Common diseases of duck and its preventive measures

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Veterinary Hospital Kohima

Duck may be infected with one of the various diseases like bacterial, viral, fungal infection etc. which in turn will result in significant economic losses as there is high mortality and loss of egg production. Diseases may spread by direct contact from infected duck to another healthy duck/ by contaminated food and water/ when reared in muddy areas or unhygienic condition.

 

Some of the Common Duck diseases are:

1.    Duck Plague- it is also known as Duck Virus Enteritis caused by a Herpes Virus .Duck of all ages are susceptible to it. The disease is characterized by sudden and  high flock mortality, mature ducks die in good flesh, watery diarrhoea, blue beaks  and blood stained vent.


2.    Duck cholera: it is an infectious disease caused by bacterial organism Pasteurella multocida. The disease is characterized by swelling of the leg joints  and the diseased duck becomes unable to walk .Skin becomes pinkish due to haemorrhage under the skin .


3.    Salmonellosis- the disease is caused by Salmonella pullorum.It affect mostly the young ducklings. The disease is characterized by drooping wing, ruffled feather, anorexia, increased thirst and watery diarrhoea.


4.    Aflatoxicosis -it is caused by ingestion of aflatoxin from infected ingredients like ground nut cake, maize crush, wheat bran, broken rice etc. Ducks of all age groups are susceptible. Disease is characterized by reduced feed intake, poor growth rate, falling of feathers, lameness etc.


5.    Perosis or slipped tendon- caused by deficiency of manganese. Duckling and grower are mostly affected. The disease is characterized by enlargement of hock and in later stage the legs becomes curved and the diseased ducks are unable to walk


6.    Duck pox: caused by Pox virus. Mosquito and other blood suckling insects cause its spread besides by direct contact. The disease is characterized by wart like growth on the head, foot and featherless area of the skin, loss of appetite and drop in egg production

 

Some Steps to Prevent and Control Common Duck Diseases are:


1. The duck shed must be kept clean, dry and airy.
2. The feeder and water trough should be cleaned daily.
3. Avoid overcrowding of duck in one shed and avoid intermix of different age group in one shed.
5. Keep the ducks away from open water bodies.
6. Disinfection of the duck shed once a month with disinfected solution.
7. The feed should be supplemented with vitamin and mineral mixture once a month.
8. Mouldy, wet, smelly feed should not be fed.
9. Duck should be vaccinated with Duck Plague and Duck Pox vaccine yearly and deworming the duck at regular intervals