Leucocytozoonosis in chickens

Leucocytozoonosis is a disease in poultry and wild birds including domestic birds, quails caused by infection with 29 Leucocytozoon spp, 4 main species of which are Leucocbezoon Calleryi, L.samthi and 2 species are commonly seen in Viet Nam: L.Sabresi and L.simondi

1. Etiology
Leucocytozoonosis is a disease in poultry and wild birds including domestic birds, quails caused by infection with 29 Leucocytozoon spp, four main species of which are Leucocbezoon Calleryi, L.samthi, and two species are commonly seen in Viet Nam: L.Sabresi and L.simondi
2. Symptoms
Acute form:
- The disease is commonly seen in chickens at the age of older than 35 days in the rainy season. The incubation period is from 7-12 days.
Affected chickens often exhibit anorexia, depression, high fever, pale crests and combs, mucus discharge from mouth, persistent bloody diarrhea, feces in green color (this feature is less common seen in other diseases in chickens). The number of infected chickens in the flock increases steadily. By day 13-14, some deaths may occur and are usual at night, bleeding in the mouth, noses. Crests and combs are dark; affected chickens may stretch necks back, later die at any time and the mortality rate may reach to 70% if not detected early and timely intervention.
* Chronic form:
The disease is often seen in adult chickens and laying hens after acute infection form develops into chronic state
- In chronic disease, the affected chickens manifest growth retardation, anemia, pale mucous membranes, dark crests, watery green diarrhea, reduction of egg production in laying hens, leg paralysis in some chickens.
The mortality rate is approximately 5-20%
3. Lesions
* Acute form:
- Skin of chest, feet, crests, in the thin, hairless area of the skin, there are many insect bites, hematoma in internal organs, splenomegaly( spleen is twice its normal size) on the surface of the spleen there are many petechiae or necrotic spots. In some cases liver is black
At necropsy: blood thinning and not clotting, Guts contain green feces
- Pulmonary vascular engorgement may be present

Some traces of the disease on infected chickens

4. Prevention
Application of hygiene in the animal housing includes periodic spraying disinfectants; vaccination has not been commonly applied due to high costs, so the vaccine is less used.
Drugs containing sulfadimethoxine,Toltrazuril,Sulfaquinoxaline for periodic prevention are administered 2-3 times/month, 2-3 days/once at interval of 7-10 days.
5. Treatment
* Regimen 1: Methocin-Tri in conjunction with Herbal Marphasol is administered
* Regimen 2: Marcoc-E.coli along with Electrolyte - glucose - K – C is administered
* Regimen 3: 5-1 Sulfa.Tri along with Electrolyte Award - glucose - K – C is administered.