"Preventative Medication Regimes"

Perhaps as controversial as the use of low dose antibiotics in foodstuffs as a growth stimulant, is the practice of routine flock treatment with medications as a recommended method of pathogen control. The argument against routine medication prevention programmes centres on the belief that if your birds are not displaying any symptoms and are fit there is no need for treatment. To subject healthy birds to such a course of action is irresponsible and may do more harm than good.

 

On the other side of the argument are those who believe routinely scheduled preventive medication regimes have a valid role in pathogen control. This action, they believe, is prophylactic and akin to using vaccinations against measles, flu, etc. in human subjects. In support of this argument, they point to the veterinary professions growing use of new viral immunisations that have been developed for parrots that protect against Pacheco Disease, Beak and Feather Disease, etc.

 

It is undeniable that Budgerigars carry a number of disease organisms, which remain hidden, or inactive until specific circumstances, such as stress, are present. Then they are shed through faeces, feather dust, etc. to other birds in the aviary in a very short period of time. New arrivals, whether, imported breeding stock, outcrosses from a local club member, or even a shared breeding with a friend, quickly introduce and spread new bacteria, worms, protozoa’s, etc. throughout the aviary.

 

Vermin

 

In most aviaries, even those, which are kept relatively, clean disease organisms are also introduced by vermin, roaches, etc. Flights, which provide birds access to dirt or fail to protect against the droppings of wild birds and animals allow for an uncontrolled influx of unseen pathogens that are easily passed amongst the flock. Even commercially grown and purchased seeds, introduce disease into the aviary by way of microscopic spores carrying candida albicans. The point is, pathogens enter the aviary in a number of ways affecting perhaps, one, a dozen or even the majority of birds in the flock and unless we are observant and the birds exhibit the symptoms we do not even know there is a problem. As a result of this, it is easy to understand why routine medication regimes have become such a common management practice in the Budgerigar hobby.

 

A common management practice, however, is not always the best or recommended practice. The problem with routine medication regimes, are that they are terribly short sighted. Routinely treating a flock of birds with medication in an attempt to “kill” what may or may not be present is not responsible aviary management nor a substitute for sound management as it ignores the source of the problem. It is also not the same as immunisation. Immunisation is a process of establishing antibodies to increase resistance to specific disease entities. Medication routines do not build resistance. In fact, routine use of some medications, such as antibiotics, may actually reduce bacterial resistance and increase the incidence of sub-clinical disease in the flock.

 

Desirable management practices, as alluded to by Mr. Cole years ago, are not focused on treating illnesses as is the case with indiscriminate medication usage. Remember, the goal of sound management is always to reduce the need for medication by addressing those factors through which diseases are introduced into the aviary. In this regard, MAP is probably the most significant program developed in the past 50 plus years for improving avicultural practices in the modern aviary and addressing this very issue.

 

from THE MASTER BREEDER

Edited April 3, 200916 yr by Daz

Interesting Read Daz, I'm sure it will get people chattering. thanks

 

Excuse the ignorance but what is the MAP Program he talks about in the last paragraph?? I take it MAP is an Acronym but I don't know what for... I've re read the article but can't see it anywhere... I am sleep deprived though...

Very interesting article.

 

"Routinely treating a flock of birds with medication in an attempt to “kill” what may or may not be present is not responsible aviary management nor a substitute for sound management as it ignores the source of the problem."

Interesting Read Daz, I'm sure it will get people chattering. thanks

 

Excuse the ignorance but what is the MAP Program he talks about in the last paragraph?? I take it MAP is an Acronym but I don't know what for... I've re read the article but can't see it anywhere... I am sleep deprived though...

 

 

"The Model Aviculture Programme (MAP)"

MAP, is an outgrowth of the National Cage and Aviary Bird Improvement Plan that was initially proposed by a subcommittee of the United States Animal Health Association in 1981. In its original form, it was supposed to be a government program that set standards of care for all breeders of exotic bird species. It was to be administered by state agencies and subject to inspection by officers of the state. Acting on their fear and concerns that these standards of care would be unrealistic and arbitrarily decided upon by officials of various government agencies with little or no experience with or without knowledge of the exotic species involved, a group of California aviculturalists, using veterinarians as resource persons, addressed the concerns of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Centre for Disease Control and developed as an alternative, MAP.

 

As it stands, right now, MAP is a voluntary program designed to improve avicultural practices by outlining basic standards of care. Included in the model, is the provision for veterinarian site inspections, as unbiased professionals, rather than inspection by government officials. Certification is offered to individuals who meet the standards and pass the veterinarian inspection.

 

What Is So Significant About Map?

 

It is not that MAP sets basic standards of care. Good aviary managers have always maintained a high standard of care and cleanliness. More than anything, it is that MAP offers the modern aviculturist a new perspective into aviary medical management and control of pathogens. To understand this, you will need to understand the concepts upon which MAP was built.

 

The Closed Aviary Concept

 

In a limited way, we could define a closed aviary, as a structure in which there are a number of distinct and separated areas, each having a role in the overall breeding operation.

 

In MAP, however, the concept of a closed aviary goes way beyond what this limited structural view would suggest. For example, it doesn't matter in the Model Avicultural Program if all of these areas are located in one place or are spread over a number of different locations. A breeding room could be located in your house. The isolation area may be in your garage. The flight may be a free standing circle in your yard, while the breeding room could be found in the garden shed. What is important to the MAP concept of a closed aviary, is that each of these areas, regardless of where they are located are thought of and treated as separate modules, each having a specific function and playing a fundamental role in the overall control of pathogens and medical management in your aviary.

 

In addition, the MAP closed aviary concept adheres to the following basic principles:

1. Protection of the flock from infectious or management induced disease is always the primary concern of a closed aviary. All management efforts are focused on prevention of widespread or recurring problems in the future. Individual birds are still diagnosed and treated, but it is clearly understood that enhancing and protecting the productivity of the entire flock is more important than protecting the contributions of a single bird.
   
2. Traditional medical management focuses on diagnosis, treatment and control of the existing clinical illness. In the closed aviary concept, when a disease is diagnosed, the focus is on finding the relationship between management practices and the disease. The goal is to identify the husbandry flaw that allowed the disease to manifest itself.
   
3. Disease prevention by improved management efforts is accomplished through the basic principles of designated areas and control of human and animal traffic between these areas. Each area has a prescribed protocol for the elimination of pathogens as the closed aviary is designed to restrict the introduction of disease agents and disruptive factors within the collection. Control of human or bird movements when entering or leaving an area and between areas further restricts the introduction of pathogens and eliminates problems of cross contamination.
   
4. Record systems are an integral part of effective management and are used to clarify and monitor potential problems in each of the designated areas. For instance, records documenting the health status and treatment protocol of a bird initially entering the facility, provide an effective means of detecting the presence of, or tracking the cause of any sub-clinical diseases that may appear as it exits one area and arrives into another area of the aviary.
   

The Role Of Modules In A Closed Aviary System Quarantine Area

 

Quarantine is the primary defence in protecting the flock from the introduction of infectious disease. Its secondary purpose is to determine whether or not the new additions are diseased and then to treat the problem. The quarantine area is where all new arrivals are housed and ideally it should be as far away from the rest of the collection as possible. A separate building or a separate room is always preferred. The standard quarantine period is 45 days. Any imported bird or a bird that has been exposed to other avian species of unknown origin should be quarantined for a period of 90 days. A mistake made by many breeders, is that they believe that any bird, which has been through “Government Quarantine” is free from infectious disease. This is far from correct, as these quarantine programmes are usually designed only to protect poultry from specific economically impacting diseases and is not concerned whether a bird is otherwise healthy. Any bird, which is taken out of the collection and exposed to other birds must re-enter the facility through the quarantine area. The minimum recommended quarantine period for a bird re-entering the facility that has not had direct contact with another bird, is 30 days. In the Quarantine Area, the most important concept to disease control is the “all in - all out” concept. If during the quarantine period new birds are introduced, the quarantine period automatically begins afresh for all of the birds housed there.

 

Good hygiene is mandatory while working in the quarantine area. Discard disposable gloves and/or wash and disinfect your hands after contacting each quarantined bird. Wash your hands in a disinfectant when leaving quarantine. Separate food containers, utensils, etc. should be marked and utilised only in the quarantine area and then with the same bird or group of birds throughout their course of treatment. Ideally, birds should be housed separately. A hospital gown and shoe covers should be worn while in the quarantine area. The gown and shoe covers are then removed as exiting the area to reduce the risk of cross contamination. Feeding, care, and servicing of the quarantine area should be the last task undertaken after all other aviary chores are accomplished. Quarantine records should indicate:

 

1. The arrival date and source of the bird.

 

2. Bird identification number.

 

3. Cage number.

 

4. Comments, findings of the physical examination.

 

5. Daily observations of behaviour.

 

6. List of laboratory tests and results.

 

7. List of treatments and medications used.

 

8. Date of release from quarantine.

 

Quarantine protocols, or the type of laboratory tests given and the routine treatments performed, have generally varied depending on the veterinarian, the species, the origin and the value of the bird. Typically, the more expensive the bird, especially if imported, the greater the number of laboratory tests that are given. Dr. Joel Murphy, D.V.M., and Board Certified in Avian Medicine, believes that quarantine protocols should be based on what he refers to as “risk factors”. In terms of the financial loss and loss of time involved in developing your strain of birds, what do you have to lose if a bird entering your aviary carries a disease and 80% to 90% of the flock is affected. If you have a collection of very few inexpensive birds, then your risk is low. As your flock grows, however, and more expensive birds are added to the collection, then the quarantine protocol takes on greater significance.

 

Dr. Murphy feels that quarantine starts with a thorough veterinary examination of every bird entering the aviary. The specific tests and procedures needed beyond the entrance exam, will vary from one aviary to another and are based on an evaluation of the risk factors present in the physical facility that houses the aviary. If, for instance, the birds are housed in a small area, with little ventilation and the risk of a virus spreading quickly through the flock is high, then greater care is necessary when introducing new arrivals.

 

Dr. Murphy suggests, that with Budgerigars, the minimum protocol for all new birds in addition to the entrance exam should be:

 

1. Gram's stain or Bacterial Culture.

 

2. Intestinal parasite faecal exam.

 

3. Treat for psittacosis, regardless of testing.

 

4. Treat for tapeworms regardless of testing.

 

5. Treat for Giardia regardless of testing.

 

6. Treat for Trichomonads regardless of testing.

 

7. Treat for roundworms regardless of testing.

 

8. Treat for Knemidocoptes (scaly mite) regardless of testing.

 

9. Spray all new birds with pyrethrum spray to kill feather mites.

 

10. Evaluate risk factors with your veterinarian and determine additional testing procedures.

Thank you muchly!

I follow this and have three birds in quarrentine at the moment.

1. Gram's stain or Bacterial Culture.

 

2. Intestinal parasite faecal exam.

 

3. Treat for psittacosis, regardless of testing.

 

4. Treat for tapeworms regardless of testing.

 

5. Treat for Giardia regardless of testing.

 

6. Treat for Trichomonads regardless of testing.

 

7. Treat for roundworms regardless of testing.

 

8. Treat for Knemidocoptes (scaly mite) regardless of testing.

 

9. Spray all new birds with pyrethrum spray to kill feather mites.

 

10. Evaluate risk factors with your veterinarian and determine additional testing procedures.

 

 

Wow I have so much to learn... how do you treat for all those diseases? I haven't even heard of Trichomonads or Giardia...

Is trichomonads the same as trichomonasis?

Use a vet if in doubt

1. Gram's stain or Bacterial Culture.2. Intestinal parasite faecal exam.3. Treat for psittacosis, regardless of testing.4. Treat for tapeworms regardless of testing.5. Treat for Giardia regardless of testing.6. Treat for Trichomonads regardless of testing.7. Treat for roundworms regardless of testing.8. Treat for Knemidocoptes (scaly mite) regardless of testing.9. Spray all new birds with pyrethrum spray to kill feather mites.10. Evaluate risk factors with your veterinarian and determine additional testing procedures.

I read this as basically treat for everything and don't bother with the gram stain and the parasite test...... you are treating for worms anyway and a gram stain will tell you if there are gram positive or gram negative bacteria but not WHAT the actual bacteria are. Bacterial cultures will help determine this but the outlay for a vet to do this is IMO, not worth the cost considering you are treating for the diseases anyway.Just make sure, after you blast the birds with all these treatments that you give it a good dose of probiotics.

Is trichomonads the same as trichomonasis?

Trichomonasis is the disease caused by trichomonads.

Thanks very much Nubbly5