Symptoms and Prevention and Treatment Methods of Fowl Typhoid

Fowl typhoid is a septicemic infectious disease occurring in adult chickens and young chickens, characterized by lesions of parenchymal organs such as the liver and spleen and diarrhea. This disease is caused by Salmonella gallinarum.

[Symptoms] It mainly occurs in young chickens over 3 weeks of age and adult chickens. The symptoms shown by sick chickens are listlessness, ruffled feathers, drooping head, and refusal to eat. The more characteristic symptoms are diarrhea, passing pale yellow to green watery droppings, soiling the feathers around the vent, frequent drinking, and if peritonitis occurs, a penguin-like standing posture. Chronic sick chickens become emaciated and anemic, with pale combs and wattles.

[Necropsy] The liver and spleen are enlarged 2-4 times. The liver surface is yellow or bronze-colored, and there are white or pale yellow necrotic foci on the liver and myocardium. The gallbladder is distended and filled with green oily bile. Sometimes adhesions between the pericardium and the heart can be seen.

[Key Points of Diagnosis]

(1) In young chickens over 3 weeks of age or adult chickens, sick chickens are anemic, with pale combs and wattles.

(2) Passing yellow-green watery droppings; the liver and spleen are enlarged 2-4 times, and the liver is bronze-colored.

[Prevention and Treatment]

(1) Seriously ill chickens should be culled and disposed of promptly, mildly ill chickens should be isolated and treated, and the chicken house and grounds should be thoroughly disinfected.

(2) For preventive medication, use furazolidone mixed into the feed at a ratio of 0.02-0.04%. For chicks, administering 0.01 g of streptomycin per bird per day in drinking water also has a good effect.