DUCK VIRUS ENTERITIS

Duck virus enteritis is an acute, sometimes chronic, contagious virus infection that occurs naturally only in ducks, geese and swans, all members of the family Anatidae of the order Anseriformes. The aetiological agent, a herpesvirus, is a member of the alphaherpesvirinae subfamily of the Herpesviridae. DVE may also be referred to as duck plague, anatid herpes, eendenpest, entenpest and peste du canard. The infection has not been reported in other avian species, mammals or humans. In domestic ducks and ducklings, DVE has been reported in birds ranging from 7 days of age to mature breeders. In susceptible flocks the first signs are often sudden, high and persistent mortality with a significant drop in egg production. In chronically infected partially immune flocks only occasional deaths occur. Recovered birds may be carriers and may shed the virus in the faeces or on the surface of eggs over a period of years

Diseased bird: typical clinical signs or pathological lesions or laboratory confirmation or wild virus detection Suspected of being diseased bird: suspicious clinical signs or pathological lesions until laboratory confirmation

Infected flock: diseased bird Suspected of being infected flock: contact with D, SD, I, SI birds/flocks within 30 days or antibody titer refers to wild virus infection

Preventive measures no free keeping on natural water 2 weeks before egg-laying period infected natural water: no susceptible birds for 2 years exc: vaccinated broiler ducks , breeding and broiler flocks shall not be kept together

Official surveillance, movement restrictions Birds showing clinical signs: killing No clinical signs: immadiate slaughter: heat treated meat products or vaccination (recovered flock): 30 days observation, no breeding, movement restriction until slaughter or 28 days observation, hatching eggs are disinfected, separate hatching (2 checks during hatching), separate fattening of the hatched birds