Pathologic findings in racing pigeons (Columba livia domestica) with "young bird sickness".

Scullion FT, Scullion MG.

Veterinary Services for Birds, 16 Cranlome Road, Ballygawley, Co. Tyrone BT70 2HS, Northern Ireland.

"Young bird sickness" is a term used by racing pigeon fanciers to describe a condition that has occurred regularly in recent years and affects pigeons (Columba livia domestica) in their first year of life. It is characterized by slow crop emptying, regurgitation, diarrhea, weight loss, poor performance, and occasionally death. Little scientific information is known about this syndrome to differentiate it from other diseases that occur in young pigeons. In this study, 1 bird from each of 9 lofts where "young bird sickness" was reported was euthanatized for cytologic and postmortem examination. Lesions of the lymphoreticular system, alimentary tract, and respiratory system were the most common findings. Lesions of the lymphoreticular system were present in all birds examined, and 3 birds had histopathologic findings consistent with circovirus infection. Combinations of protozoal, fungal, and mixed bacterial infections were associated with ingluvitis in 7 birds and enteritis in 6 birds. Pneumonitis was found in 5 birds that tested positive for Chlamydophila by polymerase chain reaction. Although "young bird sickness" appears to be a multifactorial condition, a pattern of lesions that involved the lymphoreticular, gastrointestinal, and respiratory systems was evident, whereas diseases of other organ systems were uncommon. These findings suggest that "young bird sickness" may have a common etiology, and circovirus infection is proposed as a possible initiating cause of this syndrome in young racing pigeons in Northern Ireland.

hi ian, yb sickness is something im terrified of getting.....by whet ive heard of it its a nasty thing, i dont remember yb sickness around when we raced years ago......hows it all come about ?

wish i knew david but if you spot the symptoms early enough its not a big problem

ill have to keep a check on them next year and if there are any signs ill let you know to advise me.....

yes like i say quite easily treat early enough

Just thought I would add something about ybs...This year I have had it but it seems to me only to effect some birds. I clean my loft every day and everything with me is spotless but I still had it. I read about gutters harbouring it and birds as we know pick and eat anything when they are out, so I stopped my birds going anywhere near the ground or gutters and this I feel might have helped. As I clean out every morning I check the perches and make a note of where yb,s roost at night easily done I make up a perch chart, I do this because any sign of sloppy droppings or corn on the perch are symptoms and thats the start, I have found birds that vomit corn overnight go down with it but not always, so if they have this together with loose droppings and a swollen crop all puffy then it ybs. I kill all of them at this stage, usually about 3/4 days if they dont get better, I have found any birds with these symptoms never make a flyer they are always lost even if they recover, and therefore I kill them that way nothing eles eats the vomited corn and pases it on..this is just what i do , might seem harsh but believe me they will do you no good once they have had it.

Just also like to add I have tried various treatments and some seem to work a little as I would say that they limit the amount of birds that get itb but I dont think any cure it just runs its course.., this year I would asay I had about 6 out of 50 bred that had it all about 2, 3 or 4 months old and flying well. But kiling them strieght away is by far the best and cheapest, and I stamped it out quickly. .so I have binned all treatments now, for ybs.

your wrong if you treat them early enough they can be cured treat them with nyferimycen it works beleive me

Yes I know read what I said again, I have tried treatments and they can recover, but every pigeon I have cured never made it through training..so why feed them for 5 months then loose them. just my opinion.

yes respect your opinion but i like to try and give them a chance , dont get me wrong if they are too bad then they have got to go

I agree with you Ian, Like you i think you have to act fast, as the birds tend to fair better if you do, as it dos'nt take long for a secondary infection to set in.
I also think that it dos'nt matter how clean your loft is or if you dont clean out at all ( mines cleaned out everyday) young bird sickness dos not discriminate its every where. JMO

Amanda

try to keep one step ahead of illness

ive been lucky so far as mine have never been in contact with other pigeons since i got them, when i start racing/training they will be mixing with others so will have to keep a eye on things....first signs of illness i will have to seperate from others....