
The Egg Drop Syndrome is a viral disease caused by an adenovirus infection, and is characterized by a decrease in egg production and egg quality.

That is why with this article, Zucami’s technical team intends to present TIPS that help our customers to know and identify the Egg Drop Syndrome.
What is Egg Drop Syndrome or EDS?
The Egg Drop Syndrome (EDS) is a pathology that affects laying hens and is transmitted throughout the egg. All breeds can be infected, but it has been reported that broiler breeders and brown egg birds are more susceptible.
Horizontal transmission occurs slowly in the cage system and quickly in floor laying systems in layer farms. Contaminated eggs, as well as egg trays or feces, appear to be the main sources of virus spread. However, some outbreaks have been attributed to contact with wild birds or water contaminated by feces.


It is believed that the few infected hens carry latent virus and then infect other hens when they go into lay. Infected hens excrete virus and healthy hens in contact become infected. Once the flock becomes sick, horizontal contagion occurs, but the virus is not very infectious or excretion is low, so other nearby flocks may not become sick.
What are the symptoms of EDS?
The disease is mainly characterized by a drop in egg production early in the laying period, or by a sudden drop in production later in the laying period.

lthough the signs of EDS are quite characteristic, the diagnosis should not be made by the clinical picture alone, but should be confirmed by laboratory testing, as several infectious and non-infectious causes can lead to a decrease in egg production and can impair external and internal egg quality.
EDS and its consequences on production.
Outbreaks of EDS typically last 4 to 10 weeks and a 10 to 40% drop in egg production can be expected. The time it takes for a bird to return to normal laying can be 4 to 8 weeks, and in many cases the production curve is below normal.

