What does the presence of conjunctivitis in poultry potentially indicate?

Conjunctivitis in poultry is often a clinical sign associated with infections, and one of the diseases linked to this symptom is Newcastle disease. Newcastle disease is a highly contagious viral infection that can affect many avian species, causing respiratory issues, neurological signs, and conjunctivitis among other symptoms. The inflammation of the conjunctiva can serve as a key indicator of this disease, helping in its identification during clinical examinations.

While conjunctivitis might also appear due to other causes such as nutritive deficiencies, infectious laryngotracheitis, or parasite infestations, these options do not typically present with conjunctivitis as a primary clinical sign. For instance, infectious laryngotracheitis generally manifests more prominently through respiratory distress rather than conjunctival inflammation. Similarly, while parasites might cause ocular irritation in some cases, conjunctivitis is more directly associated with viral infections like Newcastle disease in poultry. Therefore, recognizing conjunctivitis as a potential symptom of Newcastle disease is vital for accurate diagnosis and subsequent management of the affected flock.