MERCK MANUAL

Veterinary Manual
Veterinary / Poultry / Infectious Coryza

Overview of Infectious Coryza

in Chickens
By Patrick Joseph Blackall, BSc, PhD, Principal Research Fellow, Queensland
Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland

Infectious coryza is an acute respiratory disease of chickens characterized by nasal discharge,

sneezing, and swelling of the face under the eyes. It is found worldwide. The disease is seen
only in chickens; reports of the disease in quail and pheasants probably describe a similar
disease that is caused by a different etiologic agent.

In developed countries such as the USA, the disease is seen primarily in pullets and layers
and occasionally in broilers. In the USA, it is most prevalent in commercial flocks in
California and the southeast, although the northeastern USA has experienced significant
outbreaks. In developing countries, the disease often is seen in very young chicks, even as
young as 3 wk old. Poor biosecurity, poor environment, and the stress of other diseases are
likely reasons why infectious coryza is more of a problem there. The disease has no public
health significance.

Etiology:
The causative bacterium is Avibacterium paragallinarum, a gram-negative, pleomorphic,
nonmotile, catalase-negative, microaerophilic rod that requires nicotinamide adenine
dinucleotide (V-factor) for in vitro growth. When grown on blood agar with a staphylococcal
nurse colony that excretes the V-factor, the satellite colonies appear as dewdrops, growing
adjacent to the nurse colony. V-factor–independent Av paragallinarum have been recovered
in South Africa and Mexico. The most commonly used serotyping scheme is the Page
scheme, which groups Av paragallinarum isolates into three serovars (A, B, and C) that
correlate with immunotype specificity.

Epidemiology and Transmission:

Chronically ill or healthy carrier birds are the reservoir of infection. Chickens of all ages are
susceptible, but susceptibility increases with age. The incubation period is 1–3 days, and the
disease duration is usually 2–3 wk. Under field conditions, the duration may be longer in the
presence of concurrent diseases, eg, mycoplasmosis.

Infected flocks are a constant threat to uninfected flocks. Transmission is by direct contact,
airborne droplets, and contamination of drinking water. “All-in/all-out” management has
essentially eradicated infectious coryza from many commercial poultry establishments in the
USA. Commercial farms that have multiple-age flocks tend to perpetuate the disease. Egg
transmission does not occur. Molecular techniques such as restriction endonuclease analysis
and ribotyping have been used to trace outbreaks of infectious coryza.

Clinical Findings:
In the mildest form of the disease, the only signs may be depression, a serous nasal
discharge, and occasionally slight facial swelling. In the more severe form, there is severe
swelling of one or both infraorbital sinuses with edema of the surrounding tissue, which may
close one or both eyes. In adult birds, especially males, the edema may extend to the
intermandibular space and wattles. The swelling usually abates in 10–14 days; however, if
secondary infection occurs, swelling can persist for months. There may be varying degrees of
rales depending on the extent of infection. In Argentina, a septicemic form of the disease has
been reported, probably due to concurrent infections. Egg production may be delayed in
young pullets and severely reduced in producing hens. Birds may have diarrhea, and feed
and water consumption usually is decreased during acute stages of the disease.

Infectious coryza, swollen sinuses, hen

Courtesy of Dr. Jean Sander.

Lesions:

In acute cases, lesions may be limited to the infraorbital sinuses. There is a copious,
tenacious, grayish, semifluid exudate. As the disease becomes chronic or other pathogens
become involved, the sinus exudate may become consolidated and turn yellowish. Other
lesions may include conjunctivitis, tracheitis, bronchitis, and airsacculitis, particularly if
other pathogens are involved. The histopathologic response of respiratory organs consists of
disintegration and hyperplasia of mucosal and glandular epithelia and edema with
infiltration of heterophils, macrophages, and mast cells.

Diagnosis:
Isolation of a gram-negative, satellitic, catalase-negative organism from chickens in a flock
with a history of a rapidly spreading coryza is diagnostic. The catalase test is essential,
because nonpathogenic hemophilic organisms, which are catalase-positive, are present in
both healthy and diseased chickens. A PCR test that can be used on the live chicken and that
has proved superior to culture, even in developing countries, has been developed. A real-
time version of the PCR is also available. Production of typical signs after inoculation with
nasal exudate from infected into susceptible chickens is also reliable diagnostically. No
suitable serologic test exists; a hemagglutination-inhibition test is the best of those available.
Swelling of the face and wattles must be differentiated from that seen in fowl cholera (see
Fowl Cholera). Other diseases that must be considered are mycoplasmosis, laryngotracheitis,
Newcastle disease, infectious bronchitis, avian influenza, swollen head syndrome
(ornithobacterosis), and vitamin A deficiency.

While currently found only in South Africa and Mexico, the presence of a V-factor
–independent Av paragallinarum must also be considered. The Av paragallinarum PCR is
an ideal diagnostic tool in this situation.

Control and Treatment:

Prevention is the only sound method of control. “All-in/all-out” farm programs with sound
management and isolation methods are the best way to avoid infectious coryza.
Replacements should be raised on the same farm or obtained from clean flocks. If
replacement pullets are to be placed on a farm that has a history of infectious coryza,
bacterins are available to help prevent and control the disease. USDA-licensed bacterins are
available, and bacterins also are produced within states for intrastate use. Bacterins also are
produced in many other countries. Because serovars A, B, and C are not cross-protective, it is
essential that bacterins contain the serovars present in the target population. Vaccination
should be completed ~4 wk before infectious coryza usually breaks out on the individual
farm. Antibodies detected by the hemagglutination-inhibition test after bacterin
administration do not necessarily correlate with protective immunity. Controlled exposure to
live organisms also has been used to immunize layers in endemic areas.

Because early treatment is important, water medication is recommended immediately until

medicated feed is available. Erythromycin and oxytetracycline are usually beneficial. Several
new-generation antibiotics (eg, fluoroquinolones, macrolides) are active against infectious
coryza. Various sulfonamides, sulfonamide-trimethoprim, and other combinations have
been successful. Antibiotic use in chickens is subject to national regulations that vary from
country to country, and use and efficacy of the various antibiotics must be reviewed in the
light of the relevant national regulations. In more severe outbreaks, although treatment may
result in improvement, the disease may recur when medication is discontinued.

Preventive medication may be combined with a vaccination program if started pullets are to
be reared or housed on infected premises.
© 2018 Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA