Fowl Pox is a relatively slow-spreading viral infection of poultry birds, particularly turkeys and chickens, and is caused by the virus, avian poxvirus. Transmission of this disease is done from the infected chickens to the healthy ones through inhalation and ingestion of the virus. This usually happens when a new chicken is introduced to an established flock. It is also transmitted via mosquito bites. This virus has two different forms that can happen to chickens – dry (cutaneous) form and wet (diphtheritic). For the dry pox form, symptoms include having small, wart-like growths in the unfeathered areas such as comb, wattles, eyelids, feet, and legs. On the other hand, the wet form is associated with higher mortality in chickens and causes plaques or yellow canker lesions.
Fowl Pox Treatment
Fowl Pox can occur to any chicken of age, especially during warmer months. As of now, there is still no proven treatment. Nevertheless, control and prevention can be accomplished through the vaccine, ATCvet. It is also being believed to have limited spread within actively infected flocks. You should also take precautions when administering the vaccine. This is because it is a live type of virus vaccine and that only healthy birds should be vaccinated.
