GUMBORO DISEASE / INFECTIOUS BURSAL DISEASE

GUMBORO DISEASE / INFECTIOUS BURSAL DISEASE 

Gumboro disease is a highly acute contagious disease of young chicken, it’s caused by infectious bursal disease virus characterised by immuno suppression and mortality generally at 3 to 6 weeks of age. 

    Gumboro disease spreads by contaminated faeces, water and feeds. It is highly contagious and Hardy agent. Some vectors can harbor the virus including darkling Beatles and Rats

    Things farmers do to facilitate the occurrence of gumboro disease include, poor vaccination programme, inadequate supply of heat/warmth in the brooder, poor sanitation, presence of rodents and poor biosecurity. 

Elevated body temperature, watery urate diarrhoea, ruffled feathers, trembling, huddling, depression, sleepiness and lameness can occur.  

  The bursal is enlarged (2-4times), haemorrhagic and oedomatous. 

  Swollen necrotic spleen 

  Mucous in the intestines 

  Muscle haemorrhage, rickets and dehydration. 

  Haemorrhage at the Junction of the proventriculus and gizzard. 

   Proper vaccination, biosecurity and provision of right temperatures in the brooder. 

Treatment 

  There’s no specific treatment available but supplementing with glucose, vitamins and facilitating access to water, feeds and heat will help and more so enforcement of biosecurity. 

Diagnosis 

  Oedematous involvement of the bursal of fabricius