Bordetellosis (Turkey Coryza) in Turkeys By Martin Ficken, DVM, PhD Bordetellosis is a highly contagious upper respiratory tract disease of poultry caused by Bordetella avium, a gram-negative motile aerobic rod-shaped bacterium. B. avium is … [Read more...]
Depluming mites in birds
Depluming mites in birds Martin Ficken, DVM, PhD Depluming mites (Knemidocoptes gallinae, Neocnemidocoptes gallinae) are found worldwide and are related to the scaly leg mite (Knemicocoptes mutans). Depluming mites prefer feathered portions of … [Read more...]
Fowl Pox in Houdan chickens
Fowl Pox in Houdan chickens Gabriel Senties-Cue, MVZ, EPAA, MS Fowl Pox was diagnosed in three Houdan chickens submitted for diagnostic workup to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in Center, Texas. Upon … [Read more...]
Ochroconosis (Dactylariosis) in birds
Ochroconosis (Dactylariosis) in birds Martin Ficken, DVM Ochroconosis is a sporadic fungal encephalitis that has been reported in young chickens, turkey poults, quail chicks, and wild birds. It is caused by a dematiaceous, thermophilic fungus, … [Read more...]
Viral arthritis in broiler chickens
Viral arthritis in broiler chickens Gabriel Senties-Cue, MVZ, EPAA, MS Ten live 20-day-old, meat type chickens were submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory’s (TVMDL) Center laboratory with a clinical history of … [Read more...]
Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) infection in meat type chickens
Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) infection in meat type chickens Gabriel Senties-Cue, MVZ, EPAA, MS Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) infection was diagnosed in a flock of 113-day-old, brown feathered, meat type, chickens. Ten live birds were submitted to the … [Read more...]
Fatty Liver – Hemorrhagic Syndrome in a Chicken
Fatty Liver – Hemorrhagic Syndrome in a Chicken Martin Ficken, DVM, PhD A dead one-year-old female Red Sex-Link chicken was presented to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory in Gonzales, Texas for necropsy examination. … [Read more...]
Rickets in backyard chickens
Rickets in backyard chickens Gabriel Senties-Cue, MVZ, EPAA, MS Rickets was diagnosed in a live, 3-month-old, backyard type, female chicken. The bird was submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in Center, … [Read more...]
Histomoniasis (Blackhead) in birds
Histomoniasis (Blackhead) in birds Martin Ficken, DVM, PhD The causative agent of histomoniasis is a protozoan parasite Histomonas meleagridis. Numerous gallinaceous birds are affected by this parasite including turkeys, chickens, chukar … [Read more...]
“Hardware Disease” in Backyard Chickens
“Hardware Disease” in Backyard Chickens Martin Ficken, DVM, PhD “Hardware disease” in backyard chickens and other birds is caused by the ingestion of metal objects present in their environment. These objects range from sharp objects that … [Read more...]
Coccidiosis in Broiler Breeders
Coccidiosis in Broiler Breeders By Gabriel Senties-Cue, MVZ, EPAA, MS, TVMDL Center Resident Director Severe coccidiosis was diagnosed in a 22-week-old, broiler breeder flock. Three dead birds were submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary … [Read more...]
Diagnostic Guidance: Fowl Pox
Diagnostic Guidance: Fowl Pox By Martin Ficken, DVM, PhD Fowl pox is caused by a DNA virus (fowl pox virus). Many species of birds have their own specific pox virus. Infection can occur in two different forms: dry and wet. Dry pox occurs … [Read more...]
Gangrenous dermatitis discovered in separate broiler flocks
Gangrenous dermatitis discovered in separate broiler flocks Gabriel Senties-Cue, MVZ, EPAA, MS Recently, the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in Center diagnosed gangrenous dermatitis (GD) in three flocks of broilers … [Read more...]
Mycoplasmosis in Backyard Chicken Flocks
Mycoplasmosis in Backyard Chicken Flocks Martin Ficken, DVM, PhD Mycoplasmosis, caused by Mycoplasma gallisepticumand/or M. synoviae, is a group of bacterial diseases that are common maladies of backyard chicken flocks. Mycoplasma … [Read more...]
Salt Toxicity in Broilers
Salt Toxicity in Broilers By Gabriel Senties-Cue, MS, MVZ, DACPV Salt toxicity was recently diagnosed in a 17-day-old, meat type chicken flock. Twelve birds were submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in … [Read more...]
Aspergillosis diagnosed in 5-month-old chicken
Aspergillosis diagnosed in 5-month-old chicken By Martin Ficken, DVM, PhD A 5-month-old female chicken with a history of dyspnea was presented to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in Gonzales for necropsy. Duration … [Read more...]
Sticktight fleas, body lice discovered in 30-week-old laying chickens
Sticktight fleas, body lice discovered in 30-week-old laying chickens By Martin Ficken, DVM, PhD Recently, five live 30-week-old laying chickens were presented to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in Gonzales for … [Read more...]
Lymphoid leukosis discovered in Legbar chicken
Lymphoid leukosis discovered in Legbar chicken By Martin Ficken, DVM, PhD Recently, one dead, female, Cream Legbar chicken was presented to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in Gonzales for necropsy. The bird had … [Read more...]
Staphylococcosis and fowl pox in broiler breeders
Staphylococcosis and fowl pox in broiler breeders By Gabriel Senties-Cue, MVZ, EPAA, MS Staphylococcosis and fowl pox were diagnosed at the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) poultry lab in Center, TX, in a flock of … [Read more...]
Lead poisoning in guinea fowl
Lead poisoning in guinea fowl By Martin Ficken, DVM, PhD One live male guinea fowl was presented to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) for necropsy. History noted the bird was bright and alert, but moved very … [Read more...]
Inclusion body hepatitis (IBH) in broiler chickens
Inclusion body hepatitis (IBH) in broiler chickens By Gabriel Senties-Cue, MVZ, EPAA, MS With over 800,000 tests run annually, TVMDL encounters many challenging cases. Our case study series will highlight these interesting cases to increase … [Read more...]
Infectious laryngotracheitis diagnosed in laying chicken
Infectious laryngotracheitis diagnosed in laying chicken By Martin D. Ficken, DVM, PhD, DACVP, DACPV With over 800,000 tests run annually, TVMDL encounters many challenging cases. Our case study series will highlight these interesting cases to … [Read more...]
Backyard poultry biosecurity webinar set for Aug. 11
Contact: Fred Hall, 817-884-1946; fmhall@ag.tamu.edu FORT WORTH – As we move into cooler temperatures this fall, backyard flock owners will step up biosecurity and best management practices to protect their flocks. “Cooler temperatures mean a … [Read more...]
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: Carolyn Orts
In today’s employment climate, changing jobs every few years is the norm, and if someone has been in their position more than 10 years, it is unique. Carolyn Orts has worked at the Sam and Sally Glass Poultry Diagnostic Laboratory in Gonzales since … [Read more...]
Free USDA webinar on backyard bird biosecurity held tonight, Aug. 6, at 7pm
Reminder: Today! Free USDA Webinar and Twitter Chat: Register Now! Topic: Practice Backyard Bird Biosecurity. Get expert tips to keep your birds healthy. Today, Thursday, Aug. 6. https://goto.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1069188 … [Read more...]
