Retrospective analysis (2018-2021) of respiratory diseases in poultry, diagnosed at the Veterinary Services Laboratory, Kumasi, Ghana

Abstract

Introduction: in the poultry industry, respiratory diseases are a major concern that has a negative impact on growth performance and egg production. This retrospective study was conducted to determine the prevalence of common poultry respiratory diseases diagnosed at the Veterinary Services Laboratory, Kumasi, Ghana from January 2018 to December 2021.

Methods: the study was retrospective in nature which obtained required data on poultry diseases from laboratory records available at the Regional Veterinary Services Laboratory, Kumasi- Ghana that were diagnosed using history provided by the poultry farmers, necropsy findings, and specific laboratory investigations.including culture, isolation and identification of pathogens in poultry birds from January 2018 to December 2021. Data obtained was descriptively analysed using Microsoft Excel version 19.

Results: out of the total 6, 747 diagnoses recorded, 29.61% (1998) were respiratory diseases with an overall annual prevalence of 7.22% (n = 487), 7.94% (n = 536), 6.54% (n = 441) and 7.91% (n = 534) for 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 respectively. Quarterly prevalence was 4.71%, (n = 318), 5.34% (n = 360), 4.64% (n = 313), and 4.42% (n = 298) for the first, second, third, and fourth quarters respectively. The
highest prevalence of 3.62% was recorded in November, followed by 2.70% recorded in June. The most frequently diagnosed respiratory disease was Newcastle disease (64.51%, 1289 cases out of 1998 respiratory diseases) with an overall specific respiratory diseases´ prevalence of 19.10%, (1289/6747) followed by CRD 5.77% (389/6747), Infectious Coryza 2.45% (165/6747), Aspergillosis 1.47% (99/6747), Avian Influenza 0.79% (53/6747) and the least being Infectious Laryngotracheitis 0.04% (3/6747).

Conclusion: this study established that the occurrence of respiratory diseases in poultry in the Ashanti of Ghana is high and that Newcastle disease, CRD, Infectious Coryza, Aspergillosis, Avian Influenza, and Infectious Laryngotracheitis, were the common respiratory diseases recorded at the Veterinary Services Laboratory, Kumasi. Accordingly, more attention should be given to their prevention and control measures.