Chicken Pox | PetMD

What is Chicken Pox?

Chicken pox, also known as avian pox, is a viral disease that affects many species of wild and pet birds. It is most commonly found in chickens and turkeys, but can infect most species of birds worldwide.

There are over 200 species of fowlpox, usually named after the specific species that the virus affects.

• Canarypox virus

• Quailpox virus

• Psittacosis virus

• Mynah poxvirus

• Turkeypox virus

• Pigeon pox virus

If you notice any of the following signs of a poxvirus in your bird, contact your veterinarian immediately and isolate the infected bird immediately:

Types of Avian Pox

Skin blisters or dry blisters

Dry pox is the cutaneous form of avian pox and is the most common occurrence in all birds.

Pet birds with dry avian pox develop mild to severe skin scabs that begin as small individual scabs that become raised and crusted and expand from the initial scab/lesion. The scabs turn red and then black. Lesions appear on non-feathered parts of the body, such as the bird’s face and legs.

Diphtheroid or eczema

Chickenpox or diphtheria lesions can be found in the following locations:

• Eyes and eyelids

• Oral cavity

• Paranasal sinus

• Nasal cavity

• Respiratory system

• Upper esophagus

Birds with eczema may develop small white or gray nodules in these areas, which may enlarge (spread) and cover most of the area with a thick coating.

Sepsis

The septicemic (viraemic) form of avian pox is rare and has been found in canaries and wild bird species. Septicemia occurs when pathogens (bacteria or viruses) spread throughout the body through the bloodstream.

Septicemic smallpox lesions are commonly found in the following areas:

• lung

• liver

• spleen

• kidney

Pet birds with septicemic smallpox will show symptoms such as severe lethargy, depression and loss of appetite, and the disease can be fatal.

The development of septicemic fowlpox is thought to be related to environmental factors and the health of the bird’s immune system and can occur following a severe wet pox infection.

Avian pox symptoms

Common symptoms of bird pox include:

• Scabs on featherless areas

• Swollen eyes with crusting or discharge

• Facial itching and rubbing

• Picking the affected area (legs)

• Weight loss

• Anorexia (not eating)

• Difficulty breathing (breathing through the mouth)

Causes of Avian Pox

Chicken pox is primarily transmitted by fomites, which can be mechanical (contaminants) or biological (spread by insects). Chicken pox is not contagious to humans or other pets, but other animals and humans can transmit the poxvirus between birds.

Avian pox is most likely transmitted through lesions or wounds in birds. Birds can transmit the virus to other birds through insect bites or other skin lesions/wounds.

Mechanical Vector—Virus particles shed from the shells of skin cells and are shed through fluids from the bird’s lesions. These particles can land on toys, cage bars, or food, and can also be found in feces and feathers. Poxviruses are resistant and can survive in the environment for up to 1.5 years.

Biological Vectors— The most common vector of avian pox is the mosquito, which bites an already infected bird and then transmits the avian pox virus by sucking the blood of an uninfected bird.

How Veterinarians Diagnose Chicken Pox

Veterinarians will usually make a provisional diagnosis of fowl pox based on skin and oral lesions and a detailed medical history indicating the bird may have been exposed to the virus.

Other tests your veterinarian may perform include:

Biopsy/histopathology—A definitive diagnosis of avian pox can be made by taking a skin biopsy or skin scraping of affected tissue from a diseased bird. The tissue is then examined under a microscope to determine whether avian pox is present.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)— Swab samples from the feather flesh (feather follicle) or lesions are tested for the presence of genetic material of the virus.

If your pet bird shows signs of a poxvirus, your veterinarian may ask questions such as:

• Are there any new birds in your flock/aviary?

• When did you first notice the lesions?

• Have there been any changes in your bird’s habits or environment?

If a poxvirus is suspected in a flock of farm birds, such as chickens or turkeys, your veterinarian may ask:

If an outbreak occurs, uninfected birds can be vaccinated, but it is important to identify and isolate sick birds before the entire flock becomes infected.

Treatment of Avian Pox

There is no direct treatment for avian pox. Veterinarians will focus on managing symptoms until the bird clears the virus naturally. Veterinarians will address clinical signs, lesions, or infections with a treatment plan that depends on the species of bird affected. Wound dressing, anti-inflammatories, and antibiotics can be used to aid recovery and keep your bird more comfortable as it recovers.

• Secondary infections (bacterial, fungal, yeast) require topical application or water treatment

  
  
  

It is important to work closely with your veterinarian if there are any changes in your bird’s health. Catching avian pox early can help limit the severity of the disease.

Avian Pox Recovery and Management

Most birds infected with dry pox or mild wet pox recover fully within 2 to 4 weeks. For severe infections, it may take 4 to 6 weeks for a bird to fully recover.

Proper supportive care will aid the healing process, including keeping the wound clean and reducing environmental impacts. Avoid stressing your bird, feed it a balanced diet and follow your veterinarian’s treatment recommendations.

In poultry flocks, it can take weeks or months for the entire flock to recover. They often become infected with both wet and dry pox simultaneously.

If left untreated, bird pox can cause the following symptoms:

Prevention of Avian Pox

To prevent the spread of avian pox, it is important to limit bird contact. Birds suspected of having avian pox should be isolated from other birds. Bird cages or enclosures should be cleaned with a 10% bleach solution (only when birds are not present).

It is also important to make sure your bird is in a safe, secure enclosure to limit contact with wild birds and mosquitoes, which may help prevent avian pox.

For poultry flocks kept outdoors, a vaccine for young birds is available and can be administered on-site by your veterinarian.

Additionally, you can also work with chicken farms to ensure the overall health of your backyard chicken flock. National Poultry Improvement Program It is (NPIP) certified to maintain high quality standards for avian health and biosafety.