[karlooben]

i have been looking on the internet for smptoms of mycoplasma and i found this so i thought it would be good to share on here for ppl like me that are not to sure .


(c) MYCOPLASMA - Mycoplasma gallisepticum
Approx 95% of flocks will have Mycoplasma present in the UK
Symptoms
SEEK A VETS ADVICE if you have more than 2 of the following symptoms or have any worries.

• Rattling sounds when breathing
• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Nasal discharge
• Loss of weight
• Loss of appetite
• Swollen sinus can be a symptom of MG; this usually starts at the side of the eye nearest to the beak (sinus area) then can spread around the eye.
• Foamy discharge from eyes
• Watery eyes
• Bird becomes droopy
• Fishy breath
• White droppings
• sandpapery eggs
• As far as diagnosis goes, many infections display similar symptoms especially cold type symptoms. It is a mistake to presume that every bird with rattly breathing or other cold like symptoms has mycoplasma gallisepticum. Without a proper lab test one sometimes cannot be really certain what the infection is



Transmission
• Can be passed through the egg - If you incubate infected eggs you can get "bangers" which as the name suggests are exploding eggs in the incubator.
• If it is mycoplasma then there can be no guaranteed full recovery. mycoplasma is a chronic disease so once they catch it they have it for life.
• Introduction of infected birds or birds carrying the disease to existing flock

Treatments suggested by forum members:

• Antibiotics suggested ~ Tylan, Aureomycin (Chlortetracycline hydrochloride), Baytril (Enrofloxacin). These may sometimes need to be used in tandem. Usually given in injection form from daily to every couple of days.
- You can get Tylan in injection form for about £40; this however is only licensed in soluble form for chickens so would have to be prescribed by a vet. Aureomycin, which is about £15 for a tub and is mixed into the drinking water.
• Keep the infected bird warm and isolated

• Good husbandry can prevent the spread, using Stalosan F (a multi spectrum disinfectant powder) when cleaning out coops can prevent the mycoplasma and other (like cocciodosis) diseases getting out of control. Also use on fresh bedding.

• Ventilation and access to clean feed and water are also essential.


It lays dormant within the bird until some other illness or severe stress brings the birds resistance down, then the mycoplasma takes a hold. You can't inoculate against it, and it crosses the egg so that new chicks are born with it. It's an evil thing.

[joyfull]

One of my chickens - an amberlink called Doowop has recently had mycoplasma and my vet prescribed Aureomycin in water for 7 - 10 days for all 7 of my hens and also for Doowop Metacam. This is an oral suspension for dogs and is an anti-inflammatory (honey flavour so she didn't object to this). This had to be given orally twice a day for a couple of days to ease her throat. As chickens metabolism is quicker than a dogs she had the equivalent of a 7.5kg dog. Luckily she is now better and non of the others have shown any signs of having this, but should they do so I have enough medication to treat them all several times over.  

[karlooben]

some of my birds had it and it cleared up but now i have another two that have come down pretty badly with it , the antiboitics dont really seem to be doing much although they are bright an still laying .

one has a swollen face that dosent seem to be going down and the other one has a completely blocked nostril that formed not long after the first outbreak both are eating well thoughh , but they may be getting culled saturday when i visit my friend but i really dont know  wether to do it or not still . if they were dull then yes i would do it but they seem so bright.

[nnbreeder]

Here the drug of choice is Baytril, MG, Infectous Coryza and most resp. infections respond very well to the treatment.

The reason to hit them with the strongest first is that a chicken is small and infection will rapidly take them so there is not really a lot of time for experimenting with different drugs.

Sadly the only way to get rid of the MG is heavy culling and keeping a very bio-secure flock which means cage rearing and severly limiting exposure to wild birds and other things that could cross contaminate.