Attention! This is a potentially life-threatening condition for your bird and possibly your flock. Time is of the essence, contact your veterinarian immediately.Find me a Vet
Leucocytozoonosis
Duck Malaria
Leucocytozoonosis is a vector-borne, parasitic disease of waterfowl, caused by infection with the blood parasite Leucocytozoon. Ducks and geese are primarily affected by L. simondi. These parasites are transmitted by black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) and are known for infection and destruction of the host's red blood cells, resulting in intravascular hemolytic anemia.
Black flies will carry the infective sporozoites in their salivary gland, which gets transferred into the duck upon the insect bite. One inside the duck's body, sporozoites travel to the liver, enter hepatocytes and replicate numerous times and migrate to different tissues and organs, such as the brain, spleen, heart, and lungs.
The prepatent period for L. simondi infection is approximately two weeks. Clinical signs vary with age and condition of the host. In young ducklings, the disease is usually more severe and progresses very quickly. Signs include loss of appetite, listlessness, rapid breathing, weakness, and sometimes death within 24 hours. When adult ducks are affected, signs of disease usually occur gradually, and are milder. Most affected birds will die a few days after signs develop.
Recovered birds may harbor L. simondi in their blood for more than a year. They may also continuously cough and tracheal rales. There is also loss of vigor, and birds often die when under stress. Male ducks will show reduced mating.
Leucocytozoonosis Diagnosis
Leucocytozoonosis can be diagnosed by the demonstration of gametocytes in blood smears. Histopathological examination of the liver, spleen and brain can show developing Leucocytozoon megaloschizonts. Necropsy may reveal an enlarged spleen and liver.
Isolate the bird from the flock and place in a safe, comfortable, warm location (your own duck "intensive care unit") with easy access to water and food. Limit stress. Call your veterinarian.
Primaquine
0.75-1 mg/kg PO once, used in conjunction with chloroquine (25 mg/kg PO at 0h, then 15 mg/kg at 12,24, and 48h)
Pyrimethamine
Given orally (0.5 mg/kg PO q12h x 14-28 days) or in feed (1 mg/kg feed for 28 days), Supplement with folic acid.
Case 1: Leucocytozoon infection in a Welsh Harlequin Ducks A group of eleven, 6-week-old Welsh Harlequin ducklings hatched in Northern Ontario in late June were housed indoors until approximately 4-5 weeks of age, and then were allowed access to an outdoor enclosure during the day. Other than green watery diarrhea, the ducks were clinically normal. However in mid-August, at six weeks of age, one of the ducks became inappetent and lethargic, exhibited labored breathing, and died overnight. In the following two days, three more ducks died, the last two exhibiting similar clinical signs as the first. In total, the owner lost 5 of the 11 ducks; two recovered following intensive supportive care. Chickens were also maintained on the same property but housed in a separate enclosure and suffered no morbidity or mortality. Pens were cleaned every 1-2 days; feed and water were always available and refreshed daily. Ref
Attention! This is a potentially life-threatening condition for your bird and possibly your flock. Time is of the essence, contact your veterinarian immediately.Find me a Vet
