Ascardia
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maz
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- Posts: 351
- Joined: 15 Aug 2011, 21:51
- Location: highett vic
I've just had someone on another site mention that they have had ascardia through their budgies, they have lost lots of their flock and are contemplating having the rest euthanased, I'm just looking at options for them and was hoping some of you guys on here with veterinary experience may know a solution for her....if anyone can help, I hate to hear of someone thinking that their only option is euthanasing their whole flock.
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maz
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- Posts: 351
- Joined: 15 Aug 2011, 21:51
- Location: highett vic
Yeah it is Deb, I'll copy the post from the person's FB page, it's really heartbreaking, she's lost 60 birds that she recently bought in that were infected and already lost nearly 50 of her own birds, it appears that the big problem is that the eggs can hang around and cause reinfestation. Sounds like a horrible situation, she's working with vets but it's always worth looking at other's opinions and experiences.
Quote from her FB page
this is what is happening in my stud right now
worms are a big deal
don't underestimate the short time they can infect your birds
Large Roundworms (dsearidia spp.):
Ascaridia hermaphrodita and closely related roundworms are common in psittacines, especially the larger Australian parakeets. Their importance as a cause of disease in these birds has only recently been realized. The very similar Ascaridia columbae is common in pigeons and A. galli in gallinaceous birds. The worms, which are probably cosmopolitan in distribution are easily visible to the naked eye on post-mortem examination or when they are passed in the feces. They can measure as much as 10 cm. in length, are whitish in colour and round in cross section, being about as thick as an ordinary pin. The life cycle of the worm is direct. The eggs are passed in the feces and the larvae develop in the egg outside the body of the bird. Within 1 to 2 weeks the eggs become infective to the host, but they can remain viable for over three months under suitable conditions of warmth and moisture. Direct sunlight kills the eggs, however. When the eggs are ingested by a suitable host the larvae are released in the small intestine. The larvae live in the gut and also penetrate the wall of the intestine. After moulting they reach the adult stage, produce eggs and the cycle is repeated. Young birds of most species are more susceptible to infestation than adults, but in parakeets this is not necessarily the case. Parakeets lose condition and may develop apparent paralysis of the legs, because the worms in these birds most frequently cause trouble by impacting and blocking the small intestine. In a small parakeet, only a few worms may produce trouble, since they are relatively large and often difficult for the bird to pass; this is because the diameter of the lower part of the small intestine is smaller than that of the duodenum where the worms are most frequently found.
birds then fall ill to septicemia causeing the lining of gut to become infected and birds dieing due to worms not being able to be passed
in turn causeing very quick transference of cross infection to whole stud
Adult birds are more susceptible. In parental flocks, cocks are far more susceptible than hens.
Treatment
The most efficient treatment in breeding flocks or laying hens is individual intramuscular injections of a long-acting tetracyclines, with the same antibiotic in drinking water, simultaneously. The mortality and clinical signs will stop within one week. But the bacteria might remain present in the flock.
Clinical signs and post-mortem lesions
In acute cases, a green diarrhoea can be an early symptom.
The most typical symptom, in chronic cases, is the swelling of the wattles. It is more frequent in resistant local breeds. Rather than a general infection, localized infections are more characteristic. These often occur in the respiratory tract including the sinuses and pneumatoics bones, hock joints, sternal bursa, foot pads, peritoneal cavity and oviducts.
In acute cases, the most typical p.m. lesion is the petechiae observed in the epicardial fatty tissue. Necrotic foci on liver are usually found and general hyperemia is common. Due to the speed of infection and mortality, birds are in good body condition and do not exhibit the signs of prolonged illness.
no guarantee birds will ever be well and decision to cull whole flock left in my hands
does anyone have any ideas about this or experience themselves help would be much appreciate links infor people whom have delt with it all welcome
Quote from her FB page
this is what is happening in my stud right now
worms are a big deal
don't underestimate the short time they can infect your birds
Large Roundworms (dsearidia spp.):
Ascaridia hermaphrodita and closely related roundworms are common in psittacines, especially the larger Australian parakeets. Their importance as a cause of disease in these birds has only recently been realized. The very similar Ascaridia columbae is common in pigeons and A. galli in gallinaceous birds. The worms, which are probably cosmopolitan in distribution are easily visible to the naked eye on post-mortem examination or when they are passed in the feces. They can measure as much as 10 cm. in length, are whitish in colour and round in cross section, being about as thick as an ordinary pin. The life cycle of the worm is direct. The eggs are passed in the feces and the larvae develop in the egg outside the body of the bird. Within 1 to 2 weeks the eggs become infective to the host, but they can remain viable for over three months under suitable conditions of warmth and moisture. Direct sunlight kills the eggs, however. When the eggs are ingested by a suitable host the larvae are released in the small intestine. The larvae live in the gut and also penetrate the wall of the intestine. After moulting they reach the adult stage, produce eggs and the cycle is repeated. Young birds of most species are more susceptible to infestation than adults, but in parakeets this is not necessarily the case. Parakeets lose condition and may develop apparent paralysis of the legs, because the worms in these birds most frequently cause trouble by impacting and blocking the small intestine. In a small parakeet, only a few worms may produce trouble, since they are relatively large and often difficult for the bird to pass; this is because the diameter of the lower part of the small intestine is smaller than that of the duodenum where the worms are most frequently found.
birds then fall ill to septicemia causeing the lining of gut to become infected and birds dieing due to worms not being able to be passed
in turn causeing very quick transference of cross infection to whole stud
Adult birds are more susceptible. In parental flocks, cocks are far more susceptible than hens.
Treatment
The most efficient treatment in breeding flocks or laying hens is individual intramuscular injections of a long-acting tetracyclines, with the same antibiotic in drinking water, simultaneously. The mortality and clinical signs will stop within one week. But the bacteria might remain present in the flock.
Clinical signs and post-mortem lesions
In acute cases, a green diarrhoea can be an early symptom.
The most typical symptom, in chronic cases, is the swelling of the wattles. It is more frequent in resistant local breeds. Rather than a general infection, localized infections are more characteristic. These often occur in the respiratory tract including the sinuses and pneumatoics bones, hock joints, sternal bursa, foot pads, peritoneal cavity and oviducts.
In acute cases, the most typical p.m. lesion is the petechiae observed in the epicardial fatty tissue. Necrotic foci on liver are usually found and general hyperemia is common. Due to the speed of infection and mortality, birds are in good body condition and do not exhibit the signs of prolonged illness.
no guarantee birds will ever be well and decision to cull whole flock left in my hands
does anyone have any ideas about this or experience themselves help would be much appreciate links infor people whom have delt with it all welcome
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jusdeb
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- Joined: 12 Mar 2009, 19:43
- Location: Dubbo, NSW
- Location: Western Plains NSW
Wow that is serious stuff indeed .
Ive googled a bit to try and find some ideas for alternatives and the only thing so far is Paw paw .
I recently lost a large newly bought parrot myself , died very soon after being wormed , horrible death and all pointers indicate a massive worm burden ...Really wish people would not undersestimate the damage a worm infestation can and will do .
Anyhoo enough of me and my soap box , Im going to keep googling and anything I find Ill poat the links in here .
Ive googled a bit to try and find some ideas for alternatives and the only thing so far is Paw paw .
I recently lost a large newly bought parrot myself , died very soon after being wormed , horrible death and all pointers indicate a massive worm burden ...Really wish people would not undersestimate the damage a worm infestation can and will do .
Anyhoo enough of me and my soap box , Im going to keep googling and anything I find Ill poat the links in here .
Accept that some days you are the pigeon, and some days you are the statue.
David Brent
David Brent
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Finchman1
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http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/ind ... opic=21241" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Myzomela
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Hi Maz,
That's one very confused post.
For the first part she's talking about roundworm infections.
Then she goes on about injections with long acting teracyclines etc.
Worm infections are treated with anthelmintics(dewormers) not with antibiotics. It reads like she starts talking about ascarid infections, then when it comes to treatment that she is treating a respiratory infection. I'm not sure what's going on there.
Also, by referring to "parakeets" it sounds like she's in the US or possibly Europe.
If she has a worm problem that is that severe, then treating all the birds with de-wormers fortnightly for 3 treatments, then again 6 weeks later would be a start.
She needs to totally clean up her floor- get rid of all droppings, seed/food and possibly the top 5-10 cm of substrate if she has soil/mulch/sand on the floor. A blow torch will also help kill the eggs; disinfectants do not work. All feeders, nest boxes etc should also be replaced.
This is all basic information that she should have already received from her vet.
I have never heard of anyone having to cull their entire flock due to a worm problem. She also needs to understand the importance of quarantine.With budgies, worming all new birds and dry housing should almost eliminate this problem permanently.
If however her problem is some respiratory or systemic infection such as psittacosis, she may have to cull some carrier birds, not necessarily the entire flock.
It sounds like she needs to have a good long talk with her vet- nad some moral support too!!
That's one very confused post.
For the first part she's talking about roundworm infections.
Then she goes on about injections with long acting teracyclines etc.
Worm infections are treated with anthelmintics(dewormers) not with antibiotics. It reads like she starts talking about ascarid infections, then when it comes to treatment that she is treating a respiratory infection. I'm not sure what's going on there.
Also, by referring to "parakeets" it sounds like she's in the US or possibly Europe.
If she has a worm problem that is that severe, then treating all the birds with de-wormers fortnightly for 3 treatments, then again 6 weeks later would be a start.
She needs to totally clean up her floor- get rid of all droppings, seed/food and possibly the top 5-10 cm of substrate if she has soil/mulch/sand on the floor. A blow torch will also help kill the eggs; disinfectants do not work. All feeders, nest boxes etc should also be replaced.
This is all basic information that she should have already received from her vet.
I have never heard of anyone having to cull their entire flock due to a worm problem. She also needs to understand the importance of quarantine.With budgies, worming all new birds and dry housing should almost eliminate this problem permanently.
If however her problem is some respiratory or systemic infection such as psittacosis, she may have to cull some carrier birds, not necessarily the entire flock.
It sounds like she needs to have a good long talk with her vet- nad some moral support too!!
Research; evaluate;observe;act
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maz
- ...............................
- Posts: 351
- Joined: 15 Aug 2011, 21:51
- Location: highett vic
My understanding of the antibiotics was that the birds were coming down with sceptecemia from the worm infestation,I think that post was a paste job with what she managed to find on the net, so probably an American site.
Thanks for that info though, I will pass that on to her as an option at least, it sounds like a horrible situation but a lesson to be learnt on quarantine and the value of worming.
Thanks for that info though, I will pass that on to her as an option at least, it sounds like a horrible situation but a lesson to be learnt on quarantine and the value of worming.
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BluJay
Wow! It would be interesting to know, if a parakeet would even be able to survive an infection that went to sepsis. Ringworm, that would while not diagnostic, suggest, wet, humid conditions, or if you will, straight up filth! Complete erradication, by destroying all animals, maybe due to lack of finance and time to treat all birds. Dunno?
Last edited by BluJay on 03 Apr 2012, 10:33, edited 1 time in total.