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Common infectious diseases and parasites of poultry and pet birds: causes, signs and prevention

獸醫百科編輯部2026-08-13About 3 min read
#獸醫百科#家禽#鳥#傳染病#預防

Common diseases of poultry and pet birds are largely tied to flock density, environmental hygiene and ventilation, and several of them are notifiable. This article brings together the entries from the poultry and bird chapters of the veterinary reference and lists, entry by entry, the cause, signs, direction of work-up, direction of treatment and prevention, with the source noted for each. All medication must be prescribed by a veterinarian.

Common infectious diseases and parasites of poultry and pet birds: causes, signs and prevention

First confirm which animal you are dealing with. The same disease name is handled differently in different species, and copying what is done for another species can do harm. This article is compiled from the poultry, reptiles and amphibians, and bird chapters of the veterinary reference, with the source noted entry by entry.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI)

  • Cause: Viral infection; zoonotic and a notifiable disease
  • Signs: Dullness, sudden heavy losses across the flock, cessation of laying, neurological signs
  • Work-up: Report to the authorities, after which officials take samples for confirmation; keepers should not handle suspected cases themselves
  • Treatment direction: This falls under statutory notification and culling, not home treatment
  • Prevention: Keep wild and migratory birds away, apply biosecurity measures

Colibacillosis

  • Cause: Bacterial infection, often secondary to another disease or to stress
  • Signs: Diarrhoea, respiratory signs, reduced activity
  • Work-up: Bacterial culture
  • Treatment direction: Antibiotics require a veterinary prescription
  • Prevention: Environmental hygiene, fewer stressors

Salmonellosis

  • Cause: Bacterial infection; contaminated drinkers and feeders are a common route
  • Signs: Diarrhoea, reduced activity, spread through the flock
  • Work-up: Faecal culture
  • Treatment direction: Antibiotics require a prescription (zoonotic; see column 9)
  • Prevention: Disinfect drinkers and feeders regularly

Aspergillosis

  • Cause: Aspergillus infection of the airways and air sacs
  • Signs: Laboured breathing, tail bobbing, change of voice
  • Work-up: Endoscopy, imaging, blood tests
  • Treatment direction: Antifungal drugs require a prescription, and the course is long
  • Prevention: Avoid damp mouldy litter, maintain good ventilation

Coccidiosis

  • Cause: Protozoal infection of the intestine
  • Signs: Diarrhoea, weight loss, reduced activity
  • Work-up: Faecal microscopy
  • Treatment direction: Anticoccidial drugs require a prescription
  • Prevention: Environmental hygiene, keep droppings out of drinking water and feed

External parasites: red mite and lice (Dermanyssus gallinae and others)

  • Cause: Poor environmental hygiene, hiding in the crevices of perches
  • Signs: Restlessness at night, feather damage, anaemia in heavy infestations
  • Work-up: Inspect perch crevices at night, examine feathers under a microscope
  • Treatment direction: Antiparasitic drugs and environmental treatment need veterinary or professional guidance
  • Prevention: Clean perch crevices regularly, treat the environment

Respiratory infection

  • Cause: Unsuitable temperature and humidity
  • Signs: Audible breathing, mucus or froth at the nostrils and mouth
  • Work-up: Auscultation, imaging
  • Treatment direction: Antibiotics require a prescription
  • Prevention: Maintain a suitable temperature and humidity gradient

Newcastle disease

  • Cause: Viral infection; a notifiable disease in some regions
  • Signs: Respiratory signs, neurological signs (twisted neck), a sharp drop in laying
  • Work-up: History assessment, laboratory confirmation (PCR / serology)
  • Treatment direction: No specific drug; supportive care. If it is suspected, see the reporting obligation in column B
  • Prevention: Vaccination (according to the local programme), quarantine of newly introduced birds, limited contact with wild birds

Limits of this content

This article brings together several entries on the same species from the veterinary reference: 8 entries and 8 source anchors in total (see the evidence chain). The sources listed at the end are the authoritative references cited by the chapters covered here; the mapping is chapter-level and does not mean that every sentence traces back to a particular listed source. This content is for education and does not replace diagnosis and prescription by a practising veterinarian; in an emergency, seek veterinary care immediately. Sources are noted entry by entry from the reference corpus (see the evidence chain at the end); it has not been clinically reviewed by a named veterinarian.

FAQ

Where do red mites and lice on poultry hide during the day?
In the cracks of the perches. Inspect the perch crevices at night and examine feathers under a microscope; prevention relies on regularly cleaning those crevices and treating the environment.
家禽のワクモやハジラミは、昼間どこに潜んでいますか？ — 止まり木の隙間です。夜間に止まり木の隙間を確認し、羽毛の鏡検を行います。予防は隙間の定期清掃と環境の駆虫です。
Where do red mites and lice on poultry hide during the day? — In the cracks of the perches. Inspect the perch crevices at night and examine feathers under a microscope; prevention relies on regularly cleaning those crevices and treating the environment.
If a flock suddenly suffers heavy losses, can the keeper handle it themselves?
No. Highly pathogenic avian influenza is a notifiable disease: report it to the authorities and let officials take samples for diagnosis. Keepers should not handle suspected cases themselves.
家禽が群れで急に大量死したとき、飼い主が自分で対応してよいですか？ — いいえ。高病原性鳥インフルエンザは届出伝染病です。当局へ通報し、公的機関による採材・確定診断を受けてください。飼い主が疑い例を自分で扱ってはいけません。
If a flock suddenly suffers heavy losses, can the keeper handle it themselves? — No. Highly pathogenic avian influenza is a notifiable disease: report it to the authorities and let officials take samples for diagnosis. Keepers should not handle suspected cases themselves.
How do you prevent bacterial and parasitic disease in poultry?
Environmental hygiene and reducing stress are the shared basis. Beyond that: disinfect drinkers and feeders regularly, keep droppings out of feed and water, maintain good ventilation, and avoid damp mouldy litter.
家禽の細菌性・寄生虫性の病気はどう予防しますか？ — 環境衛生とストレス低減が共通の基本です。加えて、給水器・給餌器の定期消毒、糞による飲水・飼料の汚染防止、良好な換気、湿った黴の生えた敷料を避けることが必要です。
How do you prevent bacterial and parasitic disease in poultry? — Environmental hygiene and reducing stress are the shared basis. Beyond that: disinfect drinkers and feeders regularly, keep droppings out of feed and water, maintain good ventilation, and avoid damp mouldy litter.

Source anchors

Cite this article

獸醫百科編輯部・《Common infectious diseases and parasites of poultry and pet birds: causes, signs and prevention》・IDAEO 知識庫・2026-08-13・https://km.idaeo.ai/vet/poultry-and-bird-diseases

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