1. Fowl Cholera

2. INTRODUCTION
Fowl cholera (FC) (avian cholera, avian pasteurellosis, or avian hemorrhagic septicemia) is a contagious disease
affecting domesticated and wild birds.

3. INCIDENCE AND DISTRIBUTION
Fowl cholera occurs sporadically or enzootically in most countries. It sometimes causes high mortality; at other times, losses are nominal.

4. ETIOLOGY Pasteurella multocida Natural and Experimental Hosts
Among types of poultry, turkeys are most affected.
Most or all in an infected flock may die within a few days.
The disease usually occurs in young mature turkeys, but all ages are highly susceptible.

5. Death losses from FC in chickens usually occur in laying flocks, because birds of this age are more susceptible
than younger chickens.
Chickens less than 16 weeks of age generally are quite resistant. Fowl cholera in young
chickens usually is caused by serotype 1 and often occurs in conjunction with some other malady

6. Transmission, Carriers, and Vectors
How FC is introduced into a flock is often impossible to determine. Chronically infected birds are considered to be a major source of infection.
Contaminated crates, feed bags, or any equipment used previously for poultry may serve in introducing FC into a flock.

7. Dissemination of P. multocida within a flock is primarily by excretions from the mouth, nose, and conjunctiva of diseased birds that contaminate their environment particularly feed and water

8. Signs of Infection
Acute. Signs of infection in acute FC are often present for only a few hours before death. Unless infected birds are observed during this period, death may be the first indication of disease.
Signs that often occur are fever, anorexia, ruffled feathers, mucous discharge from the
mouth, diarrhea, and increased respiratory rate.

9. Cyanosis often occurs immediately prior to death and is most evident in unfeathered areas of the head, such as comb and wattles.
Fecal material associated with the diarrhea is initially watery and whitish in color but later becomes greenish and contains mucus.

10. Birds that survive the initial acute septicemic stage may later succumb to the debilitating
effects of emaciation and dehydration, may become chronically infected, or may recover.

11. Chronic Chronic FC may follow an acute stage of the
disease or result from infection with organisms of low virulence.
Signs generally are related to localized infections.
Wattles , sinuses, leg or wing joints and foot pads often become swollen.

12. Acute FC; mucous excretion from the mouth contains large numbers of Pasteurella multocida that can contaminate feed and water.

13. Chronic FC; swollen wattle resulting from localized infection.

14. Gross and Microscopic Lesions
Acute. When the course of the disease is acute, most of the postmortem lesions are associated with vascular disturbances.
General hyperemia usually occurs, is most evident in veins of the abdominal viscera, and may be quite pronounced in small vessels of the duodenal mucosa

15. Petechial and ecchymotic hemorrhages are frequently found and may be widely distributed. Subepicardial and subserosal
hemorrhages are common, as are hemorrhages in the lung, abdominal fat, and intestinal mucosa.
Increased amounts of pericardial and peritoneal fluid frequently occur.

16. Ovaries of laying hens are commonly affected
Ovaries of laying hens are commonly affected. Mature follicles often appear flaccid; thecal blood vessels, which are usually easily observed, are less evident.
Yolk material from ruptured follicles may be found in the peritoneal cavity

17. Acute FC; hyperemia of chicken duodenum

18. Chronic Chronic FC is characterized by localized infections,
in contrast to the septicemic nature of the acute disease.
These generally become suppurative and may be
widely distributed anatomically. They often occur in the respiratory tract and may involve any part, including sinuses and pneumatic bones. Infections of the conjunctiva and adjacent tissues
occur, and facial edema may be observed.
Localized infections may also involve the hock joints, foot pads, peritoneal cavity, and oviduct.

19. Chronic localized infections can involve the middle ear and cranial bones and have been reported to result in torticollis

20. Chronic FC; torticollis resulting from meningeal infection.

21. A. Acute FC; subepicardial hemorrhages in a turkey. B
A. Acute FC; subepicardial hemorrhages in a turkey. B. Acute FC; multiple necrotic foci in turkey liver.

22. Submassive necrosis with fibrous exudate on pleural surface.

23. Acute FC; flaccid ovarian follicle (arrow) with thecal blood vessels less evident than normal

24. DIAGNOSIS
A presumptive diagnosis of FC may be made from clinical observations, necropsy findings, or isolation of P. multocida; a conclusive diagnosis should be based on all three.

25. TREATMENT Sulfonamides Antibiotics
Streptomycin given IM in a dose of 150,000µg
Penicillin,streptomycin, penicillin and streptomycin, and oxytetracycline
Chloramphenicol (20 mg/kg body weight)

26. PREVENTION AND CONTROL
Management Procedures
Immunization