Coryza in Ducks: A case studyABSTRACT
Although Coryza in ducks is rarely reported, it can lead to significant economic losses. Therefore, this case study aims to evaluate the efficacy of a combination therapy involving two sulfa antibiotics and vitamin C in treating Coryza in ducks. This case involves twenty-two 10-month-old ducks from a flock, each with an average body weight of 0.89 kg, exhibiting clinical signs of facial swelling and mucous nasal discharge.Tracheal swab samples were collected for microbial isolation. In addition, blood and feces examinations were conducted to assess hematological and helminth infections. Microbial analysis confirmed presence of Avibacterium paragallinarum (A. paragallinarum). Hematological examination revealed anemia accompanied by heterophilia, and feces analysis identified the presence of Capillaria spp. worm eggs. Anthelmintics were administered the day before antibiotics. A combination of Sulfadiazine, Trimethoprim, and vitamin C was provided through drinking water for five days. These findings underscore the critical role of proper anthelmintic administration, antibiotic therapy, and vitamin C supplementation in effectively managing Coryza in ducks.
Keywords:
Outbreak; Coryza; duck; treatment
INTRODUCTION
Coryza is a respiratory disease carachterized by the clinical signs of inflammation infraorbital of the sinus accompanied by serous to mucous nasal discharge, swelling of the head, anorexia, depression, and recumbency (Blackall & Soriano-Vargas, 2020). Coryza is caused by Avibacterium paragallinarum (A. paragallinarum), a Gram-negative bacterium. Coryza in ducks, particularly in Indonesia, is less frequently reported when compared to layer chickens. It can lead to reduced egg production and body weight in ducks (Liu et al., 2025).
In this context, this study aims to evaluate effect of administering a combination of two sulfa antibiotics with vitamin C as treatment against Coryza in ducks.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
In Boyolali, Indonesia, a duck food estate experienced an outbreak of infectious Coryza. A flock of twenty-two, 10-month-old ducks with an average body weight of 0.87 kg presented clinical signs including serous to mucous nasal discharge, facial swelling, anorexia, depression, and recumbency. Additionally, a gradual decline in egg production was observed. These clinical symptoms suggested that ducks were suffering with Coryza disease.
Tracheal swabs samples were collected and submitted to a microbiology laboratory for the isolation of A. paragallinarum. Feces samples from the flock were also sent to a parasitology laboratory to ascertain the presence of helminthiasis. Additionally, blood samples were collected from ducks exhibiting clinical signs and submitted to a clinical pathology laboratory for routine blood tests.
Before laboratory test results were available, the ducks were treated with anthelmintics.The following day, ducks exhibiting Coryza symptoms received a combination of Sulfadiazine and Trimethoprim antibiotics along with vitamin C via drinking water for five consecutive days.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
An outbreak of infectious Coryza in ducks (Anas platyrhynchos javanica) was characterized by clinical signs including head swelling, serous nasal discharge, and recumbency (Figure 1).
Clinical sign Coryza in duck. (A) Swollen head with serous nasal; (B) Anorexia, depression and recumbency.
Microbial analysis of tracheal swabs confirmed the presence of A. paragallinarum, a Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium. Hematological examination of the ducks revealed heterophilia and anemia, while feces analysis confirmed helminth infections, specifically Capillaria spp. (Table 1).
Several factors contribute to the incidence of Coryza in ducks, including sudden feed changes, non-uniform age distribution within flocks, poor pen hygiene, and inadequate farm biosecurity measures. Additionally, seasonal transitions from rainy to dry periods can induce stress through weather fluctuations, compromising ducks’ immune responses. High humidity and low temperatures elevate ammonia levels in the pens, irritating the ducks’ respiratory tracts and increasing their susceptibility to A. paragallinarum infection. These conditions facilitate Coryza infections, as they create an ideal environment for A. paragallinarum to proliferate (Pierdon et al., 2025).
Although heterophilia is not a primary hematological indicator of Coryza in ducks, it may occur as a secondary response to bacterial infections. In this case, the anemia observed in ducks with Coryza likely resulted from both A. paragallinarum and Capillaria spp. infections. Therefore, treatment with anthelmintics and antibiotics is necessary.
All ducks with clinical signs of Coryza fully recovered within two weeks following the treatment, and no mortality was observed. Other studies have reported that A. paragallinarum, the agent of Coryza in chickens in Indonesia, are sensitive to Sulfadiazine and Trimethoprim (Tangkonda et al., 2019; Fauziah et al., 2021).
CONCLUSION
Administration of anthelmintics, followed by a five-day course of Sulfadiazine and Trimethoprim combined with vitamin C, has proven to be an effective treatment for Coryza in ducks. However, weather conditions and management practices also play in the treatment’s success.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors express their gratitude to the personnel of the Animal Husbandry Division, Food Estate Program, Department of Agriculture, Boyolali Regency, Central Java, Indonesia, for their excellent care and management of the experimental ducks.
REFERENCES
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FUNDING
This work was supported by the Food Estate Program, Ministry of Agriculture, Republic of Indonesia (Project No. 2415/Kpts/KU.010/H.12.14/04/2021).
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DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT
Data will be available upon request.
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DISCLAIMER/PUBLISHER’S NOTE
The published papers’ statements, opinions, and data are those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s). The editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions, or products referred to in the content.
Data will be available upon request.
