at a given time. Diseases prevent affected animals from functioning normally. A disease is defined by a specific group of signs or symptoms.

In common terms, a disease is an abnormal condition that is caused by infection, basic weaknesses, or environmental stress.

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