How to Tell Duck Plague from Duck Cholera? A Must-Read for Duck Keepers

Ducks suffering from duck cholera often shake their heads before death; at the time of death, thin bloody fluid flows from the mouth and nostrils, and the crop is full of feed and feels hard to the touch. In contrast, ducks suffering from duck plague have runny noses and watery eyes, their eyes are bloodshot at the time of death, and the crop is empty with no food in it and feels soft to the touch.

1. Duck cholera generally occurs sporadically, with sudden death, and is especially common in laying ducks. Duck cholera can be transmitted to chickens and even pigs; duck plague, however, has a wider epidemic range and a longer course, with death generally occurring 4 to 6 days after onset, but it is not transmitted to chickens or pigs.

2. If, on turning over the duck's anus, congestion, swelling, or a yellow-green pseudomembrane is seen, it can be judged to be duck plague.

3. Ducks suffering from duck cholera often shake their heads before death; at the time of death, thin bloody fluid flows from the mouth and nostrils, and the crop is full of feed and feels hard to the touch. In contrast, ducks suffering from duck plague have runny noses and watery eyes, their eyes are bloodshot at the time of death, and the crop is empty with no food in it and feels soft to the touch.

4. Duck cholera can be treated with sulfonamides or antibiotics, with satisfactory results, but these are ineffective against duck plague.

5. In ducks that contract or die of duck cholera, the surface of the liver has many pinhead-sized, evenly distributed grayish-white necrotic spots; duck plague does not have these symptoms, but there are many bleeding spots on the surface of the skin all over the body, with bleeding on the head and neck being more severe.

There is still no effective drug treatment for duck plague, whereas drug treatment for duck cholera works very well. The symptoms of these two diseases are very similar and easily confused, so accurate identification is essential when carrying out prevention and treatment in order to reduce unnecessary losses.