Salmonellosis (Paratyphoid)

    Salmonellosis (Paratyphoid, Leg Paralysis, Wing Paralysis ) is a bacterial disease. It has different symptoms depending on what organs are affected. It causes high mortality in the very young pigeons, birds that survive the infection frequently become carriers as they harbor the pathogen in their bodies and excrete them without showing any visible symptoms of the disease. Carriers endanger the entire flock, especially the young birds.

    The salmonellae bacteria settles in the intestine, they posses one flagella which enables movement in a moist environment. The pathogens are excreted via the droppings, crop milk, saliva and with infected eggs. Salmonellae can enter the pigeons body through contaminated feed or drinking water, also through billing or feeding of the squabs. The pathogen can even enter the pigeon by breathing dust containing it.

    The disease is imported into the loft by the introducing of a new infected pigeon to the flock, either by purchasing an infective bird or an infected common pigeon that has strayed into the loft.

There are four different forms of the disease:

• Intestinal Form: This form causes diarrhea with slimy/aqueous brownish to greenish droppings, the droppings will be surrounded by fluid and may contain pulpy undigested feed. The intestines are inflamed, feed cannot be broken down for its nutrients. Since the pigeon can no longer absorb the nutrients its starts using its blood sugar, when that is depleted, it uses its fat reserves and then finally its protein i.e. muscle tissue. Soon the pigeon is emaciated (starving) and the dies.

• Articular Form: Salmonellae can quickly multiply in the digested feed. Through damaged intestinal walls they pass easily into the blood stream. From there the blood will carry the disease throughout the whole body. The pathogens may settle in the pigeons joints where they cause painful inflammation. The pigeons body reacts by the increased formation of fluid to these joints, therefore the swelling. The inflammation manifests itself by the pigeon letting a wing droop or holding its leg up to ease the pressure put upon the joints and alleviate the pain.

• Organ Involvement: The disease can also multiply in the different organs of the pigeon especially the liver, kidneys, spleen, heart and pancreas. Tumor like yellowish gray nodes are formed. The changes in the organs are not characterized by any typical external symptoms except listlessness, difficulty in breathing and rapidly progressing debility.

• Nervous Disorder: Salmonellae can enter the brain and the bone marrow and cause inflammation there. As a result of the inflammation there is increased pressure exerted on the nerve cells causing an impaired sense of balance and finally paralysis. 

    The medication of choice is: Baytril 10% (also good for e-coli and ornithosis): Bacterial injection and drug sensitivity is the first choice in determining which drug your pigeon should be treated with, in lieu of that, Baytril is the drug of choice because it works in most cases against bacterial infections. Baytril can be purchased in tablets for individual birds or in liquid form for flock treatment.

• Tablets: 1 tablet for 14 days for an individual bird

• Liquid: 4cc per gallon for 10 days for flock treatment.

• Liquid: 3 or 4 drops down the birds throat for 14 days. (individual treatment). 

    Most of all, isolate any new pigeons you acquire and observe them for at least 30 days before you introduce them into the loft.  And make your loft intruder proof for stray common pigeons and for rodents. Rats and mice also carry paratyphoid and will soil the grain that your pigeons eat.

• Coccidiosis

• Mites and Ticks

• Ornithosis

• Paramyxovirus

• Pox

• Trichomoniasis (Canker)

• Worms

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