viral diseases of canaries (Serinus canaria)
1. Poxvirus or SMALLPOX:
is a very common disease in Canaries and other finches. This is a very important disease for the havoc that occurs in an aviary. If transmission is through blood-sucking insects (insects and mites). Transmission can also occur through contact with sick birds or through the material and objects of the aviary. Do not forget the hands of canaricultor. It is more common in summer but can not be excluded any time of year. The disease develops at any age but are more susceptible young people, especially those under three weeks.
can occur in three ways, most of the birds may have the cutaneous form, but the canaries usually present as diphtheroids or septicemic, with high mortality.
The cutaneous have injuries in the legs, eyes, nostrils and beak as these are the areas most likely to be bitten. Begins with papules, vesicles, and finally becomes crusty. Mortality in this presentation is not too high.
diphtheroids in the form lesions appear on the tongue, pharynx and larynx. This is fibrinous or caseous lesions of gray or brown. The affected birds have dyspnea (difficulty breathing).
The septicaemic presentation is most common in canaries. The affected birds have a lot of dyspnea (difficulty breathing), lethargy and cyanosis (bluish discoloration of mucous membranes). They can not eat or drink and mortality can be 90 to 100%.
prophylaxis. There is only one live attenuated vaccine-P Poulvac CANARY ® marketed only in Belgium and Italy. Should never be used a vaccine intended for other species as there is a lot of specificity and would muy contraproducente ya que extenderíamos la viruela por todo el aviario y convertiríamos en portadores a todos los pájaros. El método de aplicación se basa en atravesar la membrana alar con dos lancetas paralelas y ranuradas (para retener el líquido), que vienen en el envase, impregnándolas previamente en la solución vacunal que habremos preparado mezclando, con una jeringuilla estéril, el disolvente con el liofilizado, tal como indican las instrucciones. Al cabo de una o dos semanas aparece un pequeño granuloma en el punto de inoculación, signo evidente de que la vacuna está dando resultado. La inmunidad ideal se alcanza entre las dos y cuatro semanas. Es muy interesante esterilizar con una llama las lancetas entre bird and bird. Allow to cool before re-immersed in the vaccine, not off. Nor is it desirable, for the same danger of disabling the use of alcohol or other disinfectants. One vaccination a year is enough, but is also very advisable to do it twice before and when you finish playing. There is a trick for a bottle (50 doses) fester full and deposit the solution into a tube Ependorf with inverted cone shape. To vaccinate the English Canary Island Race, Debir to its small size and not to injure a muscle, I do it by removing one of the two prongs.
Treatment. There is no treatment for the septicemic form. For the cutaneous form can be applied touches of povidone-iodine or chlorhexidine and antibiotic eye drops without steroids. Above all wash your hands thoroughly and disinfected after handling, with a derivative of quaternary ammonium because of the danger of transmitting the disease to other individuals.
In these cases of cutaneous presentation or diphtheria is desperately needed emergency vaccination around the aviary, remembering very sterilization of the lancet as I mentioned before, between bird and bird.
administration of immunostimulants and multivitamins for 4-5 days may help.
2. Polyomavirus
mortality has been reported in canaries and other finches due to polyomavirus. It can affect people of any age. There are 20 variants of this virus. The symptoms are fairly nonspecific symptoms can include rapid death, embolism, poor plumage, weakness, abdominal bleeding beak to feed on the survivors. There are diagnostic tests for viral DNA in psittacine polyomavirus but it is not useful for finches, so the diagnosis can only be made by autopsy.
prophylaxis. We find the same problem as with the specific diagnosis, there is an effective vaccine in psittacine but ineffective in canaries. There is no treatment. We can only help by inmuestimulantes and control of other general diseases. For polyomavirosis diagnosed in an aviary it is advisable to rule out a breeding season.
3. paramyxovirus
There are nine variations of this virus, but only cause disease in Passeriformes serotypes: PMV-1, PMV-2 and PMV-3
· PMV-1. Symptoms can include diarrhea, respiratory symptoms, neurologic signs and sudden death.
· PMV-2. not produce significant symptoms and is endemic in the North African finches.
· PMV-3. This is the most common serotype. The most affected species belonging to exotic African and Australian (watch the aviaries with different species). The symptoms may include conjunctivitis, anorexia, diarrhea, dyspnea and torticollis.
4. HERPESVIRUS
herpesvirus gives less problems than other birds finches. Could cause hepatic necrosis, splenic necrosis and necrosis of the bone marrow.
5. CYTOMEGALOVIRUS
cause intense pseudo-sinblefaron conjunctivitis (eyelid glued) to severe generalized disease with high mortality in exotic African and Australian . Not reported its presence in the Canaries, but is important because it can be confused with smallpox.
6. PAPYLLOMAVIRUS
is characterized by the appearance of wart-like masses on foot and toe of canaries. The "warts" can grow and cause problems with the rings. Lesions may appear also in the corners of the beak and head. Be confused with smallpox, scabies of the legs and hyperkeratosis by blood.
7. CIRCOVIRUS
Also called "Point Disease black "or" Black spot Disease ", was first described in the last decade of the twentieth century in cell cultures of pork, pig and poultry farms eventually. The disease mostly affects infants and young a few days and associated with a high mortality. The most visible sign is a black spot on the right side of the abdomen that corresponds with inflation and congestion of the gallbladder. The chicks are pale yellow. Usually die between birth and two days after banding. The virus affects the lymphoid organs, particularly thymus and bursa of Fabricius preventing the development and activation B lymphocytes, T lymphocytes and macrophages, and being affected immunity. Some canaries that pass this first stage may be lethargic, with poor plumage, weight loss or weight gain and fall prey to secondary infections because of their immunodeficiency. I managed, in fact standard practice, broad-spectrum antibiotic paste calf (Tetracyclines, Sulfonamides, Quinolones, etc.) to prevent secondary bacterial infections. I personally use a quinolone (enrofloxacin). See Major infectious and parasitic drugs in this Blog.
immunostimulants also and multivitamins be of great help.
The differential diagnosis should include Atoxoplasma, (also gives Black Point) and avian Plasmodia and Malaria.