Understand Infectious Coryza in Chickens: Scientific Prevention and Control & MFIbio's Comprehensive Solution
Infectious coryza in chickens is a common bacterial disease threatening the poultry farming industry. It not only hinders chicken growth and causes a sharp drop in egg production but also easily leads to mixed infections, resulting in severe economic losses for the industry. MFIbio, deeply engaged in the field of animal disease prevention and control, relies on professional technology and a rich product portfolio to provide efficient prevention and control solutions for infectious coryza in chickens to farms worldwide, safeguarding breeding safety and benefits.
1. Infectious Coryza in Chickens: A Non-Negligible Threat to Breeding
(1) Pathogen and Transmission Characteristics
Infectious coryza is caused by Avibacterium paragallinarum (formerly known as Haemophilus paragallinarum, still widely used in clinical practice). This Gram-negative bacterium measures 1–3 μm × 0.4–0.8 μm and often shows bipolar staining in nasal smears. It has poor environmental adaptability and weak survival ability in vitro, surviving only 4 hours in tap water, yet it can still spread efficiently through various channels.
In natural conditions, Avibacterium paragallinarum only infects chickens, with 4–12-week-old replacement pullets and laying hens being the most susceptible. The disease can occur throughout the year, and its incidence rises significantly in autumn and winter due to large temperature differences and poor ventilation. The sources of infection include sick chickens, asymptomatic carrier chickens, and recovered chickens that still carry the bacteria. It is mainly transmitted through respiratory droplets; contaminated feed and water can cause infection via the digestive tract, and wild birds are also potential transmission vectors.
(2) Typical Symptoms and Hazards
Infected chicken flocks show obvious symptoms, with 29-day-old broilers being particularly prominent: externally, severe torticollis and listlessness are observed, and dry, yellowish-brown caseous exudate adheres to the feathers of the external ears and earlobes, affecting the chickens' feeding and activities; during necropsy, cerebellar edema, petechial hemorrhages, discoloration of the skull due to necrotic exudate, and localized necrotic exudate in the cranial cavity are found, directly damaging the nervous system and organ functions.
The disease also damages the respiratory mucosal barrier, creating conditions for the invasion of viruses such as Newcastle disease and avian influenza, as well as other bacteria, forming a "vicious cycle of mixed infections" and further exacerbating breeding losses.
2. Scientific Prevention and Control: Building a Multi-Dimensional Defense Against Infectious Coryza in Chickens
(1) Strengthening Basic Biosecurity
Biosecurity is the "first line of defense" for prevention and control, and the following measures must be implemented: adopt an "all-in/all-out" rearing model and strictly prohibit mixed rearing of chickens of different ages; do not purchase chicks, feed, or other supplies from epidemic areas, and thoroughly disinfect all materials entering the farm; maintain a reasonable breeding density and good ventilation, and supplement vitamin A in the feed to enhance the respiratory resistance of the chicken flock.
(2) Enhancing Environmental Disinfection and Management
Regular disinfection can reduce the load of pathogenic bacteria in the environment: prioritize the use of iodine preparations and quaternary ammonium salt disinfectants, which can effectively kill pathogenic bacteria without side effects; thoroughly clean and disinfect the house when it is empty, conduct regular disinfection 1–2 times a week during the breeding period, and increase the frequency and scope of disinfection after the onset of the disease.
(3) Standardizing the Immunization Process
Immunization is a core measure, and different farms need to implement differentiated operations: layer farms require 2 immunizations – the first is a primary immunization to generate memory cells, and the second is a booster immunization to rapidly increase antibody levels and provide long-lasting protection; replacement pullet farms should conduct 1 immunization before selling the young hens, inform customers of the immunization status, and advise them to conduct a second immunization in a timely manner; breeder farms need 3 immunizations to ensure high antibody levels for themselves and provide sufficient maternal antibodies for their offspring; when layer farms purchase chicks, they should obtain information on the immunization history of the breeder flocks from the breeder farms to determine the timing of the first immunization for the chicks.
(4) Rational Use of Drugs for Auxiliary Prevention and Treatment
Drugs can be used for emergency treatment, with sulfonamide drugs being the first choice, administered through mixed feeding or drinking water: sulfamonomethoxine, which has relatively low toxicity, is recommended and should be used in combination with a synergist at a ratio of 5:1 to improve efficacy; during drug administration, an appropriate amount of sodium bicarbonate should be added to the feed or drinking water to reduce the burden on the kidneys.
3. MFIbio: A Professional Partner in the Prevention and Control of Infectious Coryza in Chickens
In response to prevention and control needs, MFIbio has developed a diversified, high-tech vaccine product range and system:
- Rich Vaccine Portfolio: It includes inactivated monovalent vaccines for infectious coryza (for basic prevention), inactivated trivalent vaccines (Newcastle Disease, Avian Influenza Subtype H9, and Infectious Coryza) and inactivated bivalent vaccines (Mycoplasma and Infectious Coryza) for "one-shot multi-protection", as well as customized inactivated tetravalent vaccines (Newcastle Disease, Avian Influenza Subtype H9, Infectious Coryza, and Fowl Adenovirus) and inactivated bivalent vaccines (Infectious Coryza and Pasteurella multocida) for complex scenarios, meeting the needs of different breeding operations.
- Supported by Core Technologies: In terms of safety, endotoxin treatment ensures endotoxin levels ≤ 10 EU/mL to reduce stress, and the imported French composite oil adjuvant keeps the vaccine viscosity < 30 cP, causing no obvious discomfort to laying hens during the peak egg-laying period after immunization; in terms of efficiency, the "trivalent bacterial-viral strain" design covers major prevalent serotypes, the subunit antigen purity is ≥ 90% (with 10 times higher activity than traditional whole-bacterial antigens), the antigen concentration of serotypes A, B, and C for coryza is all ≥ 300 μg/mL, and the adjuvant can also activate the Th1 helper cell immune pathway to strengthen the bacterial immune response, ensuring stronger and longer-lasting protection.
The prevention and control of infectious coryza in chickens requires a "multi-pronged approach". With its in-depth understanding of the disease, advanced technology, and rich product range, MFIbio provides farms with comprehensive solutions from prevention to emergency response, helping the industry reduce risks and achieve steady development.