Typhosis

Avian typhoid is an acute septicemic infectious disease of poultry, most commonly seen at the end of the growing period and in mature animals, particularly serious in commercial laying flocks. It is caused by the Gram-negative bacteria, Salmonella enterica sp. enterica serovar Gallinarum biovar Gallinarum ( S. Gallinarum).

The disease mainly affects mature or growing chickens, but can also affect all chickens, ducks, grouse, guinea fowl, peacocks, pheasants, quails and turkeys.

The disease is often characterized by rapid spread with high morbidity and acute or subacute mortality, with a much greater tendency to spread among growing or mature herds. Clinical signs are typical of sepsis in poultry such as pale, dried out combs and wattles, drowsiness, difficulty breathing, diarrhea and increased mortality. Clinical illness may persist for several months. In breeding hens, infection reduces egg production and hatchability. In addition, it increases the incidence of hairline cracks in egg shells, leading to an increased risk of contamination and, as a result, poor quality of chicks or poults born from infected eggs is observed.

The disease has never been diagnosed in Canada.

Biosecurity is the best way to protect herds to avoid disease transmission.

For a detailed description of these diseases and control measures, please consult the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) website as well as the EQCMA document Detecting notifiable diseases in poultry .

For more information on Avian Typhosis disease, visit the CFIA website: Avian Typhosis