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Infectious agents associated with respiratory disease in pheasants
D de B Welchman1, J M Bradbury, D Cavanagh
1Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Itchen Abbas, Winchester, Hampshire.
The Veterinary Record
|June 11, 2002
Summary
Mycoplasma gallisepticum and avian coronaviruses were linked to pheasant respiratory disease outbreaks. These findings aid in understanding and managing infectious agents affecting game birds.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Pathology
- Avian Infectious Diseases
- Molecular Diagnostics
Background:
- Respiratory disease outbreaks in pheasants pose significant challenges to game bird farming.
- Identifying causative infectious agents is crucial for effective disease management and prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the infectious agents associated with natural outbreaks of respiratory disease in pheasants.
- To determine the specific pathogens linked to clinical signs like sinusitis.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 28 diseased and 8 healthy pheasant batches.
- Examination by six veterinary laboratories using PCR, culture, and serological tests for mycoplasmas, bacteria, and viruses.
- Genetic analysis of detected avian coronaviruses.
Main Results:
- Sinusitis, the most common sign, was associated with Mycoplasma gallisepticum (trachea and conjunctiva) and Pasteurella (sinus).
- Antibody to avian pneumovirus (APV) and avian coronaviruses (detected by RT-PCR) were also linked to sinusitis.
- Avian coronaviruses, genetically similar to infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) but distinct, were the most frequently detected infectious agents.
Conclusions:
- Mycoplasma gallisepticum and specific avian coronaviruses are key infectious agents associated with pheasant respiratory disease.
- The identified avian coronaviruses represent novel strains with limited cross-reactivity to existing IBV types.
- Understanding these associations is vital for targeted disease control strategies in pheasant populations.