This document discusses fowl pox, a contagious viral disease that mainly affects chickens and turkeys. It is caused by the avipoxvirus, an enveloped brick-shaped virus transmitted through mosquitoes, contaminated surfaces/air, water, feed, or scales from infected birds. The disease presents as cutaneous wart-like growths (dry form), white patches in the mouth/throat (wet form), or eruptions around the eyes and nose. Diagnosis involves identifying characteristic lesions or detecting viral inclusions. Prevention focuses on vaccination and controlling mosquitoes and biosecurity measures. Treatment involves antibiotics in water or ointments to soften lesions.

1. Chapter#12
Fowl pox

2. Fowl pox
Sore head
Avian diphtheria
Bird pox

3. Introduction
• Fowlpox is contagious viral disease.
• Bird of all age is affected by this disease.
• Chicken and turkeys are mainly affected by this
disease.
• Some viral type may also affect
pigeon, geese, pheasants and quills.
• 1-2% mortality rate.
• Incubation period 2-3 weeks.
• Fowlpox is seen worldwide.

4. Etiology
• The large dsDNA virus an avipoxvirus
belongs to family Poxviridae.
• Enveloped.
• Bricked shaped virus.

5. Transmission
• Mosquitoes are the most common vectors
for transmission of the avipoxvirus.
• The virus can also be transmitted indirectly
by contaminated surfaces or airborne
particles.
• Contaminated water and feed.
• Scales of disease bird also transmit the
disease.
• Through wounds.
• Vertical transmission is suspected.

6. Clinical sign
• Cutaneous form (Dry form)
• Diphtheritic form (wet form)
• Oculonasal form

7. Cutaneous form (Dry form)
• Warts like growths are seen on face, comb, wattle and
featherless part of the body.
• They grow readily and then yellow and later turn black
or brown lesion.
• After 2-3 weeks the lesion dry up and scabby.
• In some cases, lesions are limited chiefly to the feet and
legs.
• Cutaneous lesions on the eyelids may cause complete
closure of one or both eyes.
• This form is more common then other.

8. Diphtheritic form (wet form)
• White patches or slightly elevated
nodule occur inside the mouth and
tongue.
• The mucous membrane of mouth and
esophagus are affected.
• The breathing may be difficult.

9. Oculonasal form
• Eruption occur on the opening of eye
and nose.
• The ear and nose may swell and
discharge from eye and nose may be
seen.
• The affected bird do not eat and lay
down.

10. Post mortem lesion
• The diphtheritic form is recognized by the
presence of nodular hyperplasia of the
mucosa of the pharynx and trachea.
• Chickens which die of diphtheritic pox may
show a plug of desquamated epithelium
which lodge in the glottis resulting in
asphyxiation.

12. Diagnosis
• Diagnosis Cutaneous lesions are
characteristic.
• Histological examination of affected tissue
will confirm the presence of intracytoplasmic
inclusions (Bollinger bodies) in the
respiratory mucosa and skin.
• PCR

13. Differential diagnose
• Necrotic dermatitis.
• Leg mites.
• Thrush and canker.

14. Prevention & Controls
• Using a mild-attenuated avipox, chicken-
strain virus vaccine administered at
approximately 8 weeks of age.
• In some areas, broilers are routinely
vaccinated against avian pox by
subcutaneous injection at day-old.
• All in all out program.
• Control mosquito. (anti mosquito spray)
• Biosecurity

15. Treatment
• Oxytetracyclin 300mg per gallon water for three days.
• Treat scabs with dilute iodine solution.
• Apply ointment to soften the scab. Mix 2 tablespoon of
sulfur powder with ½ cup Vaseline. Apply daily until
lesion heal.
• Mix diluted iodine solute on in flock drinking water. 1
teaspoon of 1% iodine solution per gallon of drinking
water.
• Sanitize drinking water.