Development of resistant strains of chickens by Poultry geneticists. Occurs mainly in chickens under 16 weeks of age. Vaccination of chicks at one day of age. In adult birds, loss of production along with some respiratory distress and paralysis after 4 to 6 days. Highly infectious, severity varies.
Sudden death is common.
Clinical signs include sudden drop in egg production. Monitoring, strict quarantine and rapid destruction of all infected flocks. Poultry producers should practice strict management control. From Diseases of Poultry, a paper by Dr. Gary D. Butcher, DVM, PhD., Poultry Veterinarian, College of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville. From publication PS-5, Florida Cooperative Extension Service.