Bursal Disease (IBD)

Infectious BursalDisease (IBD)/Gumboro disease is an acute, highly contagious and immunosuppressive disease caused due to birna virus. Virus has to be affinity to bursa. This disease have to great economic importance because high mortality and prolonged immunosuppression. Morbidity varies from 10-100% but mortality 10-20% and in severe cases 10-100%.

Transmission includes ingestion, inhalation, birds, wild birds, visitors and vermin. Disease cannot transmit through vertically.

Symptoms include pecking of own vent, white watery diarrhoea, soiled vent, depression, loss of appetite, ruffled feather, unwillingness to move, closed eyes, lying down condition and finally, death. Post mortem findings include bursa become swollen and hemorrhagic and hemorrhages present at junction of the proventriculus and gizzard.

Disease can be controlled by disinfection, vaccination and ‘all-in, all-out’ management. Antimicrobials are required to control the secondary bacterial infections. Measures to boost the immune system of the birds will hasten the recovery.