Infectious Disease Of Birds Research Articles

Microbiological Control of Incubation

Introduction. The microbiological monitoring occupies a special place in ensuring the epizootic well-being of the poultry farms, allowing predicting the spread of infectious diseases in birds. By studying the microbiological profile during the incubation period and determining the sensitivity of the isolated microorganisms, the “working” antibacterial drug can be selected by the time of chicken hatching. This will enable timely prevention of the infectious diseases. If the research is started with the first biological control (at the 7.5th day of incubation), then in case of high microbial contamination during the incubation process, the additional measures can be taken to prevent the infectious diseases: adjustment of the treatment scheme of the hatching eggs or chickens at the hatching, selection of the drug depending on the results obtained. Therefore, the aim of this study has been to determine the species and quantitative composition of the pathogenic and opportunistic pathogenic microflora during the incubation of the meat crosses chickens’ eggs in the poultry farm settings of the Omsk region.Materials and Methods. The 240 air samples and 40 samples of the upper respiratory tract mucous membrane scrapings of the bred broiler chickens and 60 samples of the dead embryos were examined. The air contamination of the incubation cabinets was established by the sedimentation method on the 7.5th; 11.5th; 18.5th day, and the air in the hatching cabinets on the 21.5th day of incubation.Results. When examining the air samples in the incubation cabinets, the predominance of the staphylococci and enterococci was found, in the hatching cabinets — bacteria of the E. coli group (Esch. coli.) and enterococci. When analysing the upper respiratory tract scrapings of the broiler chickens and the material from the dead embryos, the microorganisms of the Enterococcaceae and Staphylococcaceae families turned out to be the dominant species, to a lesser extent Enterobacteriaceae. A large number of the following microorganisms were detected in the scrapings: E. faecalis (38.5%), S. aureus (31.6%), E. agglomerans (11.4%), E. coli (8.8%), C. freundii (7%), P. aeruginosa (0,9%), E. faecium (0,9%). When examining the dead embryos, E. faecalis (44.7%), S. aureus (25.5%), and E. coli (12.8%) were isolated most often. Among the associations, S. aureus / E. Faecalis and S. aureus / E. faecalis / E. coli occupied a leading place both in the study of scrapings and in the study of dead embryos.Discussion and Conclusion. The conducted research, which enabled determining the species and quantitative composition of the pathogenic and opportunistic pathogenic microflora during the incubation of the meat crosses chickens’ eggs, has revealed that the microbiocenosis of the upper respiratory tract is directly related to the air microflora. By regular monitoring the air environment in the incubator, it is possible to control the recontamination of chickens at the hatching by examining just the air samples. This is a more affordable, less costly and traumatic for the bird method. Understanding the real epizootic situation allows determining the most efficient measures to reduce the microbial contamination during the incubation period, as well as select the optimal antibacterial drug, in case of finding the bacterial infection in the poultry stock.

Potent antiviral effect of green synthesis silver nanoparticles on Newcastle disease virus

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) causes serious infectious diseases in birds, affecting poultry production. In addition to adverse side effects, almost all conventional drugs targeting viral proteins have drug resistance mutations. This study aimed to evaluate the antiviral activity of green silver nanoparticles using green tea leaf extract as a new strategy to control NDV in ovo. The Log embryo infective dose50 (EID50) virucidal reduction was used to measure the antiviral activity of silver nanoparticles against NDV. The treatment of Vero cells with the silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) at a noncytotoxic concentration significantly therapeutic value by inhibiting NDV entry and reduced viral replication, which led to a great reduction in the viral titer in ovo. In conclusion, silver nanoparticles are effective as a therapeutic antiviral agent against NDV and inhibit microbial resistance by making it difficult for the microbe to adapt.

Effect of some medicinal herbs on natural humoral immunity in turkeys Running title: Effect of herbs on natural in turkeys

Infectious diseases cause devastating economic losses in the poultry industry. It is important to boost factors of natural immunity to improve defense against infectious diseases in birds. The experimental groups (105 turkey poults allocated to 7 treatment groups) received basal diet plus 1% dry herbs or 0.01% essential oils supplements obtained from the herbs (Chamomilla; Rosemary; Lavender; Oregano; Thyme; St. John's Wort). Blood serum lysozyme concentrations, the alternative pathway of complement activation (APCA), and betalysin activities were determined. The highest blood lysozyme concentrations were determined among the control group and groups supplemented with dry herbs - rosemary, oregano, and thyme. АPCA activity was the highest in the thyme-supplemented group followed by the non-supplemented one. Betalysin activities were the highest in groups receiving lavender, thyme, and oregano, while the lowest levels were found out in chamomile-supplemented birds. In groups treated with essential oils (EO), blood serum lysozyme concentration was the highest in the group treated with rosemary EO, followed by the control group, while the lowest activity was established in birds that received EO from Saint John’s wort. The highest APCA activity was found in the lavender-treated group, and the lowest – in rosemary-treated turkeys. The highest betalysin activity was found among the groups treated with thyme, oregano, and Saint John’s wort, and the lowest activity was determined in the control group. It could be concluded that studied herbs possess an important immunomodulating potential in turkeys, which could improve their health and consequently, their productive performance.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS OF BIOSAFETY IN UKRAINIAN POULTRY FARMS

The current level of effective poultry farming requires consideration of today's challenges, which, in our opinion, can be formed in two positions: the well-being of poultry farming and biosafety. Biosafety – it is the prevention, reduction and elimination of the impact of hazardous biological factors (agents) on humans, animals, plants and the environment. Given the pace of development of agricultural production, transport and foreign trade in the modern world, veterinary medicine is faced with many problems associated with the risks of occurrence and spread of infectious diseases. Biosafety issues are especially acute for poultry producers and farmers, as in the process of modern intensive production there are risks of pathogens and their rapid spread, especially in dense poultry, which requires strict conditions of biosafety and biosecurity. Biosafety is one of the most important components of Ukraine's food, environmental and national security. The implementation of policies in the field of biosafety and biological protection should be carried out by creating a system of identification, forecasting, prevention and counteraction to existing threats of biological origin. The purpose of biosecurity is to ensure that unauthorized persons, animals, vehicles, utensils, tools, other care items, inventory or equipment contaminated with infectious diseases of birds do not enter poultry farms and bird feed preparation areas. We analyzed the existing regulations on the welfare of poultry farms of various forms of ownership. The factors of biosecurity risk control, the basic rules of biosafety in the farm, the requirements for the territory of poultry farms, as well as the guarantees of poultry farm managers are highlighted.

Morphology of the chicken sleep and its changes during vaccination

A significant number of scientific work has been dedicated to the study of immunogenesis processes in birds vaccinated to infectious diseases. In most contingency, research is aimed at assessing postvaccination immunity, as well as establishing structural changes in the immune system. But, exactly morphological studies that can provide an objective account of the immune effectiveness of the vaccine and assess the state of the body's immune system. However, today, morphological control of the immune status of chickens in the post-vaccination period has not been multitudinous used in practical poultry farming. Creating new vaccine prevention schemes, experts do not take into account the changes that manifested during this period. The purpose of the article – Is to systematize and describe the main results of research on the morphology of the spleen of chickens during vaccination. It should be noted that infectious diseases of birds, occupied a special place are: infectious bursal disease, infectious bronchitis, Newcastle disease, infectious laryngotracheitis, etc. Now, these diseases are registered in almost all countries of the world and bring significant economic losses to poultry farms. The main morphological changes in the spleen of chickens during vaccination include hyperplastic processes (lymphocyte proliferation and enlargement of macrophages), the appearance of blast cells, the development of plasma cell reactions. Morphofunctional changes in the spleen of chickens during vaccination are reflected in a significant amount of literature, but changes in the body that occur with multiplex vaccinations during complex vaccination schemes are not enough covered. This review article put a short description of the effect of vaccination used worldwide on the morphology of the spleen of chickens. The received data of a complex assessment of the morphofunctional state of the bird's spleen at different ages should be taken into account when compare complex scheme of vaccination.

Effects of drugs on blood indicators in mixing chicken eimeriosis and pullorosis

The article describes the effect of a new eimeriostat, antibiotic-vitamin complexes on blood parameters in the associative course of eimeriosis and chicken pullorosis. A number of scientific studies are being carried out on the rapid detection, early diagnosis, development of modern treatment and prevention measures for the main parasitic and some infectious diseases of birds and their epizootiological and epidemiological status. No drug was administered artificially infected with group 1 pure control, group 2 spontaneously infected with pullorosis and sporulated oocysts with titrated lethal dose (OD50–90). At the same time, healthy and spontaneously infected chickens with pullorosis were brought from the poultry farm on the 14th day, according to the rule of analogues, four groups of 50 heads each were formed.

Research Note: Effect of age on the distribution of lymphocytes in the oviduct in Turkey breeder hens

Considering the lack of research on the local immunity of the reproductive tract in other poultry species than chickens, the aim of this study was to determine the contribution of T and B cell subpopulations in different parts of breeder turkey oviduct mucous membrane with the use of flow cytometry. In addition, the study aimed to establish an impact of bird age and different stages of the egg production cycle on the systemic and local oviduct-related immune system structure. Our study results demonstrated a lower percentage of T lymphocytes in 32-wk turkey hens followed by a successively increasing population of these cells up to the 38th week of bird's life. The results of our study have also shown a similar dependency between birds' age and number of B lymphocytes. In addition, we demonstrated a decrease in the number of immune system cells in the oviduct, blood, and spleen of turkey hens in the late and end laying period. The differences reported in the number of lymphocyte subpopulations in the reproductive system of laying turkey hens at various stages of the production cycle may, to some extent, explain the frequency and periods of increased predilection to the incidence of infectious diseases in birds under field conditions.

Characterization and functional analysis of chicken APOBEC4

The APOBEC proteins play significant roles in the innate and adaptive immune system, probably due to their deaminase activities. Because APOBEC1 (A1) and APOBEC3 (A3) are absent in the chicken genome, we were interested in determining whether chicken APOBEC4 (A4) possessed more complex functions than its mammalian homologs. In this study, chicken A4 (chA4) mRNA was identified and cloned for the first time. Based on bioinformatics analyses, the conserved zinc-coordinating motif (HXE … PC(X)2–6C) was identified on the surface of chA4 and contained highly conserved His97, Glu99, Pro130, Cys131 and Cys138 active sites. The highest expression levels of constitutive chA4 were detected in primary lymphocytes and bursa of Fabricius. Newcastle Disease (ND) is one of the most serious infectious diseases in birds, causing major economic losses to the poultry industry. In vitro, Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) early infection induced significant increases in chA4 expression in the chicken B cell line, DT40, the macrophage cell line, HD11 and the CD4+ T cell line, MSB-1, but not the fibroblast cell line, DF-1. In vivo, the expression levels of chA4 were up-regulated in several tissues from NDV-infected chickens, especially the thymus, testicles, duodenum and kidney. The high level expression of exogenous chA4 displayed inhibitory effects on NDV and reduced viral RNA in infected cells. Taken together, these data demonstrate that chA4 is involved in the chicken immune system and may play important roles in host anti-viral responses.

ИЗУЧЕНИЕ ЭФФЕКТИВНОСТИ ПРЕПАРАТА ТЕОТРОПИН Р+ В ОТНОШЕНИИ ОСНОВНЫХ ВОЗБУДИТЕЛЕЙ БАКТЕРИАЛЬНЫХ БОЛЕЗНЕЙ ПТИЦ

The implementation of zoohygienic norms and rules is an obligatory part of the biologi-cal safety program of a poultry enterprise. At the same time, an important role belongs to the organization and conduct of disinfection of all technological sections of the produc-tion cycle. Another fundamental factor in ensuring the Biosafety of poultry farms is the development and implementation in each individual farm of its own program for the control and specific prevention of infectious diseases of birds using vaccines, therapeutic and disinfecting drugs. This has become especially relevant in recent years, due to the increased number of pathogens of new infec-tious diseases of birds, new antigenic, sero-logical variants and forms of pathogens of known viral and bacterial diseases that arise as a result of their mutation and genetic transformation in the direction of increasing virulence, adaptation and resistance to the action of antibacterial drugs. Therefore, the efforts of a significant number of specialists in the fight against infectious diseases of birds lie in the production and promotion of new modern and effective disinfectants. One such remedy is the disinfectant of a new generation of Tevtropin R+ domestic pro-duction (manufacturer - plastprom, OOO). In appearance, the drug is a transparent aque-ous solution containing tetramethylenedieth-ylenetetramine (35.0+1.5%) as the active substance in a mixture with functional addi-tives: alkyldimethylbenzylammonium chlo-ride and didecyldimethylammonium chloride (surfactant). The drug has bactericidal, viru-cidal, fungicidal and sporocidal activity. Disinfecting properties are due to the ability to penetrate the cells of bacteria, viruses, and fungi and interact with the amino groups of purine and pyrimidine bases of RNA and DNA, blocking their matrix-genetic function.

Epidemiological risk factors of knowledge and preventive practice regarding avian influenza among poultry farmers and live bird traders in Ikorodu, Lagos State, Nigeria

Avian Influenza (AI) is an infectious disease of birds caused by type A influenza virus. The disease has a pandemic risk leading to death or depopulation of millions of birds. This study determined the risk factors that predict adequate knowledge and good preventive practice measures towards AI, among poultry farmers and live bird traders in Ikorodu, Lagos State, South-western Nigeria.A descriptive cross sectional survey was conducted with questionnaire on socio- demographics, knowledge of definition, and transmission of avian influenza administered to 244 respondents at interview. Descriptive, Chi-square and logistic regression analysis were carried out to explore associations between demographic characteristics, knowledge and preventive practice scores. All levels of significance were set at p<0.05.The total knowledge score computed on a 25-item scale revealed a mean total knowledge of 9.9 (SD±6.6). Respondents aged <20years, live bird traders and those with no formal education had the poorest knowledge. The total preventive practice score regarding avian influenza on a 9-item scale revealed a mean of 5.3 (SD±2.1). Younger respondents, live bird traders; those with no tertiary education and those spent <24months in their profession had the poorest preventive practice score. Logistic regression analysis showed that increasing education (p<0.05) significantly predicted adequate knowledge of avian influenza and good preventive practice among respondents.Poultry farmers and live bird traders, specially those with no formal education, should be aware of the transmission, seriousness and preventive measures of AI that will be reflected in the prevention and control of the disease in Nigeria.

Clinical Association of Chicken Anaemia Virus with Other Infectious Poultry Diseases in North India and Nepal: Its Pathological Studies, Molecular Epidemiology and RFLP Pattern of PCR Amplified Full Length Viral Genome

The aim of the study was to assess the role of chicken anaemia virus (CAV) in precipitating important poul- try diseases in commercial poultry flocks and its molecular surveillance in poultry flocks of North India (Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh states) and Nepal (Mahendra Nagar). Study was conducted during September-2012 to April-2013 on 13 randomly selected poultry flocks. Necropsy was performed for making tentative diagnosis of other concomitant diseases and samples were collected and epidemiological data was recorded. Flocks were screened for CAV by VP2 gene based PCR followed by PCR-RFLP analysis of viral genome. Haemato-biochemical parameters of flocks were also studied. Out of 185 tissue samples, PCR screening confirmed the presence of CAV genome in 95 samples, while 50 showed other viruses like infectious bursal disease (IBD), Inclusion Body Hepatitis (IBH) and Marek's Disease (MD). PCR-RFLP analysis of the full genome of different CAV isolates with Hin d III, Pst I, Nhe I and Mbo II re- striction enzymes showed indistinguishable restriction patterns. A significant decline in erythrocytic and leukocytic cell counts, and increase in the activities of degenerating enzymes was observed in CAV positive flocks. In conclusion, CAV was detected at different poultry farms of India and Nepal and its association with precipitation of other poultry diseases through its marked immunosuppressive potential is evident from findings of present study. Thus, the role of CAV in precipitating other infectious diseases in birds along with molecular epidemiology and immunosuppressive effects needs to be studied in detail so that a comprehensive strategy may be formulated for timely adoption of effective prevention and control measures, subsequently alleviating economic losses in poultry rearing countries.

One World, One Health, One Medicine: An Assessment of Intersectoral Collaboration in Avian Influenza Control in Lagos State

Avian influenza (bird flu) is an infectious disease of birds caused by type A strains of the influenza virus. The infection is known to cross species barrier to infect humans. Between March 2006 and September 2007 Avian influenza (AI) outbreaks occurred in 99 poultry farms in Lagos State. The only human case of AI in Nigeria was detected at a health facility in Lagos in Jan 2007. The outbreak was curbed in the State by the end of year 2007. The collaboration between Veterinary, Health, and Information departments following the AI outbreaks aided the early control of the disease.

Identification of APMV-1 associated with high mortality of collared doves (Streptoelia decaocto) in Italy

The avian paramyxovirus serotype 1 (APMV-1), also known as Newcastle disease virus (NDV), is responsible for one of the most severe infectious diseases in birds, and is considered as a...

Avian influenza virus in migratory and resident birds during migratory season in Boushehr, Iran

Avian influenza (AI) is an infectious disease of birds caused by type A strains of the influenza virus. Among these AI viruses, only serotypes H5 and H7 are considered highly pathogenic in poultry. However, serotype H9N2 has also been found to produce severe respiratory tract infections in chickens. Migratory birds of the world are a natural reservoir of influenza viruses of all subtypes. This is the first report of isolation and molecular survey of AI virus from migratory and wild resident birds in Boushehr, Iran. These areas are at risk for the spread and transmission of influenza A viruses. A total of 443 fecal specimens (fresh droppings and cloacal swabs) were collected from migratory and wild resident birds in the Boushehr wetlands from October 2009 to June 2010. The AI virus was identified by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using a set of primers specific to the nucleoprotein of AI virus, and for positive samples, it was tested again by RT-PCR with specific primers for the H9, H7, and H5 subtypes. Low pathogenic AI viruses (H9 subtype) were detected by RT-PCR and virus isolation, but no highly pathogenic viruses were found during the period of study. The 1st and 2nd positive cases were in slender-billed gulls (Larus genei) from resident birds in the Helleh wetlands, and the 3rd positive case was in a mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) hunted on the Helleh wetland.

MAP MUTATION: a program for analyzing mutations in protein sequences

Avian influenza is an infectious disease of birds caused by type-A strains of the influenza virus. The unprecedented spread of the highly pathogenic avian influenza type A is a threat to veterinary and human health. Influenza viruses continuously undergo mutations and they lack proofreading mechanism. Hence, they evolve to new forms of the virus. We describe MAP MUTATION (developed using PERL script) to quickly compare two strains and display mutational information and report specific positions where mutation has occurred. The PERL script is available from the authors for non-commercial purposes.

Ist die Vogelgrippe eine Gefahr für den Menschen?

Avian influenza is an infectious disease of birds, caused by type A strains of the influenza virus. The disease, which was first identified in Italy more than 100 years ago, occurs worldwide. Avian influenza viruses are mainly distributed by migratory birds. Different mammals like swine, horse and finally humans are susceptible for avian influenza viruses. The high possibility of genomic changes like gene shift and drift is caused by the segmented RNA genome. During the avian flu outbreak in East Asia at the end of 2003 the virus also killed several humans in Vietnam and Thailand. That avian influenza could also infect humans has been known since 1997. The H5N1 flu outbreak seemed successfully controlled, but currently new cases in poultry and humans in Vietnam, Thailand, China and Indonesia are recognized. Also another avian influenza A strain type H9N2 was prevalent in chickens of local markets in Hong Kong. Because of the natural virus reservoir like wild and/ or domesticated ducks and others, actually there is little chance of eradicating avian influenza. Furthermore the virus could mutate and jump to humans with the threat of a global influenza pandemic.

The management of highly pathogenic influenza h5n1 virus with possible interhuman transmission

Background: Avian influenza is an infectious disease of birds caused by A strain of the influenza virus. Some strains are highly contagious causing rapidly a fatal disease in poultry. The strains are known as HPAI (highly pathogenic avian influenza). Until year 1997, direct transmission of HPAI to humans was not known. During the last large outbreak of HPAI H5N1 in South-East Asia in 2004, the virus was transmitted to relatively low number of humans with a high mortality rate. The measures were taken to contain the outbreak of HPAI H5N1 in South-East Asia. However, there is a possibility that the disease might spread to other parts of the world. There is also a certain degree of concern regarding more intensified spread from birds to humans and frequent interhuman transmission. Conclusions: In our paper, we present the recommended infectious control precautions in health care facilities with possible or confirmed case of HPAI H5N1, control measures in case of outbreak of HPAI in poultry in Slovenia and recommendations for travellers to the affected areas.

Recent Avian Influenza Outbreaks: A Pandemic in the Waiting

Avian influenza or “bird flu” is an infectious disease of birds caused by type A strains of the influenza virus. The disease, first identified in Italy more than 100 years ago, occurs worldwide. All the 15 HA types of influenza A virus are known to infect birds, thus providing an extensive reservoir of influenza viruses. All birds are susceptible to infection with avian influenza; domestic poultry flocks are especially vulnerable to infections that can rapidly reach epidemic proportions. The disease in birds causes a wide spectrum of symptoms, ranging from mild illness to a highly contagious and rapidly fatal disease resulting in severe epidemics which is known as “highly pathogenic avian influenza” (HPAI). This form is characterized by sudden onset, severe illness, and rapid death, with a mortality that can approach 100%. To date, all outbreaks of the highly pathogenic form have been caused by influenza A viruses of subtypes H5 and H7.

Birds, Migration and Emerging Zoonoses: West Nile Virus, Lyme Disease, Influenza A and Enteropathogens

Wild birds are important to public health because they carry emerging zoonotic pathogens, either as a reservoir host or by dispersing infected arthropod vectors. In addition, bird migration provides a mechanism for the establishment of new endemic foci of disease at great distances from where an infection was acquired. Birds are central to the epidemiology of West Nile virus (WNV) because they are the main amplifying host of the virus in nature. The initial spread of WNV in the U.S. along the eastern seaboard coincided with a major bird migration corridor. The subsequent rapid movement of the virus inland could have been facilitated by the elliptical migration routes used by many songbirds. A number of bird species can be infected with Borrelia burgdorferi, the etiologic agent of Lyme disease, but most are not competent to transmit the infection to Ixodes ticks. The major role birds play in the geographic expansion of Lyme disease is as dispersers of B. burgdorferi-infected ticks. Aquatic waterfowl are asymptomatic carriers of essentially all hemagglutinin and neuraminidase combinations of influenza A virus. Avian influenza strains do not usually replicate well in humans, but they can undergo genetic reassortment with human strains that co-infect pigs. This can result in new strains with a marked increase in virulence for humans. Wild birds can acquire enteropathogens, such as Salmonella and Campylobacter spp., by feeding on raw sewage and garbage, and can spread these agents to humans directly or by contaminating commercial poultry operations. Conversely, wild birds can acquire drug-resistant enteropathogens from farms and spread these strains along migration routes. Birds contribute to the global spread of emerging infectious diseases in a manner analogous to humans traveling on aircraft. A better understanding of avian migration patterns and infectious diseases of birds would be useful in helping to predict future outbreaks of infections due to emerging zoonotic pathogens.

Virus serological diagnosis in two Avian species based on binding of human C1q to Avian antibody

Diagnosis of infectious diseases in birds using direct assays such as conventional ELISA or immunofluorescence require antibody directed to IgG of each avian species. In this study, we tested binding of human C1q to different antigen-antibody complexes of two avian species in a sandwich immunofluorescent complement fixation test (S-ICFT). The reaction was as follows: virus (in cells) + decomplemented avian serum + human-C1q + goat anti-human-C1q + fluorescein isothiocyanate rabbit anti-goat-IgG. Positive and negative chicken (order Galliformes) sera against chicken anaemia virus (CAV) and sera against avian pox virus as well as positive and negative sera against chicken pox virus raised in a milvago chimango (order Falconiformes) were used. Positive sera of either avian species demonstrated clear fluorescent staining of infected cells while negative sera did not show any reaction. This demonstrated that both chicken and milvago chimango antibodies were able to bind human C1q. Since both avian species tested belonged to different orders, we believe that antibodies of other avian species will also bind human Clq allowing serological surveys in feral birds through S-ICFT.