Denica Enterprises

Diseases

Diseases of the digestive tract:     Hexamitiasis:

Symptoms of the Disease:

Acute catarrhal (or even bloody) enteritis with liquid, rice water-like mucoid, malodorous diarrhea.

Affected pigeons refuse feed and drink more water, resulting in emaciation and debility. Young birds in particular sometimes succumb so severely that the entire intestinal tract is involved and the soft or aqueous faeces is mixed with blood.

Recognition of the Disease:

Hexamitae are demonstrated via microscopic examination in body-temperature smears from the intestinal mocosa of a recently killed, acutely affected pigeon. With extremely severe infestation, it is also possible to demonstrate the parasites in a cloacal swab from a live bird. They can be recognized from their characteristically rapid movements in a straight line - in contrast to trichomonads, which exhibit slow, circular movements around their own axis.

Similar Conditions:

Salmonellosis, Paramyxovirus infection, coli infection, Coccidiosis.

Treatment:

On identification of hexamitae, treat all pigeons in the flock with Chevi-col +.

If increased drinking water is required because of hot weather do not dilute medicated drinking water instead, provide fresh water after the medicated water is finished.

DO NOT provide bath water during the treatment period!