Avian spirochetosis

Important note: Borrelia anserina is not a plant disease. It is a pathogenic bacterium that causes avian spirochetosis, a serious infectious disease affecting poultry and wild birds. This agent falls strictly under the scope of veterinary medicine rather than agronomy or plant pathology.

The causative agent, Borrelia anserina, is a spirochete bacterium. It causes a systemic, acute infection characterized by spirochetemia. The disease is known to affect a wide range of avian species, including chickens, geese, ducks, and turkeys, often resulting in heavy mortality rates in commercial and backyard poultry farms.

Transmission occurs primarily through the bites of infected argasid ticks, specifically Argas persicus. These ticks act as biological vectors, where the bacteria multiply within the tick's tissues. Transovarial transmission in ticks ensures that the infection persists in the environment for long periods, making complete eradication difficult without rigorous hygiene.

Symptoms of the disease are indicative of systemic infection and include high fever, severe depression, anorexia, and greenish-yellow diarrhea. Cyanosis of the comb and wattles is a frequent visual sign. In the acute phase, birds may develop paralytic symptoms, particularly in the wings and legs, leading to collapse and death if left untreated.

Effective control and prevention strategies focus on breaking the cycle of infection through vector management:

• Systematic acaricide treatment of poultry houses to eliminate tick populations.
• Structural maintenance to seal cracks and crevices where ticks hide.
• Implementing strict quarantine protocols for new birds added to the flock.
• Regular inspection of birds for external parasites.
• Supportive therapy and antibiotic administration administered by a veterinarian for infected flocks.