If pigeons are kept on bedding made of straw and sand, and also eat dirty and poor food, they often become infected with coccidiosis. This is a typical intestinal infestation, which is provoked by protozoa that cause enteritis in the gastrointestinal tract. How to identify signs of coccidiosis infection and to separate sick birds from healthy ones in order to start treatment faster, we will examine further.
What is this disease?
Coccidiosis is a disease that occurs when a simple parasite called coccidia enters the body of a bird. Mostly it affects young individuals aged 15 to 60 days. The fact is that with age, pigeons develop immunity to the disease, so parasites do not pose a particular threat to them.
Chicks and young growth are at risk, because their body has not yet built a blockade against coccidiosis. The danger of infection is especially great when they leave the nest.
After penetration into the body of a bird, oocysts (coccidia eggs) multiply in the intestines for 6-8 days, and then together with the droppings they go outside. In this case, damage to the gastrointestinal tract occurs due to bloody diarrhea and inflammation of the intestinal walls. It should also be borne in mind that released bacteria can infect other members of the pack.
Coccidiosis is not the same - it all depends on the immunity of the pigeons and the stage of the disease, but in any case, the disease develops faster if the habitat is warm and moist. Interestingly, more often this disease begins to develop after prolonged rains.
The small intestine, its serous membrane, is most often affected. Gradually, the intestinal mucosa becomes very thin, white plaques filled with liquid form on it. In a light form, a small loop is formed near the duodenum, and in a heavier one, the intestine is covered with a thick layer of plaques. If treatment is ignored in the early stages, the individual may die.
Causes of infection
Coccidiosis in pigeons is caused by protozoa - coccidia of the genus Eimeria. They can occur in various strains or species:
- renella;
- acervulina;
- maximum;
- necatrix;
- motivati;
- praecox.
Coccidia can enter the body of a healthy bird during feeding. The spores of the pathogen may be in grass, water or soil. In addition, infection is possible through the excrement of sick birds and animals. It is worth considering that coccidiosis affects not only pigeons, but also chickens, turkey poults, as well as domestic animals - rabbits, dogs, cows.
Veterinarians note that over time, the bird's body adapts to this infection, so after recovery they can be carriers of the disease for another 6-9 months and infect other individuals in the pigeon with the virus.
Characteristic symptoms of coccidiosis
The danger of coccidiosis lies in the fact that within a week after the spores enter the body of the bird, there are no bright manifestations of it. The pigeon looks healthy, but is a distributor of this infection. With a noticeable development of the disease, the main symptoms are the following oddities in bird behavior:
- sits with a frown;
- does not want to fly;
- Does not “communicate” with other birds;
- half asleep, closing his eyes;
- often yawns;
- constantly drinks water;
- refuses food, because of which he is losing weight.
In addition to strange behaviors, coccidiosis in a pigeon can be diagnosed by the following signs:
- blood streaked diarrhea;
- ruffled feathers that may fall out;
- sunken eyes;
- peeling on the beak;
- inflamed cesspool;
- impaired coordination of movements;
- paralysis of the limbs.
In addition, it is worth considering that the disease occurs in all pigeons in different ways, since a lot depends on how deeply the pathogens penetrated the body structure:
- With a deep hit, bleeding from the intestine appears, since its mucosa is injured. If measures are not taken, then the bird may die due to the loss of electrolytes due to dehydration.
- With a shallow penetration into the intestine, the disease proceeds almost imperceptibly.
If a bird with characteristic symptoms is noticed, then cleaning is not recommended in the dovecote with water, so as not to contribute to the spread of pathogens. It is better to carry out dry cleaning with a scraper and a panicle.
If there are characteristic symptoms, it is recommended that you seek the help of a veterinarian. It is very important to confirm the assumptions of the poultry breeder, and most importantly, to begin treatment in a timely manner.
Forms of the disease
There are two forms of coccidiosis:
- Asymptomatic (subclinical). The most common form. After the pigeon first swallowed a small number of oocysts, its endogenous defense mechanisms are stimulated. Against this background, the bird develops immunity to infection, so the disease proceeds without symptoms. By eating a small amount of oocysts regularly, the immune properties continue to strengthen. So, the pigeon’s body “coexists” with bacteria, severe intestinal disease does not develop.
- Sharp. Obviously, in this case, the disease is acute, often spreading to young animals and birds with a weak immune system. As a rule, defenses are weakened in old birds in stressful situations. The acute stage also occurs when a large number of parasites enter the pigeon.
In some individuals, immunity to the disease is developed upon repeated infection, but only when a small amount of coccidia enters the body.
Diagnostics
The veterinarian can determine coccidiosis by characteristic signs, but for an accurate diagnosis, you will also need to pass a pigeon droppings for analysis. It must be collected in the morning, but only the surface part. In addition, as prescribed by a doctor, an ultraviolet examination of the intestines of the bird is sometimes done.
Breeders need to monitor the stool of their pets. As soon as it is noticed that the litter has become liquid, it must be submitted for analysis to the laboratory.
How to treat coccidiosis in pigeons?
Coccidiosis can be treated only in the early stages, therefore, after diagnosis, it is necessary to immediately begin its treatment.
First of all, it is necessary to isolate sick birds in order to prevent infection of the entire flock. It is important to observe the hygiene of their place of residence - to conduct daily cleaning, scraping off litter and then disinfecting the room with special means. Only then will it be possible to protect pets from re-infection.
For timely treatment, there are drugs that are detrimental to coccidia. For therapy, they are added to drinking water or food. Such funds include:
- Furagin;
- Bycox;
- Zalain;
- Coccidine.
Meanwhile, the most popular and effective remedy is Toltrazuril (Toltrazuril Coccidioides Solution). It penetrates the intestines and therapeutically affects it. This tool is considered safe, so it is given to birds even during molting and breeding. For the treatment of coccidiosis, the drug is diluted with water at the rate of 0.5 ml per 1 liter of water. This solution is poured into the drinkers. Treatment is carried out for 3 days or more.
It is important to understand that it is impossible to give a drug to birds without consulting a veterinarian, because only a specialist can correctly select the medication. The difficulty lies in the fact that each chemical product used has a different effect on parasites:
- sulfanilamide drugs begin their action by blocking the absorption of p-aminobenzoic acid, and also contribute to disruption of folic acid metabolism;
- taking Amprol prevents the absorption of thiamine by coccidia;
- Clopixol therapy inhibits energy metabolism in parasites;
- ionophores inhibit the permeability of cell membranes; therefore, alkali metal cations cannot penetrate the coccidia organism.
Certain drugs act as destructive agents, but there are also drugs that interfere with the development of parasites. They are called coccidiostatic. After the treatment with these agents, a recurrence of the disease is possible.
It is recommended that drugs be changed regularly, since with prolonged use, the adaptability of the parasite develops, that is, its sensitivity to the drug decreases.
It is difficult for coccidia to adapt to ionophores, since they have a more complex nature of the effect. So, they transfer ions of alkali metal cations through cell membranes, so it takes several years for these protozoa to develop resistance to them. To quinolones and clopidol resistance develops in a short time.
Along with parasite exterminators, veterinarians usually also prescribe vitamins to normalize the intestines of the pigeons' intestines, as they are disturbed due to medication and parasitic activity. Trivitamin, which contains fish oil in its composition, is considered such a vitamin.
All drugs prescribed by the veterinarian must be given strictly according to his prescriptions. You cannot adjust the course of treatment yourself.
Relationship with other diseases
The development of coccidiosis can lead to infection by other bacteria, because in a sick chick the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract is destroyed, and its functionality also changes.
Bacteria that cause enteritis of a necrotic nature, as well as salmonella, can penetrate the weakened organism of the pigeon. They, acting together, complicate the course of the disease.
It is known that Marek's disease most often interferes with the development of immunity to coccidiosis, and the development of infectious bursitis together with coccidiosis interferes with drug therapy.
About what diseases doves have, you can find out here.
Preventive measures
Coccidiosis has insidious consequences and even leads to the death of the bird, therefore it is extremely important to observe preventive measures to prevent it:
- To protect existing pigeons from infection, new birds need to be quarantined, that is, kept in isolation, observing their behavior and excreted droppings. It should last about 2 weeks.
- As rarely as possible, create stressful situations for birds. Do not separate them from each other, transplanting into different cells. It must be remembered that pigeons can hardly tolerate changes in life.
- To give pigeons a feed of excellent quality, purchased from trusted sellers. In particular, it must be ensured that the grain is not moist and does not contain mold.
- Before giving food to pigeons, clean it from dust and debris.
- Develop a varied menu so that the birds do not get used to the uniform diet. In winter, the menu must contain a maximum of vitamins and mineral supplements.
- Pour only boiled water into the drinkers, and make sure that no droppings get into it. Also, do not let pigeons drink water from puddles after rain.
- Equipment intended for feeding and watering birds should be regularly treated with disinfectants.
- Make sure that rodents can not get to the water and feed the pigeons.
- If the floor of the cells is sprinkled with sawdust or soil, it is often necessary to change it to a new one, since coccidia can be stored there for a long time. If there is a cement floor, it is also necessary to disinfect it, because most often pigeons become infected when hygiene of equipment and habitat is not observed. General cleaning of the cells is carried out every week.
- After cleaning in the aviary, also clean and process clothes, shoes, scrapers and panicles.
- It is good to dry the walls with the help of electrical appliances, and then only install ventilation devices. In addition, it is important to observe the temperature regime, since parasites prefer a humid environment. Very dangerous rooms where it is damp, and there is mold on the walls.
- Show your birds to the vet 2 times a year, even if they look healthy.
Those who plan to keep and breed pigeons should first familiarize themselves with the rules and features of caring for them. Otherwise, infection of birds with coccidiosis can easily be tolerated. In addition, it is extremely important to carefully monitor your pets in order to recognize the disease in time, consult a veterinarian and begin treatment.