New avian virus scares poultry industry

Central, western and eastern regions saw panic in the poultry industry with the discovery of a new avian virus, Avian Adenovirus Group 1, in the chickens on Friday by a team of veterinarians from a university’s veterinary medicine’s diagnostic unit in Nakhon Pathom province.

The virus was detected in breeder chicks, aged 3-7 days, which looked drowsy and exhausted. Many of them suffered convulsions and died in 12 hours wiping away 10-15% of the flock. The surviving chickens exhibited stunted growth.

However, the unit maintained that the virus, which causes inclusion body hepatitis in poultry, could not be transmitted to humans. Chicken meat and eggs are also safe to eat.

Besides young chickens, the disease can be found in pigeons, geese, turkeys and partridges. Possible disease carriers include rats, flies and cockroaches.

The disease takes three to seven days to incubate and the symptoms become apparent in three weeks. The virus causes weak egg shells. Chickens hatching from such weak eggs would become ill in three weeks. Besides transmission from mother to baby chick via the egg, the disease could be transmitted between chickens via virus- contaminated food and drinks and farm equipment.

A test showed disinfectants in the glutaraldehyde category and effective disposal of infected nest floors could help contain the virus, the veterinarians said.