Content
- Avian yaws in chickens: symptoms
- Species affected by yaws
- How to cure yaws
- Avian yaws vaccine
- Home treatment for yaws
- Avian yaws infect humans?
Avian yaws is a common disease in poultry like chickens or turkeys, but the truth is that it can affect other species as well. While it is generally possible to recover the animal, the most serious cases are often fatal. Hence the importance of knowing, identifying and preventing this disease which we will talk about in this article by PeritoAnimal. We'll look at the symptoms, treatment, and prevention of this world-facing disease.
If you live with chickens or other birds and have identified suspicious wounds in them, read on to find out if this is the case. Learn to identify the yaws symptoms and know the treatment.
Avian yaws in chickens: symptoms
It is a viral disease that affects the skin and airways, being one of the most common diseases in chickens. The cause is the virus smallpox avium, belonging to the family Poxviridae, very resistant to environmental conditions. It is able to survive in the environment for several months, especially at low temperatures. The incubation period for yaws varies from 1 to 10 days and the virus can be transmitted by direct contact or by any contaminated object.
Infected birds can transmit the disease without noticing any symptoms. However, when clinical signs occur, they include the appearance of whitish lesions, similar to blisters, located especially on the dewlap or, in more severe cases, on the legs or even the rest of the body. Over time, these blisters eventually turn into scabs that take about three weeks to heal and fall off. They can leave a scar. The crest, face, eyes or featherless parts may swell as part of the symptoms of yaws in chickens and any other birds.
This dermatological condition is the most frequent, but not the only one. In some birds, virus lesions affect the mouth and throat, with eye and nasal secretions and respiratory problems that can be severe enough to kill the animal. These are the two possible manifestations of the disease, the second being the most dangerous. They can appear simultaneously or independently.
Avian yaws can occur at any time in the life of birds, but it is more frequent among three and five months deity. Other symptoms of yaws are lethargy, loss of appetite, weight loss, diarrhea, slow growth and reduced egg production.
Species affected by yaws
This disease is more common in laying birds. Thus, it is more common to detect avian yaws in turkeys, chickens or chickens, although they may be different strains, the same one that causes avian yaws in canaries or pigeons. Therefore, the clinical picture may show some differences depending on the species in relation to what we describe.
How to cure yaws
The diagnosis of this disease is obtained through observation of the clinical picture and can be confirmed by detecting the virus in a sample taken from the lesions. If the bird lives with others, it is convenient to separate it and completely clean the environment, as the disease is extremely contagious.
Between the medicines used to treat yaws, the veterinarian can prescribe disinfectants for injuries of the skin, which can be applied directly to the lesions or in water. Vitamins such as A can also be indicated and will improve the skin's condition. Secretions can be cleaned with saline.
As it is a virus, in principle, antibiotics against yaws would not be necessary, but the presence of this disease implies damage that will favor the proliferation of bacteria, which complicates the symptoms and, therefore, the antibiotics are recommended according to veterinary criteria. Antifungals can also be considered for the same reason. Avian yaws can be cured, but recovered birds will remain carriers of the virus, so you must use extreme precautions if, at any time, you want to introduce a new bird into the home.
To learn more about chickens, check out our article on how long a chicken lives.
Avian yaws vaccine
There is a vaccine against yaws that is wing puncture applied and can help to avoid it. The veterinarian can inform you about the administration schedule that is most suitable for you. It is also helpful to keep birds in good hygienic conditions, in a suitable environment and well fed. With all of this, your immune system is more likely to be stronger and prevent or minimize any illness.
On the other hand, virus distribution has been associated with the presence of mosquitoes and blood-feeding parasites. Therefore, to prevent the disease, the population of these animals must also be controlled, if possible.
Home treatment for yaws
As with any other disease, you should always follow your veterinarian's instructions first, but we can recommend some herbs that will help improve the bird's immune status so that it can better handle this disease. These herbs are recommended for chickens, so you will need to consult your specialist about their application to other birds. You most effective home remedies for yaws are as follows:
- Astragalus: boosts the immune system, is antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory;
- Thyme: helps the respiratory system and relieves infections;
- Oregano: it is a natural antibiotic and also favors the airways;
- Garlic: immune system stimulant and antibacterial. It also has an anticoagulant effect, so do not exceed the dose. It can be administered once or twice a week;
- Echinacea: another immune system stimulant. It is also beneficial to the respiratory system and acts against fungi and bacteria;
- Seaweed: are able to stimulate the immune system;
- Fish's flour: improves the appearance of the skin.
Herbs can be offered dried, fresh or as an infusion. For the treatment of wounds, coconut oil can be used, which has antibacterial properties and relieves the discomfort of the injured skin, maintaining hydration. Honey is another natural product with beneficial effects on wounds.
Avian yaws infect humans?
Although poxviruses are also found to cause smallpox in humans, there is no evidence to demonstrate that the virus that sickens birds is capable of infecting people. Therefore, we must direct precautions to avoid transmission between birds.
See also our article on infectious bronchitis in chickens.
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Avian yaws: treatment, symptoms and contagion, we recommend that you enter our Infectious Diseases section.