THE REALITIES ABOUT POULTRY The Modern Farm - The Realities About Poultry_Seco | Page 95

 The prevalence of virulent strains (velogenic, viscerotropic and pneumotropic) in tropical
countries;
 Continuous contact with other domestic and wild species of birds (such as ducks and pigeons),
which can carry the virus without showing the disease.
 Uncontrolled movement of birds between villages.
There is a seasonal pattern to outbreaks of New Castle disease influenced by:
 The arrival of migratory birds;
 Changes in climatic conditions leading to stress, which predisposes birds to the disease;
 Hot, dry and windy periods, which encourage airborne spread of the virus; and
 Overuse of the few supply points of water available (during the dry season), which then become
heavily contaminated with the virus.
(2) Fowl Pox
This is a highly infectious disease caused by various host-specific strains of the pox virus. Many birds
are affected by these viruses to some extent. The virus can be transmitted directly by infected birds,
or be carried by mosquitoes, or other blood sucking insects. By eliminating breeding areas for these
insects, the rate of spread of the virus will decrease.
The fowl pox virus attacks the skin and the surface of the mouth and throat. Depending on its
location, pox is referred to as either skin pox or wet pox. Skin pox forms wart-like sores, which
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