Diseases / List of Bacterial Diseases / Disease description:
Campylobacter Infection in Waterfowl

INFORMATION AVAILABLE

GENERAL INFORMATION

CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS & PATHOLOGY

INVESTIGATION & DIAGNOSIS

TREATMENT & CONTROL

SUSCEPTIBILITY & TRANSMISSION

ENVIRONMENT & GEOGRAPHY

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General and References

Disease Summary
WATERFOWL Bacterial infection which has been implicated as a cause of  enteritis, weight loss and stunting of growth.

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Alternative Names (Synonyms)
  • Campylobacteriosis

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Disease Type
 Bacterial

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Infectious/Non-Infectious Agent associated with the Disease
Campylobacter spp., particularly Campylobacter jejuni. N.B. frequently misidentified as Vibrio spp. : Vibrio metschnikovii or Vibrio cholerae (B13.33.w4, B14).

Infective "Taxa"

Non-infective agents

 --

Physical agents

 -- Indirect / Secondary

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References

Disease Author

 Debra Bourne
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Major References / Reviews

Code and Title List

 B11.39.w7, B14

Other References

Code and Title List

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Clinical Characteristics and Pathology

Detailed Clinical and Pathological Characteristics

General

 WATERFOWL May cause enteritis, rapid weight loss and stunting of growth.

Clinical Characteristics

 WATERFOWL
  • Lethargy, anorexia, diarrhoea (droppings may be yellow), soiling of feathers around vent, also inappetance, ruffled plumage, rapid weight loss and  stunting of juveniles (B11.39.w7).
  • Also frequently recorded from the gastro-intestinal tract of clinically normal birds (B11.39.w7).
  • Experimental infections in birds usually result in hepatitis (B13.33.w4).

Incubation

 WATERFOWL Faecal excretion within one day of oral inoculation in chicks (B32.10.w32).

Mortality / Morbidity

 WATERFOWL --

Pathology

 WATERFOWL
  • Gastro-intestinal tract: muco-haemorrhagic enteritis.
  • Liver: may be enlarged with focal necrosis and prominent liver lobules.

(B13.33.w4, B14)

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Human Health Considerations
  • N.B. potential human health hazard from waterfowl with diarrhoea. (B11.39.w7).
  • The infection rate in healthy birds is high. (B12.22.w13)
  • Infection in humans is usuall by ingestion of contaminated food. (P24.334.w4)
  • In humans, causes gastroenteritis. (B12.22.w13, B23.22.w5)
  • Incubation period in humans is two to five days. (B12.22.w13)
  • Individuals who are debilitated, stressed (incuding the stress of pregnancy) or have impared immune responses are predisposed to developing disease. (B12.22.w13)
  • Clinical signs include abdominal pain initially, then diarrhoea, fever and vomiting, often with arthralgia, backache, headache, malaise and myalgia. (B12.22.w13)
  • Spontaneous recovery usually occurs in seven to 10 days. (B12.22.w13)
  • Complications are rare but septiaemia can develop. (B12.22.w13)
    • Possible sequelae include arthritis, endocarditis, hepatitis, pericarditis, placentitis, pneumonitis, purulent meningitis and thrombophlebitis. (B12.22.w13)

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Susceptibility / Transmission

General information on Susceptibility / Transmission
WATERFOWL
  • Transmission: Campylobacter organisms are shed in faeces and infection occurs by injection of pathogenic strains of Campylobacter from human or animal sewage/faeces, for example in contaminated food or water. Dogs and possibly other mammals may act as carriers (B14).
  • Susceptibility:   Infection implicated as a cause of diarrhoea in ducks and geese (and other bird species), however also frequently recorded from the gastro-intestinal tract of clinically normal birds. Disease due to Campylobacter spp.  may be secondary to other disease, such as coccidial infection or nematode infection, or stress (B11.39.w7, B13.33.w4, B14).

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Disease has been reported in either the wild or in captivity in:
  • Campylobacter jejuni has been isolated from a wide variety of wild birds including crows, gulls, puffins, blackbirds, pigeons, starlings, magpies, bulbuls and migratory waterfowl. (B12.22.w13)

WATERFOWL:

  • Ducks and geese (B11.39.w7).

WATERFOWL Host Species List

 --

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Disease has been specifically reported in Free-ranging populations of:
  • Campylobacter jejuni has been isolated from a wide variety of wild birds including crows, gulls, puffins, blackbirds, pigeons, starlings, magpies, bulbuls and migratory waterfowl. (B12.22.w13)

WATERFOWL:

  • Campylobacter organisms have been isolated from wild waterfowl in the USA (B32.10.w32).

WATERFOWL Host Species List

 --

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Environment/Geography

General Information on Environmental Factors/Events and Seasonality
Campylobacters are very sensitive to drying (B32.10.w32).

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Regions / Countries where the Infectious Agent or Disease has been recorded

--

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Regions / Countries where the Infectious Agent or Disease has been recorded in Free-ranging populations

--

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General Investigation / Diagnosis

General Information on Investigation / Diagnosis
WATERFOWL Diagnosis on basis of culture from fresh faeces or from sterile swab of guts or affected liver at post mortem examination. Transport swab in transport medium (B11.39.w7, B13.33.w4).
Related Techniques
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Similar Diseases (Differential Diagnosis)
WATERFOWL Other causes of enteritis with hepatitis (B14).

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Treatment and Control

Specific Medical Treatment
WATERFOWL Antibiotic treatment must be based on bacterial culture, and sensitivity testing. Erythromycin, tetracyclines or streptomycin may be useful (B11.39.w7, B13.33.w4).
Related Techniques
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General Nursing and Surgical Techniques
WATERFOWL --
Related Techniques
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Preventative Measures
Vaccination WATERFOWL --
Prophylactic Treatment

WATERFOWL

 --
Related Techniques
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Environmental and Population Control Measures
General Environment Changes, Cleaning and Disinfection

WATERFOWL

 Improving general hygiene, particularly in incubators, rearing areas and feed storage areas (B11.39.w7).
Population Control Measures WATERFOWL --
Isolation, Quarantine and Screening WATERFOWL --
Related Techniques
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