Pennsylvania poultry producers have yet another respiratory disease to watch for in their birds.
Avian metapneumovirus surfaced in the state around January.
Sherrill Davison, an avian pathologist at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, has seen cases in layers, broilers, layer and broiler breeders, and turkeys.
Metapneumovirus’ main danger comes from secondary bacterial infection, which can kill birds.
An infected turkey flock had 17% mortality, while one broiler flock lost 3% of the birds in one day. Layer losses have been more variable but low, Davison said Tuesday at the PennAg Expo.
Birds with metapneumovirus may or may not have swelling, nasal discharge and neurological symptoms.
Layer flocks may not peak, and older layers could lose 6% to 7% of egg production.
In some cases, the birds just don’t look well.
“This disease, everything is variable,” Davison said.
Metapneumovirus at least does not cause shell issues, distinguishing it from egg drop syndrome and avian influenza.
Metapneumovirus has four main types, A through D. Type B has been found from Pennsylvania to Georgia, and type A is in Texas and California.
Wild birds may spread the virus, Davison said.
Poultry shed the virus for a short time, so a PCR test will only pick up an infection in its first few days.
After that, the farm will need to use a different method like blood testing, said Alex Hamberg, Pennsylvania’s state veterinarian.
A PCR test is being developed for use in the state vet lab system, and Hamberg hopes to get it approved and rolled out in April.
No vaccine for metapneumovirus is available in the United States. As a result, good management and treatment of the secondary infection are crucial to the birds’ recovery.
Ventilation, even in cold weather, and dry litter are particularly important, Davison said.
Metapneumovirus and other poultry respiratory diseases can look similar, so Davison encouraged farmers to send birds for testing.
“We need to get them into the lab to diagnose them,” she said.
