Prvo izvješće o jakoj crijevnoj kapilariozi uzrokovanoj oblićem Baruscapillaria obsignata u farmski uzgojenih biserki (Numida meleagris).

Capillarid worms are known to cause severe infection of the gastrointestinal tract and mortality, especially in Galliformes. In the present study, guinea fowl carcasses received from an organized poultry farm were investigated for the cause of death. The clinical history reported included reduced feed intake, diarrhea, lethargy and weakness in the flock. On necropsy examination, excess catarrhal exudate in the duodenal lumen (catarrhal enteritis), diphtheritic membrane formation, petichiae or ecchymotic haemorrhages on the mucosa of the duodenum were consistent findings. Mucosal scrapings and worms collected from dead birds examined microscopically revealed the presence of numerous thin adult worms, larvae, and barrel-shaped eggs with prominent bipolar plugs consistent with the morphology of Capillaria spp. Histopathologically, duodenal epithelial desquamation, mucosal thickening, blunting and clubbing of villi, goblet cell hyperactivity, and prominent thickening of the tunica muscularis were observed. Severe intestinal capillariosis resulted in reduced appetite, poor nutrient absorption, unthriftiness, diarrhea, and finally the death of the birds. This paper highlights the importance of regular screening and deworming in farmed guinea fowls. This appears to be the first report with regard to the intestinal form of capillariosis caused by Baruscapillaria obsignata in farmed helmeted guinea fowls.Poznato je da su oblići porodice Capillaridae uzročnici jakih invazija probavnog sustava i uginuća ptica, osobito reda Galliformes. Istraživanje se temelji na rezultatima postmortalnih pretraga biserki uginulih na farmi. Iz povijesti bolesti bilo je vidljivo da su ptice slabije uzimale hranu, imale su proljev, bile potištene i slabe. Razudbom uginulih ptica dokazan je obilni kataralni eksudat u lumenu dvanaesnika (kataralni enteritis), tvorba difteričnih membrana te petehijalna ili ekhimotična krvarenja na sluznici dvanaesnika. Mikroskopiranjem strugotina sluznice uginulih ptica uočeni su mnogi tanki oblići te jaja bačvasta oblika s izraženim bipolarnim čepovima što se podudaralo s izgledom jaja oblića roda Capillaria. Patohistološkom pretragom ustanovljena je deskvamacija epitela dvanaesnika, zadebljanje sluznice, zadebljanje crijevnih resica, hiperaktivnost vrčastih stanica te izraženo zadebljanje mišićnog sloja. Jaka kapilarioza imala je za posljedicu smanjeni tek, slabu apsorpciju hranjivih tvari, slab prirast, proljev i uginuće ptica. U radu se naglašava važnost redovitog pretraživanja i dehelmintizacije farmski uzgajanih biserki. Ovo je prvi nalaz objektivno dokazane crijevne kapilarioze uzrokovane oblićem Baruscapillaria obsignata u farmski uzgojenih biserki

Detection and partial genetic characterisation of a novel variant of Avian nephritis virus in Indian poultry flocks showing diverse clinical signs

Avian nephritis virus (ANV) infects poultry flocks worldwide, but no confirmed cases have been reported from India so far. In the current study, disease investigation was carried out in 21 broiler flocks at different parts of India with clinical signs of nephritis, uneven and stunted growth, diarrhoea, reduced body weight, and mortality up to 9.72%. Out of the 21 flocks screened, two were found positive for ANV in RT-PCR assay. BLAST analysis revealed that the ANV of Indian origin was closely related to ANV-1 strains reported from Japan, Hungary and China. However, comparison of a small portion (~12% of nucleotides, i.e. ~60 nts, common site for ANV-1 and ANV-3, position 2200–2260 of ORF 1a gene) of the Indian ANV sequence with ANV-3 sequences revealed 89–93% identities with different ANV-3 isolates. Phylogenetically, ANV-1 forms three clades, and the Indian ANV clustered under clade II. This study confirms the existence of ANV in Indian poultry flocks and is the first report on the molecular detection and genetic characterisation of ANV from India

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Not AvailableMarek’s disease (MD) is one of the re-emerging diseases in Indian poultry. MD outbreaks are reported from different parts of the country in spite of vaccination, causing major economic losses. Flock mortality of 10–40% have still been observed in vaccinated flocks during outbreaks, although MD is considered to be well controlled with vaccination. Almost 100% of the commercial poultry flocks are vaccinated in the hatchery. Bivalent (HVT+SB1 or HVT+301B/1) or monovalent (HVT) vaccines are used in India. In spite of intensive vaccination, outbreaks are still reported from different parts of the world including India. MD virus (MDV) Indian field isolates from different outbreaks during the last decade are categorised into virulent (vMDV) and very virulent (vvMDV) pathotypes, based on different serotype 1 specific gene sequencing and in vivo pathotyping. The emergence of virulence in MDV is attributed to compromised bio-security, concurrent immunosuppressive diseases and vaccination failure. MD outbreaks in vaccinated Indian poultry flocks cause annual losses of approximately 40 million Indian rupees. Country-wide surveillance and reporting of MD outbreaks and further characterisation of the Indian field isolate should be taken as a priority. Reviewing current vaccination strategy and examining the need for the introduction of more effective vaccines that give better protection against more virulent strains should be considered with equal importance along with improved biosecurity measures, management practices and more effective control of immunosuppressive diseases.Not Availabl

Occurrence of Clostridium perfringens contamination in poultry feed ingredients: Isolation, identification and its antibiotic sensitivity pattern

This work has been undertaken to study the occurrence of Clostridium perfringens contamination in the poultry feed ingredients and find out its in-vitro antibiotic sensitivity pattern to various antimicrobial drugs. Two hundred and ninety-eight poultry feed ingredient samples received at Poultry Disease Diagnosis and Surveillance Laboratory, Namakkal, Tamil Nadu in South India were screened for the presence of C. perfringens. The organisms were isolated in Perfringens agar under anaerobic condition and subjected to standard biochemical tests for confirmation. In vitro antibiogram assay has been carried out to determine the sensitivity pattern of the isolates to various antimicrobial drugs. One hundred and one isolates of C. perfringens were obtained from a total of 298 poultry feed ingredient samples. Overall positivity of 33.89% could be made from the poultry feed ingredients. Highest level of C. perfringens contamination was detected in fish meal followed by bone meal, meat and bone meal and dry fish. Antibiogram assay indicated that the organisms are highly sensitive to gentamicin (100%), chlortetracycline (96.67%), gatifloxacin (93.33%), ciprofloxacin (86.67%), ofloxacin (86.67%) and lincomycin (86.67%). All the isolates were resistant to penicillin-G. Feed ingredients rich in animal proteins are the major source of C. perfringens contamination

Isolation and characterization of genotype XIII Newcastle disease virus from Emu in India

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) infects at least 241 species of pet and free-living birds in addition to domesticated avian species. Wild, feral and domesticated birds are recognized reservoirs of NDV, and contribute to the epidemiology of NDV in the domesticated poultry. The biological and molecular characterization of velogenic NDV (vNDV) from emus is limited. In this study, 54 tissues were collected from eight Emu flocks between May 2010 and January 2012 from highly poultry-dense areas of India including Namakkal, Hyderabad and Bareilly regions. The presence of vNDV was confirmed by virus isolation, fusion (F)-gene based RT-PCR, sequencing of the cleavage site and the virulence scored. One out of eight flocks received from Hyderabad region was found positive for NDV and the in vivo pathotyping revealed the isolate to be vNDV type. The sequence analysis revealed that the isolate had cleavage site of 112-R-R-R-K-R-F-117, which is typical for vNDV. Sequence and phylogenetic analysis of the partial 'F' gene coding regions suggested that the NDV strain belongs to genotype XIII. The Emu isolate had 98-100 % nucleotide identity with the vNDVs previously reported in poultry flocks of India. The findings of present study based on the biological and molecular characterization of Emu-origin vNDV, highlights the circulation of genotype XIII in Emus for the first time in the country. There is need to understand the possible spill over of these genetically diverse NDV strains into the commercial poultry and their possible implications in disease control strategies

Molecular Survey of Respiratory and Immunosuppressive Pathogens Associated with Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza H9N2 Subtype and Virulent Newcastle Disease Viruses in Commercial Chicken Flocks

The study was carried out in 48 poultry flocks to elucidate the roles of various complicating pathogens involved along with Newcastle disease (ND)/ low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) outbreaks. Necropsy was conducted and samples were collected for the isolation of Newcastle disease virus (NDV), Influenza A virus, infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), pathogenic bacteria; molecular detection of infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV), fowl adeno virus (FAV), chicken anaemia virus (CAV), Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) and Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG). The isolation results confirmed that 18/48 flocks (37%) were positive for the presence of hemagglutinating agents. Out of 18 hemagglutination (HA) positive flocks, 11 flocks (61%) were positive for both avian influenza virus (AIV) and NDV; 4 flocks (22%) were positive for NDV; and 3 flocks (17%) were positive for AIV. Sequence analysis of hemagglutinin and neuraminidase genes of AIV revealed that all were belonging to LPAI-H9N2 subtype. Sequence analysis of F gene of NDV revealed that they belong to virulent type. The PCR results confirmed the presence of three to seven etiological agents (CAV, FAV, ILTV, MG, MS and avian pathogenic E. coli along with LPAI/NDV from all the 18 HA-positive flocks. The detection rate of triple, quadruple, quintuple, sextuple and sevenfold infections was 17% (3 flocks), 28% (5 flocks), 11%, (2 flocks) 28% (5 flocks) and 17% (3 flocks), respectively. In conclusion, the disease complex involved more than one pathogen, primarily resulting from the interplay between LPAI-H9N2 and NDV; subsequently this could be exacerbated by co-infection with other agents which may cause exacerbated outbreaks that may otherwise go undetected in field

Molecular epidemiology of nontyphoidal Salmonella in poultry and poultry products in India: implications for human health

Human infections with non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) serovars are increasingly becoming a threat to human health globally. While all motile Salmonellae have zoonotic potential, Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium are most commonly associated with human disease, for which poultry are a major source. Despite the increasing number of human NTS infections, the epidemiology of NTS in poultry in India has not been fully understood. Hence, as a first step, we carried out epidemiological analysis to establish the incidence of NTS in poultry to evaluate the risk to human health. A total of 1215 samples (including poultry meat, tissues, egg and environmental samples) were collected from 154 commercial layer farms from southern India and screened for NTS. Following identification by cultural and biochemical methods, Salmonella isolates were further characterized by multiplex PCR, allele-specific PCR, enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC) PCR and pulse field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). In the present study, 21/1215 (1.73 %) samples tested positive for NTS. We found 12/392 (3.06 %) of tissue samples, 7/460 (1.52 %) of poultry products, and 2/363 (0.55 %) of environmental samples tested positive for NTS. All the Salmonella isolates were resistant to oxytetracycline, which is routinely used as poultry feed additive. The multiplex PCR results allowed 16/21 isolates to be classified as S. Typhimurium, and five isolates as S. Enteritidis. Of the five S. Enteritidis isolates, four were identified as group D Salmonella by allele-specific PCR. All of the isolates produced different banding patterns in ERIC PCR. Of the thirteen macro restriction profiles (MRPs) obtained by PFGE, MRP 6 was predominant which included 6 (21 %) isolates. In conclusion, the findings of the study revealed higher incidence of contamination of NTS Salmonella in poultry tissue and animal protein sources used for poultry. The results of the study warrants further investigation on different type of animal feed sources, food market chains, processing plants, live bird markets etc., to evaluate the risk factors, transmission and effective control measures of human Salmonella infection from poultry products

Haemorrhagic enteritis of turkeys – current knowledge

Haemorrhagic enteritis virus (HEV), an adenovirus associated with acute haemorrhagic gastro-intestinal disease of 6–11-week old turkeys predominantly hampers both humoral and cellular immunity. Affected birds are more prone to secondary complications (e.g. colibacillosis and clostridiosis) and failure to mount an effective vaccine-induced immune response. HEV belongs to the new genus Siadenovirus. Feco-oral transmission is the main route of entry of the virus and it mainly colonizes bursa, intestine and spleen. Both naturally occurring virulent and avirulent strains of HEVs are serologically indistinguishable. Recent findings revealed that ORF1, E3 and fib genes are the key factors affecting virulence. The adoption of suitable diagnostic tools, proper vaccination and biosecurity measures have restrained the occurrence of disease epidemics. For diagnostic purposes, the best source of HEV is either intestinal contents or samples from spleen. For rapid detection highly sensitive and specific tests such as quantitative real-time PCR based on Taq man probe has been designed. Avirulent strains of HEV or MSDV can be effectively used as live vaccines. Novel vaccines include recombinant hexon protein-based subunit vaccines or recombinant virus-vectored vaccines using fowl poxvirus (FPV) expressing the native hexon of HEV. Notably, subunit vaccines and recombinant virus vectored vaccines altogether offer high protection against challenge or field viruses. Herein, we converse a comprehensive analysis of the HEV genetics, disease pathobiology, advancements in diagnosis and vaccination along with appropriate prevention and control strategies