Hidden (?) defects (3)
In our story about the hidden defects in pigeons last time we were ended with among others the circovirus, the herpes virus and the paramyxovirus.
When the pigeons suffer of a virus , they are not really able to perfome. We even risk that by insufficient rest for the pigeons also problems with other latent diseasesoccur . Diseases that normally donot seem to influence them.This could include ttrichomiasis, coccidiosis, staphylococci, streptococci and other respiratory infections. And thus the circle is almost round again.
All these infections need an intervention with drugs to decrease the problems.. But still we do nothing to the underlying cause of viral infections.
In particular, the staphylococci can play parts in the airways. And this bacteria can be difficult to control by antibiotics. Short courses have in these cases only very limited results if the underlying causes are not tackled and the pigeons resistance is not increased.
I earlier mentioned fungal infections that can result from rampant antibiotic use. Candida albicans is a yeast that can form a mycelium, and thus can cause problems. In human medicine, this yeast is also blamed for the chronic fatigue syndrome. Increase of this yeast, especially on the youngsters again lead to moderate flight performance in the offspring and increased susceptibility to other infections which then in turn be treated badly by the presence of these Candida.
Fungal infections can thus also contribute to making the problem complex .
What has the pigeonfancier to do that ended in this trouble?
First, he does not cherish the illusion that there is a panacea that will solve his problems as well. He must not surrender to antibiotic use without informed basis. Study should show whether there is a need for antibiotics and if so, which antibiotics.
We all have a responsibility to contribute to unnecessary antibiotic use reduction. (If necessary, good, powerful and targeted treatments using sufficient length and certainly not half-cycles because the means are so strong.)
Hidden (?) Defects ? (2)
We talked in the last newsletter about pigeons that despite good intentions and concerns and despite various antibiotic treatments do not seem to be better.. The ventilation in the loft can play an aggravating factor that slows the cure ore makes the problem worse.
But if we assume that the problem concerns a loft that played well , and where prices were achieved without excessive courses of antibiotics, there must be another problem..
There are with these problems cases where in winter a paratyphoid cure is given and nothing else . With the approaching of the racing season it is striking that the pigeons are training quite poor without apparent cause. They do not show symptoms of respiratory or other problems. They are often bad in plumage and the flesh is too blue.
Visit to the vet we may find a bit of coccidiosis in the manure and some yellow in the crop. This is treated after which little improvement occurs. Then to be sure a respiratory cure. Even that is not helpful. Then someone tells that one should use this or that treatment because .... but that does not help. Baytril is given then but it is known that this helps against everything, is not it? Darn the pigeons show little improvement. Another vet injects the pigeons. This seems to indicate improvement here .. but not really. Meanwhile, the flightresults are not improved, and frustration is growing.. The pigeons are know for there results, what is wrong ??
If you are somewhat familiar with the story above you really should start thinking about underlying causes for example viral or fungal infections due to excessive antibiotic use. And, it better not be true, selection of staphylococcen due to improper antibiotic use.
We see this every year.. The problems with viral infections suggest to increase in severity. I have stated in previous newsletters that the Circovirus since the beginning of this century playes a part in the sport. This virus can pass from parent to young through the egg and thus cause a persistent infection in the loft . This virus makes the pigeon accesible to other (virus) infections. Infections therefore are longer able to survive in the pigeon. This could include the herpesvirus, influenza viruses but also the Adenovirus and the paramyxovirus.
Because we are able to determine the presence of viruses in birds by simple tests, we found that several lofts with chronic problems including poor performance, but also an increased loss, often harbor virus carriers .
The seriousness of this problem seems clearly to dependent of the number of pigeons.
Often we hear that pigeons from a loft with these problems performe significantly better in another loft with less pigeons. The stressor and population pressure playes a major role. Also, hygiene factors. What must be said is that we must ensure that the pigeons health on increasing lofts should not be maintained by the use of antibiotics. .This is a wholly undesirable situation.
It will be clear that various remedial courses of antibiotics without notable effect isn't the right track.
Certainly not when it was established by research that there are viruses present.
What is needed in such cases, is patience and calm and support of the natural defenses.
