INFECTIOUS BURSAL DISEASE (IBD) ‣ Vet Health & Surgical Clinic

The highly infectious Bursal Disease (IBD) is also known as Gumboro in reference to the district

of Delaware, USA where it was first recognized. The disease usually affects birds that are 3-6

weeks old. The course of the disease is very short, stunting the bird’s growth and affecting its

immunity.

Table of Contents

The disease is caused by a Birnavirus which is quite stable and resistant to environmental

conditions and many disinfectants

SIGNS

IBD can be either clinical (apparent infection) in birds 3-6 weeks or sub-clinical (unapparent

infection) in birds 1-3 weeks

• Whitish watery diarrhoea observed at 2-3 days with paste vents and vent pickings is

very common

• Sudden loss of appetite, ruffled feathers, trembling and lack of coordination

• Listlessness, paleness and depression, huddling and droopiness

• Mortality can be as much as 20% and morbidity ranges from 20% to 100%

Clinical signs usually disappear within 10-14 days

• Little or no signs are observed

• Decreased body weight gain an increase feed conversion ratio

• Increased susceptibility to other diseases

• Reduce response to the vaccines as a result of immunosuppression

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TREATMENT

There is no treatment for IBD but the water administration of vitamins and electrolytes can

alleviate the severity of the disease.

PREVENTION

• Vaccination of parent flocks

• Vaccination of Day old chicks at the hatchery

• Sanitation, though absolutely necessary, it is not totally effective because of the high resistance

of the IBD virus.

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