Ferguson, C. M.

English

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No. 241 BULLETIN OF THE Rev. ] CN E, 1946 AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE, THE Omo STATE UNIVERSITY Fowl Pox Vaccination By c. M. FERGUSON Extension Poultryman, The Ohio State University Winter Worry. Prevent It Now! Last winter, many areas in Ohio were seriously affected by outbreaks of fowl pox. The disease usually makes its appearance in laying flocks in the late fall and winter. It is seldom serious in warm weather and is rarely seen in growing pullets on range. It appears in many cases when egg prices are best and when poultrymen are trying to secure high egg production. Turkeys are susceptible to the disease. Heavy losses frequently result from outbreaks among late market turkeys and breeding flocks. Fowl pox can be prevented by vaccination. Treatment is not effective. It is too late to do much about the disease once it becomes well established in a flock. The Disease Spreads Rapidly. Fowl pox is highly infectious. It spreads rapidly from bird to bird and once it appears on a farm it is difficult to confine it to any one pen or house. In the same manner, it tends to spread from farm to farm and from one community to another until large areas become affected before the winter is over. The disease is caused by a virus which gains admis-sion through breaks in the skin. Wild birds are carriers. Pigeons are highly suscep-tible and suffer from the : disease in much the same L. manner as do chickens. , Mosquitoes and other insects • -1.. are known carriers. It is · I d 1 h Fowl pox produces scab-like wsdules 0'\1 foccn £<>Ihh. and easi y Carrie on c ot ing, wattles, and often cank&i(io ll\'e hes and throat. This bulletin is a revision of Poultry Pointers No. 65. on cf:.ich.en crates, and other equipment. The virus 1s not easily destroyed by drying but 1s readily killed by direct exposure to strong sunlight. Fuwl Pox is Easily Recognized. The symptoms of the disease are generally quite charactenstic and it should not be difficult to identify it. It is known by other names such as diphtheria, sore head, canker, and contagious epithelioma. The most char-acteristic symptoms are the nodules which appear on the comb, face and wattles. These may vary in size from that of a grain of wheat to as large as a hickory nut. These first appear as small blisterlike spots ranging in color from yellowish to dark brown or grayish black. They are raised above the surface of the skin and resemble warts. See illustration on page I. The eyes are frequently involved. At first the eyes water, and later may become filled with a cheesy canker which adheres to the tissue and frequently destroys the eyes. The most fatal form of the disease is the canker which forms on the mucous lining of the mouth and throat. These cankers have a cheesy appear-ance and frequently cause suffocation. Colds or roup frequently accompany fowl pox. In many cases a watery discharge from the eyes and nose will be evident. Losses from fowl pox may vary from a slight to a very heavy mortality. The greatest loss is usually in egg production. In many outbreaks, the disease persists from 6 weeks to all winter. It is seldom possible to get egg production back to normal in less than 6 weeks after the outbreak occurs. Vt1ccination Prevents the Disease. Immunity to the disease results from a natural outbreak or it can be eetablished by the use of a live virus vaccine. Two types of vaccine are in common use. Each has its merits and its disadvantages: I. Fowl Pox Virus Vaccine (chicken strain) .-This vaccine is made from scabs collected from the combs of healthy birds which have been inoculated with the virus or by growing it on egg embryos. A successful "take" from this vaccination produces life-long immunity. The reaction following the vaccination may be quite severe. Therefore, this vaccine is recommended only for birds in excellent health. It is not recommended for birds in pro-duction. Vaccination with this virus is usually done when the pullets are from 6 to 15 weeks of age. Vaccination has been successfully done earlier in life, but in general these age limits are most satisfactory. Vaccination delayed beyond the age of 15 weeks often results in a serious setback. 2. Pigeon Pox Virus Vaccine (pigeon strain).-Pigeon pox vaccine is made from scabs collected from the breasts of pigeons which have been inoculated. This vaccine produces a mild reaction and a limited immunity. Because of the mild reaction, this type of vaccine is used on birds in produc-tion. It is recommended for flocks where the disease is just breaking out, or where a nearby outbreak makes vaccination advisable after the birds are beyond the age limits suggested for vaccination with fowl pox virus. Some poultrymen rely on pigeon pox vaccine alone. In this case the pullets are vaccinated at housing time. Methods of Applying the Vaccine. Fowl pox vaccine (chicken strain) is most easily and rapidly adminis-tered by the "stab" method in the web of the wing. Specially designed needles for this purpose are available, although a very satisfactory device can be made from a sewing machine needle mounted in a handle or in the stopper of a bottle. The bottle in this case serves as a handle for the instru-ment. The reason for using a sewing machine needle is because the eye of the needle is in the sharp end. The eye will carry enough vaccine to inoculate the punctured skin. Two punctures are usually made. For convenience two needles may be mounted about Yz inch apart. An assistant holds the bird, turning the wing up to expose the under side of the web. The needle is immersed in the vaccine and the wet needle is forced completely through the web. Pullets from 6 to 15 weeks are usually vaccinated in the web of the wing with fowl pox vaccine (chicken strain). Pigeon pox vaccine (pigeon strain) is applied by the "feather follicle" method. In this case, 8 to 12 feathers are removed from the side of the leg and the vaccine applied to the open follicles by means of a stiff brush. This method is sometimes used with chicken pox virus. It is slower and requires more vaccine than the stab method but is more positive in the case of pigeon pox vaccine, which is milder in its reaction. Checking Vaccinated Birds for "Takes." Ten days following vaccination, at least IO per cent and preferably more of the birds should be examined for "takes." A small swelling and light scab formation will appear at the point of inoculation, if the vaccination has been successful. If there is no reaction, the bird was immune, the vaccine was impotent or too dilute, or the method of application was at fault. In the case of young birds which have not been exposed to fowl pox, immunity is unlikely, and a new lot of vaccine should be secured and the birds again vaccinated if takes are not apparent. Cautions in Vaccination. 1. Vaccination is recommended only on farms where the disease was present last year and hens held over or in areas where the disease is prevalent. 2. Growing pullet flocks should only be vaccinated if they are healthy, vigorous, and not showing any evidence of coccidiosis, worms, or paralysis. 3. Vaccinate growing pullet flocks when they are from 6 to 15 weeks of age, using chicken strain vaccine. 4. If the disease breaks out in laying flocks, vaccinate immediately, using pigeon strain vaccine. Every day's delay means more spread of infection. 5. Vaccines are made from the live virus and are capable of producing the disease. They must be used with great caution. a. Burn all unused vaccine. b. Do not spill it on floors or equipment. c. Do not apply it to the bird at any point except the point of vaccination. d. Do not expose the vaccine for long periods to direct sun~hine. e. Follow the manufacturers' directions carefully when preparing and using the vaccine. 6. Your local veterinarian is familiar with vaccination methods and techniques. Consult him about the problem on your farm. The feather follicle method is used for fall and winter vaccination with pigeon strain vaccine. THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY AND THE U. s. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATING AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE-H. c. RAMSOWER, DIRECTOR. COLUMBUS, OHIO Printed and distributed in furtherance of Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914 

Fowl Pox Vaccination

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Fowl Pox Vaccination

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