Diseases and management of backyard chicken flocks in Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe
1994
Kelly, P.J. | Chitauro, D. | Rohde, C. | Rukwava, J. | Majok, A. | Davelaar, F. | Mason, P.R.
To gather information on backyard chicken flocks in Chitungwiza, an urban center in Zimbabwe, 85 flock owners were interviewed. The mean flock size was 53 birds (range 1-650), and most birds were kept for meat, for either domestic consumption or local sale. Mean age at slaughter was 12.4 weeks (range 8-24). None of the owners vaccinated their birds, and reported mortality rates were high (mean 25%), most commonly being associated with diseases causing eye and respiratory problems. Most owners complained of a lack of technical and veterinary advice. Commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays on sera from 460 birds in 52 flocks showed that the birds had been exposed to avian reovirus (3%), avian leukosis virus (9%), avian encephalomyelitis virus (11%), Newcastle disease virus (27%), Mycoplasma gallisepticum and M. synoviae (33%), Pasteurella multocida (52%), infectious bursal disease virus (55%), reticuloendotheliosis virus (65%), and infectious bronchitis virus (86%). Parasite infections were detected only rarely.
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