Reference type

Journal Article
 

Record Number

27

Author

 Kelly, P.J.; Chitauro, D.; Rohde, C.; Rukwava, J.; Majok, A.; Davelaar, F.; Mason, P.R.

Year

1994

Title

Diseases and management of backyard chicken flocks in Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe

Journal

Avian Diseases

Volume

38

Pages

626-629

Label

Journal

Keywords

Disease, Management, Zimbabwe

Notes

This study was made on flocks in an urban area in Zimbabwe. Flocks varied greatly in size, from 1 to 650 birds, with mean of 53 for the 85 flocks that were studied. Most birds were kept for sale or for local consumption for meat, the mean age at slaughter being 12.4 weeks. The flocks received no vaccine and the mean mortality rate was 25%, being associated mainly with ocular and respiratory disease. ELISA tests were conducted on 460 sera from 52 flocks. Reactions were recorded to avian reovirus (3%), avian leukosis virus (9%), avian encephalomyelitis virus (11%), Newcastle disease virus (27%), Mycoplasma gallisepticum and Mycoplasma synoviae (33%), Pasteurella multocida (52%), infectious bursal disease virus (55%), reticuloendotheliosis virus (65%) and infectious bronchitis virus (86%). Parasite infections were rare. Technical and veterinary advice was not readily available to the owners of the chickens.