Vaccination ahead of the new season!
Posted on 02/04/2017, Author: RH/PHIL
What and how?
As you all know, only the vaccination against paramyxovirus is compulsory in our country. But there is more, at present there are several ways to protect our pigeons preventively against some invaders. The following clarifies you what and how to manage.
Paramyxovirus is a disease that is widely known in the sport. Especially a lot of drinking, turning necks and nowadays poor manure and mortality are their share. Besides the fact that vaccination is mandatory, I need not tell you that if you have pigeons infected during or in anticipation of the season it is very harmful for the condition. In addition, because the virus is widespread in our region, the risk is very real. There are several vaccines on the market your veterinarian can use. A survey we carried out ourselves some years ago , taught us however that a single vaccination, especially for youngsters, often resulted in insufficient immunity. It is therefore strongly recommended in this group of pigeons to vaccinate them twice with an interval of 6 weeks. Acting like this, you will be more than comfortable in the protection of your pigeons, many top fanciers do this already. Paramyxovirus vaccination provides little loss of condition and therefore can be implemented quite short before the start of the racing season. Some good racing lofts even wait until the last minute to vaccinate because they are convinced that it will give an additional boost to the condition.
Herpes virus was discussed in detail in another article already and is a virus that is very common in the lofts. Already for several years, the vaccine "columbi 2" is available and it is possible to vaccinate your pigeons against the disease. Who should vaccinate? If your pigeons are tested positive for the airways through vetcheck we recommend you definitely vaccinate your pigeons in the future against herpes. Your pigeons are infected so building extra resistance agains herpes is an absolute must. If respiratory problems are re-occuring every year on your lofts it is recommended too. Although many scientists still disagree about the effect of the vaccine, in general it is well received by the fanciers. The fanciers are comfortable with it and lesser eye infections with the youngsters are noticed.
Smallpox virus is plaguing our region for years now and it pops up in our lofts with clockwork regularity. Often with yellow injuries on eyes and beak and resulting in a massive decline in the condition. Racing your pigeons is impossible if the virus is circulating in your loft, the results will not be good. You can vaccinate in two ways. Or, you can use the follicle method, where you take off some feathers and rub the vaccine over the little bumps. After a week it creates an inoculation reaction indicating that the vaccine works. Or, you can use the combination with paramyxovirus and inject your pigeons with a vaccine. In that case you will see no inoculation reaction.The latter would be less efficient, although I personally don’t think so. In both cases, you're never 100% protected, occasionally a pock shows up after vaccination but that is usually confined to an isolated case. Be aware that smallpox vaccination gives a drop in condition and shouldn’t be carried out too short before the start of the season. 14 days is still an absolute minimum and pay attention to youngsters who are already training a lot because often large losses were reported after vaccination.
Paratyphoid vaccinations are also available for years now in all colors and smells and thru different companies in the Netherlands and abroad. Paratyphoid was already described elsewhere and as you as attentive fanciers know it is generated by Salmonella, a bacteria and this is the crux. The above-described conditions are all virus infections for which we have good vaccines that can induce a lot of immunity for a longer period. Against bacteria, it is much harder to make good vaccines that are and effective and working for a longer period. So as with paratyphoid. It sometimes gives a false sense of security. It's not because you have vaccinated your pigeons that they therefore are certainly free of paratyphoid. It is true that it may be an extra addition to lofts that regularly suffer from salmonella. Following a cure of antibiotics, for example, and then possibly every 6 months, a repeat of these. Pay attention because depending on which vaccine is used, the condition can decline strongly so before you use a vaccine inform yourself pn the influence it will have on the condition of your colony. There are big differences noticeable.
Adenovirus vaccines for pigeons are not avalaible on the market. In the past the chicken adenovirus vaccine was regularly used but as it is not sure whether it works, to our knowledge, it is no longer used.
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