Streptococcosis

The cause of this disease is called Streptococcus gallolyticus. In Belgium, the disease is also known as muscle or wing disease. Occasionally a pigeon fancier sees one with poor flying .Often we think here of infection with the paratyphoid bacteria. But that is not always the case. It is striking that these illnesses occurs in lofts where there is less work made of hygiene. Furthermore, these cases are more common with females in the breeding season. It may happen that a hen on eggs in the morning is ok, can not fly in the afternoon and a few hours later is dead, even before other symptoms have occurred. These other symptoms may be limp and hanging of the two wings. Typical is that a pigeon cannot fly in her bucket. These symptoms therefore do indeed think of paratyphoid. It can be a complication to a paratyphoid infection. If the birds do not die suddenly one may notice that a thin green, slimy stools is produced. The pigeons can also start drinking more. Usually the appetite disappeared. The condition deteriorates quickly. It is also possible that during the breeding embryonal death occurs. As often is thought of paratyphoid cases will be cured with such as Batryl or Trimsulfa. This therapy will not work because the streptococcus is not sensitive to these agents. Sometimes, the performance of the yougsters are dissapointing .The youngsters exercise moderate and the losses among the young is very high. Even old birds that are affected lose condition. They fly often priceless. If there is an outbreak in a loft, all of these symptoms occur across the different birds . Not all pigeons exhibit all the symptoms. Are th symptomes across several birds, it is good to think about the possibility of this infection.

Infections should not be blindly cured, surely streptococcosis should not be.

Many treatments used with various infections in pigeons are hardly effective against this bacterium. As a result the situation could further deteriorate. In lofts with slatted floors there is significantly less influence of this bacterium. If one suffers from this bacteria is the placement of grids is often a good way to control the outbreak and in the long term to remain in control. The risk of recontamination is less because fewer birds can walk through the manure. In an acute outbreak of steptococcose we prescribe powder 22 or Bony Amco . Bony Jodi also works, but also Ampicillin 2 grams per liter for at least seven days is a possibility. Trimsulfa, Altabactine, Baytril or do not work for these infections because the bacteria are not sensitive. Streptococci can always be grown in pigeons. It is a bacterium that normally occurs in pigeons. But with these bacteria , disease occurs only if certain conditions are met.Keeping the resistance of birds at the highest level and adequate hygiene measures (grids) can contribute to a reduction of infection pressure. We also found that administrating Bony Sgr helps to restrict the problems.