Workshop 1 Approach to poultry clinical cases: From first signs to flock decision

Speaker: Dr. Maarten De Gussem

From a subtle change in feed intake to a sudden rise in mortality, poultry clinical cases rarely arrive with a neat diagnosis. In this interactive workshop, Maarten De Gussem will guide participants through a practical, flock-level approach from the first warning signs to a defensible decision. Using field cases, participants will consider how to frame the problem, obtain a focused production and health history, interpret flock records and observations, and select targeted examinations and samples.

The workshop will explore how to build and refine differential diagnoses, weigh infectious causes alongside management and environmental factors, and decide when laboratory findings should change the next step. It will also address how to communicate uncertainty and document decisions with the farm team.

Short introductions will lead into guided case discussions in which participants can compare their reasoning and priorities. By the end, attendees should be able to structure an initial investigation, prioritize evidence rather than tests alone, and turn findings into practical flock-level actions and follow-up measures. The workshop is intended for poultry veterinarians, consultants and other professionals involved in field investigations and flock-health decisions.