A study of the epidemiology of infectious bursal disease in poultry in Queensland, 1976–1979

The epidemiology of infectious bursal disease (IBD) was studied by serology and sometimes by visual examination of the bursa of Fabricius in poultry flocks in Queensland during 1976–1979.
Ten flocks, each of approximately 30,000 meat breeding chickens, were surveyed. All chickens had maternally-derived antibody against IBD virus (IBDV) at hatching and active antibody was not detected while the chickens were brooded on rearing farms. When distributed to breeding farms, 7 of the flocks developed antibody when 11 to 25 weeks of age. The remaining 3 flocks were vaccinated by infection of 10% of the birds and within 4 weeks more than 80% of the chickens had developed precipitating antibody to IBDV.
Blood samples of 20 to 30 broiler chickens were collected at slaughter (7 to 9 weeks of age) from each of 312 broiler flocks raised on 37 contract farms. While the samples from 21 flocks were without detectable antibody to IBDV, all serum samples for 263 flocks contained antibody. The ratio of bursal weight to bodyweight was significantly lower in birds from 144 flocks having antibody to IBDV than in birds from 10 flocks that were without detectable antibody. In sequential studies, IBDV antibody became demonstrable in 27 of 30 flocks when the chickens were one to 6 weeks of age and was accompanied by bursal atrophy.
Serological investigation of 4 flocks of layer breeding chickens on a multi-age farm at approximately monthly intervals resulted in antibody to IBDV being detected at every examination.
Serological tests and bursal examinations were carried out weekly in 2 flocks each of 4000 layer chickens between one and 20 weeks of age. Serum antibody developed in one flock at 4 weeks of age and in the other at 17 weeks of age. In both flocks, bursal atrophy occurred concurrently with the development of antibody.     

Development and application of an ELISA for detecting antibodies to Salmonella enteritidis in chicken flocks.

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were developed for the detection of IgG antibody to Salmonella enteritidis in poultry flocks. A lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and heat-extracted (HE) antigen for use in the ELISA were evaluated together with the rapid slide test (RST), microagglutination test (MT) and the microantiglobulin (MAG) test. In experimentally infected specific pathogen free chickens, good correlation was seen between all tests although, generally, the MT and MAG detected antibody earlier and titres peaked earlier than the ELISAs. The LPS antigen detected antibody earlier than the HE antigen but the latter gave higher titres in the later stages of infection. Cross reactions were seen between S enteritidis and S typhimurium in the ELISAs although homologous reactions were always much higher. Antisera to S montevideo or S senftenberg gave weak positive reactions in both S enteritidis ELISAs. Serological and bacteriological examinations of representative samples from two commercial chicken flocks were carried out. In flock A the HE-ELISA and MAG test detected antibody in nearly all birds. The LPS-ELISA detected antibody in over 60 per cent of birds, while the MT and RST detected few seropositive birds. The whole blood test using the stained S pullorum antigen on the farm detected antibody in just under 25 per cent of the birds. S enteritidis was isolated from the organs of 25 per cent of the birds. All birds in flock B were seronegative by all tests; no salmonellae were isolated from the organs of these birds.     

Immune responses of breeding chickens to trivalent oil emulsion vaccines: responses to infectious bronchitis

Three similar flocks of broiler breeder parent chickens that had been given live infections bronchitis (IB) vaccines during rearing were injected at 20 weeks of age with three different oil emulsion vaccines: a commercial monovalent Newcastle disease (ND) vaccine (flock A); an experimental bivalent vaccine containing ND and infectious bursal disease (IBD) components (flock B); and an experimental trivalent vaccine containing ND, IBD and IB components (flock C). One week after vaccination 40 hens from flock A and 40 from flock C were taken to the laboratory and their egg yields individually recorded. At 37 weeks of age they were challenged by aerosol exposure to virulent IB virus. The egg production dropped significantly in the hens from flock A but not in the hens from flock C. On the farm, flock C showed a higher mean IB virus antibody titre four weeks after vaccination but titres rose in all three flocks indicating the presence of active IB virus infection. No differences in egg yields were found between the three farm flocks.     

Probable infectious stunting syndrome in replacement pullets

Infectious stunting is recorded in detail in three egg-type pullet flocks and one egg-type breeder flock. Three different strains of brown egg birds were involved. The clinical effects were less severe than those usually seen in broilers. Excessive mortality during the first three weeks was a feature of all four flocks. Fibrous atrophy of the pancreas was seen in one flock and could still be found in individual birds at 18 weeks old. Bone disorders were seen in two flocks. Severe anaemia was seen in some birds in one flock. Severe emaciation of the pectoral muscles was an unexplained and prominent feature of all the flocks. As the birds grew the visible and clinical evidence of stunting was much reduced and it appeared that compensatory growth took place so that by 18 weeks old the flocks appeared normal and the culling rate at caging was negligible.     

The clinical course of the Infectious Laryngotracheitis (ILT) field case in hens and estimation of immunoprophylaxis efficiency

The ILT case was observed in laying hen farm where birds of different age (from 40 to 107 weeks) were kept in 10 flocks. A rapid spread of the disease, the decrease in egg production (in flock No. 1 it reached 58%) and higher mortality (the highest in 76 and 77 week-old birds, accounting for 0.11% and 0.36%, respectively ) was recorded during first 2 weeks of disease. Antibodies against ILT virus were detected in serum of the examined birds during the whole observation period (50 weeks after the disease outbreak). The laying hens were vaccinated at 8 weeks of age and boosted after 5 weeks. The vaccine was applied in drinking water, in a dose twice as high as usually recommended per one bird. Immunopropylaxis efficiency was estimated on the basis of immunological response in birds (serum samples, ILT ELISA kit, Guildhay Ltd.) and general health status of hens in flocks. Postvaccinal immunity, the presence of specific antibodies against ILT, was observed in all birds during the observation period (51 weeks). During that time GMT value ranged from 8261,3 (week 10) to 5196 (week 51) after the second vaccination, and CV amounted in this period to 41.1% and 51%, respectively. Subsequently, clinical symptoms of the disease disappeared and the egg production, as well as mortality, returned to the level of technological norms for laying hens.     

Infection dynamics of Ascaridia galli in non-caged laying hens

The infection dynamics of Ascaridia galli in laying hens was investigated in six commercial non-caged flocks. Three flocks were managed in accordance with the regulations for organic production and had outdoor access, whereas three flocks were housed indoors in aviaries or traditional floor systems. Faecal egg counts and total worm burdens were determined at specified intervals during the first 50 weeks of the production period. In two conventional flocks the efficacy of flubendazole on lumenal stages was investigated. All flocks became infected following the arrival of the birds (post placement) with residual infective eggs derived from the previous flock. In four flocks (two organic and two conventional) parasite eggs were first detected in faeces 6-7 weeks post placement, whereas parasite eggs were not detected until after 17-18 weeks in two flocks. This delay was observed in two of three flocks that were housed in barns that had been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected by chlorocresol. In three flocks (two conventional and one organic) flubendazole was administered to the birds in the drinking water for approximately one week. Both conventional flocks were dewormed twice approximately 20 weeks apart, whereas the organic flock was dewormed only once about 40 weeks post placement. Parasite eggs reappeared after deworming in all flocks, often within 2-4 weeks, followed by a rapid increase in parasite egg expulsion. Our results suggested impairment of host immunity post treatment, as the egg counts exceeded pre-treatment levels after 7-8 weeks on both conventional farms. Accordingly, the way by which anthelmintics and/or disinfectants are used in non-caged chicken flocks must be refined.     

The experimental production of big liver and spleen disease in broiler breeder hens

SUMMARY Big liver and spleen disease (BLS) was reproduced experimentally by intravenous (IV) and oral (PO) administration of BLS inocula to susceptible broiler breeder hens 34 to 36 weeks of age. Serological and pathological signs of BLS similar to those seen in the natural disease occurred in inoculated and in-contact birds. Splenomegaly was the earliest and often the only necropsy finding, with hepatomegaly and kidney enlargement occurring in some birds later in the course of the disease. After IV administration, serum antigen was detected between 2 and 4 weeks, and antibody between 3 and 5 weeks. After PO administration, antigen was detected between 2 and 4 weeks, and antibody between 3 and 6 weeks. Antibody persisted in all birds to the end of the experiment (6 weeks), and horizontal transmission probably occurred since in-contact birds developed BLS. Liver probably contained the highest concentration of BLS agent because it had the highest infectivity.     

Isolation of Salmonella Organisms from Commercial Layer Houses Where the Flocks Were Molted with a Wheat Bran Diet

To develop an alternative method to feed withdrawal for molting layers, 2 flocks consisting of approximately 26,000 commercial laying hens each at 478 (68 wk, flock 1) and 466 (67 wk, flock 2) d of age were reared in an environmentally controlled windowless house and were fed wheat bran (WB) diet. Flock 1 hens were fed WB for 25 d, and flock 2 hens were fed WB for 21 d and then fed a mixture of WB and layer feed (1:1, wt:wt) for the last 4 d of the treatment. After that, the birds in both flocks were fed a normal layer feed. The photoperiod was reduced from 16 to 9 h in both flocks. Most of the birds in both flocks ceased egg production by 10 to 15 d of feeding the WB diets. Egg production in flock 1 gradually increased to 11.4% by 31 to 40 d and 71.4% by 41 to 50 d of the treatment, whereas the egg production in flock 2 hens lagged behind by almost 10 d. The mean egg production from 61 to 140 d exceeded 86% in both flocks. The houses in the farm were naturally contaminated with several serovars of Salmonella, not Enteriditis or Typhimurium. In both flocks with the WB treatment, no marked increase in Salmonella isolation from environmental samples was observed postmolt relative to premolt levels. The study demonstrated that feeding hens WB could be successfully used as an alternative to feed withdrawal to force-rest aging hens while not exacerbating a Salmonella problem in a commercial egg-production setting.     

Persistence of immunity in commercial egg-laying hens following vaccination with a killed H6N2 avian influenza vaccine

The California poultry industry experienced an outbreak of H6N2 avian influenza beginning in February 2000. The initial infections were detected in three commercial egg-laying flocks and a single noncommercial backyard flock but later spread to new premises. The vaccination of pullet flocks with a commercially prepared, killed autogenous vaccine prior to their placements on farms with infected or previously infected flocks was used as a part of the eradication programs for some multiage, commercial egg production farms. The purpose of this study was to follow three vaccinated flocks on two commercial farms to track the immune responses to vaccination. The antibody-mediated responses of the three flocks followed in this study were markedly different. One flock achieved 100% seroconversion at 12.5 wk of age, but by 32 wk of age, all of the hens were seronegative by agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID). In contrast, at 32 wk of age, flocks from the other farm (flocks 2A and 2B) were 95% and 72% seropositive by AGID, respectively. Of the differences that were identified between the vaccination protocols on the two farms, the distinction that could explain the level of disparity between responses is the delivery of the second dose of vaccine with a bacterin on the first farm, which may have interfered with the persistence of immunity in this flock. Hens from flocks 2A and 2B were experimentally challenged at 25 wk of age with H6N2 avian influenza virus. Hens from flock 2A did not transmit virus to naive contact-exposed hens, but hens from flock 2B did. At 34 wk of age, hens from flock 2A were again challenged and naive contact-exposed hens were infected in this second trial. These challenge experiments served to demonstrate that despite detectable antibody responses in flocks 2A and 2B, the birds were protected from infection for less than 21 wk after the second vaccination.     

Cryptosporidium parvum infection in orphan lambs on a farm open to the public

A longitudinal survey was undertaken on an open farm to investigate the occurrence of Cryptosporidium species infection in orphan lambs obtained from three local flocks. During an initial pilot study, Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected by a fluorescent antibody test (fat) in the faeces of two of 21 lambs aged between one and three weeks derived from one flock (flock A). Pooled pen samples of faeces were collected weekly from lambs derived from each flock; oocysts were detected by fat in 24 (49.0 per cent) of 49 samples from lambs from flock A, 18 (30.5 per cent) of 59 samples from lambs from flock B and 14 (29.8 per cent) of 47 samples from lambs from flock C. Oocyst counts of 1 x 10(3) to more than 2 x 10(6) per gram of faeces were detected in lambs up to 12 weeks old, with the peak counts occurring at six weeks of age in the lambs from flocks A and B and at four weeks of age in those from flock C. The oocysts were confirmed by molecular analysis as Cryptosporidium parvum. Virtually all the infections were subclinical.     

Economic effects of clinical chicken anemia agent infection on profitable broiler production.

An outbreak of anemia dermatitis syndrome caused by chicken anemia agent (CAA) occurred in 15 broiler flocks. An average of 29% of chickens in these flocks were derived from a common breeder flock. The breeder flock had no antibody to CAA at 20 weeks of age but had seroconverted by 31 weeks. Diseased broiler flocks were derived from eggs laid by the breeder flock between 25 and 30 weeks of age. CAA infection in the breeder flock was subclinical, with no apparent effects on mortality or performance. A strategic program of therapeutic and/or prophylactic antibiotic therapy was begun in affected broiler flocks as soon as the disease was diagnosed. Nevertheless, when the cost of therapy was taken into account, affected broiler flocks had a net income 17.3% to 19.6% lower than normal flocks. Average bird weights were 3.3% to 3.5% lower in affected flocks than in unaffected flocks, and affected flocks had a significantly greater proportion of lighter birds. Average mortality in affected flocks was 2.0% to 2.3% higher than in normal flocks, with peak mortality occurring in the third week of life. There was no apparent effect on feed-conversion ratio.     

Some field observations on the antibody response to avian infectious bronchitis on Auckland layer farms

Layer flocks on four Auckland poultry farms were monitored monthly for Infectious Bronchitis (IB) antibody levels, using the haemagglutination inhibition test. The same birds were bled each month and antibody levels compared with egg production. The results showed that IB vaccination at 4(1/2) and 14(1/2) weeks using the live, attenuated, New Zealand A strain virus, protected layers from IB infection on a farm with good management techniques but vaccination on another commercial farm gave less then ideal protection due possibly to intercurrent disease. Also antibody levels in naturally infected layers responded more vigorously when exposed to the field strain, compared with the response in vaccinated birds.     

Monitoring the Immune Status of Broilers Against Reoviruses Using Challenge and Serologic Data

Reoviruses are an important cause of suboptimum performance in commercial broilers worldwide. Integrators use the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay against the S1133 antigen for monitoring serum of breeders for indicating pullet vaccine success. However, without correlating serology to reovirus challenge, it is difficult to determine whether titers reflect protective immunity. We developed a broiler challenge test against 2 common reovirus isolates (2408 and S1133) to evaluate the efficacy of reovirus pullet vaccine programs. Two reovirus serologic and challenge studies were undertaken using chicks from broiler integrators from the southeastern United States. Breeder flocks, from which the chicks were obtained, received at least 1 live and 2 inactivated reovirus vaccines during their pullet phase. One-day-old progeny were collected from 6 breeder flocks. At 1 d of age, 20 chicks from each broiler flock were bled, and serum was analyzed for antibodies. At 3 to 4 d of age, 20 progeny per flock were challenged with the 2408 reovirus by intratracheal route. At 10 to 14 d of age, another 20 birds per flock were challenged with the S1133 reovirus by footpad. Twenty birds per flock were used as nonchallenged controls. At 3 wk of age, all birds were killed and weighed. Percentage of protection was calculated for each flock based on the absence of gross lesions. Flocks with at least 50% protection were considered well protected. Most flocks were well protected against both viruses. The percentage of protection correlated with day-old enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay titers. Chicks from younger hens had higher titers and the best protection against challenge. Producers, whose hen flocks were monitored herein, were doing a good job of immunizing pullets against reovirus. They are now using reovirus progeny challenge studies along with breeder antibody titers to determine vaccination success of their pullets.     

Neoplasms in the oviducts of turkeys

The reproductive tracts of turkey breeder hens from five flocks were examined grossly and histologically. Hens from one flock had a normal reproductive history, but hens from the four other flocks had poor records in both egg production and hatchability. Nodular growths occurred in the oviducts of birds in all five flocks. The incidence of lesions varied from flock to flock and from bird to bird. In four flocks, lesions were small and consisted of areas of dysplasia with adenomatous change. Histologically, the lesions in some birds in the fifth flock were adenocarcinomas. No metastases were observed.     

The occurrence of a reovirus variant in a German broiler flock

Broilers deriving from a parent flock, which had been effected in the 6th. month of hatching egg production, show arthritis beginning with the 12th day of life. The tarso-metatarsal joint has been affected. Birds show stunting. Body weights at slaughter and feed conversion of the affected flocks were reduced. The percentage of condemned birds before slaughter was highly increase and came up to 3-5%. Chickens of other breeder flocks, which were reared with the diseased birds, showed viral arthritis at an age of 18-20th day of life. The boilers derived from parent flocks which had been vaccinated twice during the with a 1133 reo live vaccine and before laying with an oil based vaccine of the antigen type WVU. A reovirus has been isolated (isolate K 171/87), which caused viral arthritis in 1133-immune day old chicks after parenteral and oral application. Infection of these chickens with the pathogenic reovirus of the antigen type 1133 didn't cause a disease. Also by serological examinations it was shown, that the reo-isolate K 171/87 possesses a different antigenicity. The kind of occurrence indicates, that this reovirus infection has been transmitted vertically from one parent flock and it spread laterally to chickens of other parent flocks in broiler farms.     

Epidemiologic characterization of Colorado backyard bird flocks

Backyard gallinaceous bird flocks may play an important role in the spread of infectious diseases within poultry populations as well as the transmission of zoonotic diseases to humans. An epidemiologic characterization was conducted of Colorado backyard flocks to gather information on general flock characteristics, human movement of birds, human-bird interaction, biosecurity practices, and flock health. Our results suggest that backyard poultry flocks in Colorado are small-sized flocks (68.6% of flocks had < 50 birds); consist primarily of layer chickens (85.49% of flocks), show chickens (32.18% of flocks), and waterfowl (34.07% of flocks); and are primarily owned for food (meat or egg) production for the family (86.44%) or as pet or hobby birds (42.27%). The backyard flock environment may promote bird-to-bird transmission as well as bird-to-human transmission of infectious disease. Birds are primarily housed with free access to the outside (96.85%), and many are moved from the home premises (46.06% within 1 yr). Human contact with backyard flocks is high, biosecurity practices are minimal, and bird health is negatively impacted by increased movement events. Increased knowledge of backyard bird characteristics and associated management practices can provide guidelines for the development of measures to decrease disease transmission between bird populations, decrease disease transmission from birds to humans, and increase the overall health of backyard birds.     

Sequential studies of skeletal calcium reserves and structural bone volume in a commercial layer flock.

1. Production-induced osteoporosis in caged laying hens is thought to represent a major constraint to continued genetic development. 2. The relationship between body weight, egg production, skeletal abnormalities characteristic of osteoporosis, femur calcium and bone histology was examined in a flock of ISA Brown layers from 16 to 68 weeks of age. 3. Experiment 2 examined a flock of Lohmann browns for skeletal abnormalities characteristic of osteoporosis at 45 weeks of age and the severity of abnormalities was then related to body weight and production between 18 and 45 weeks of age. 4. Average body weight declined in the ISA flock between 35 and 45 weeks of age, which correlated with a loss of skeletal calcium reserves (15% to 20%) and with the induction of osteoporosis. Between 42 and 68 weeks of age, birds were able to replenish femur calcium levels. 5. Birds in the Lohmann flock showing severe skeletal abnormalities at 45 weeks of age experienced weight loss between 27 and 31 weeks of age, which was associated with a decrease in egg production of 18%. After 35 weeks of age, egg production of these birds recovered to similar levels as unaffected or mildly affected birds. 6. It seems likely that better standardisation of the equilibrium between growth, skeletal reserves, food intake and egg production can reduce osteoporosis, as well as improving the productive potential of modern laying strains.     

High seroprevalence of Histomonas meleagridis in Dutch layer chickens

Histomona meleagridis is a protozoan parasite that may cause outbreaks of histomonosis with high mortality, especially in turkey flocks. Chickens are less susceptible to the disease than are turkeys, but are considered to act as an important reservoir. To determine the seroprevalence of H. meleagridis in Dutch layer chicken flocks, a large scale seroepidemiologic study (3376 samples) was performed by sampling 12 organic flocks, 24 free-ranging flocks, 40 flocks with floor housing, and 40 flocks with cage housing. At the end of the laying period, approximately 30 blood samples per flock were collected for serology. The seroprevalence found was high. In every flock, at least one of the samples tested positive while in 87% of the flocks, at least one of the samples was strongly positive. There were no significant statistical differences in seropositivity between the housing types. To confirm the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) results, a small-scale seroepidemiologic study (576 samples) was performed in 29 additional layer chicken flocks kept in different housing systems. Subsequently, a subset of five seropositive flocks was selected. Five birds were obtained from each of these flocks in order to detect the parasite using culture and PCR. In all five flocks, H. meleagridis was either isolated from (culture), detected in (PCR), or both, the birds sampled. Together with the previously performed validation studies, the latter results confirm that the positive ELISA serology found is genuine. We conclude that the seroprevalence of H. meleagridis in layers is, as anticipated, high.     

Salmonella gallinarum biovar gallinarum as the cause of a highly acute septicemic disease in adult laying hens kept in battery cages

Early in the summer of 1988 two flocks each of them consisted of about 7500 brown laying hens of a heavy hybrid line were affected by fowl typhoid. The birds have been bought at the age of 20 weeks and housed in two buildings placed close together in one farm. The disease started in flock I at the age of 26 weeks and in flock II at the age of 36 weeks. In repeated trials amoxicillin was effective in the treatment of fowl typhoid when given in the drinking water for ad libitum consumption over a 4-7 days period; however relapse occurred 3-4 days after withdrawal of the drug. All the hens were slaughtered 5 days after termination of the last therapy. In spite of the treatment 18.3% of the hens in flock I and 14.3% of those in flock II died within the observation period of 47 days and 22 days respectively. Egg production was not affected. The source of the fowl typhoid producing organisms could be not elucidated.     

EDS 76 HI antibodies in a flock of free-range layers

An investigation of poor laying performance in a flock of free-range hens revealed high levels of serum antibodies to EDS 76 in the flock initially examined and in another, older flock on the same farm. These flocks had contact with ducks on a farm dam and were supplied with untreated drinking water from the dam. Serological evidence indicated that another flock supplying the same egg packing station had been infected with EDS 76 virus. Little serological evidence of EDS infection was detected from five other flocks supplying the packing station, parent breeders or the ducks resident on the dam. Therefore, the source of the EDS 76 virus remains conjectural.