Avian spirochaetosis associated with colisepticemia in free ranging white breasted guinea fowls (<i>Numida meleagris pallas</i>) in arid region of Nigeria: A case report

Abstract

An outbreak of avian spirochaetosis in free ranging white-breasted guinea fowls associated with acute colisepticemia was diagnosed and reported in this paper. During investigation of the outbreak, clinical signs observed were sudden death, listlessness, depression, cyanosis of the wattles and combs, increased thirst, anorexia and fever up to 43°C. There was sporadic mortality of the affected birds. Ticks were observed on the less feathery parts of healthy and the affected guinea fowls and may have contributed to the transmission of the etiologic agent of spirochaetosis (Borellia anserina) leading to the high mortality in this outbreak. Lack of immunization and prompt case reporting contributed to the severity of infection and losses recorded in the farm. Total collapse in tick control and environmental management were the major factors, which precipitated the outbreak.

Keywords: Spirochaetosis; colisepticemia; Numida meleagridis; Nigeria

Animal Production Research Advances Vol. 2 (3) 2006: pp. 161-163