10/26/2025
FOWL POX- What is it and how do our Chickens and turkeys actually get it??
(Merck Manual - Veterinary Manual)
Fowlpox is a worldwide viral infection of chickens and turkeys. Nodular lesions on unfeathered skin are common in the cutaneous form. In the diphtheritic form, which affects the upper GI and respiratory tracts, lesions occur from the mouth to the esophagus and in the tracheal mucosa. Diagnosis is by observing characteristic gross and microscopic lesions and by PCR assay to detect the fowlpox virus-specific genes. Vaccination can prevent the disease and limit spread in affected flocks.
✅Epidemiology✅ -
Incubation period:The incubation period for fowlpox in chickens and turkeys is typically 4–10 days.
Morbidity and mortality: Cutaneous infections alone ordinarily cause low or moderate mortality rates, and these flocks generally return to normal production after recovery. Mortality rates are usually high in diphtheritic or systemic infections by some virulent strains.
Geographic distribution: Fowlpox is present worldwide.
⭐️Host range⭐️: Fowlpox virus affects mainly chickens and turkeys and has been reported to infect ducks, geese, pheasants, quail, canaries, and hawks. Mammals are not susceptible to natural infection with fowlpox virus or any of other avipoxviruses.
Transmission: The virus is usually transmitted by contact through abrasions of the skin.
Skin lesions (scabs) shed from recovering birds in poultry houses can become a source of aerosol exposure for susceptible birds. ⭐️Mosquitoes and other biting insects may serve as mechanical vectors. Transmission within a susceptible flock is rapid when mosquitoes are plentiful.⭐️
The disease tends to persist for extended periods in multiple-age poultry complexes because of slow spread of the virus and availability of susceptible birds.
