Health evaluation of free-ranging rockhopper penguins (Eudyptes chrysocomes) in Argentina.

As part of annual colony counts in Santa Cruz Province, Argentina, a health survey of rockhopper penguins (Eudyptes chrysocomes) was conducted in 1994. Forty-five birds were examined during handling procedures, and blood and fecal samples were collected for laboratory analysis. All birds appeared to be in good condition. No ecto- or endoparasites were found. Hematology, plasma chemistry, and plasma mineral levels were measured and correlated with the results of bacterial and viral serology. Antibodies against Chlamydia sp., avian adenovirus, avian encephalomyelitis virus, infectious bronchitis virus, avian reovirus, and paramyxovirus-1, -2, and -3 were found. Mean plasma chemistry and mineral values differed between individuals testing positive and negative on serologic tests. There was no serologic evidence of exposure to avian influenza virus, duck viral enteritis, infectious bursal disease, infectious laryngotracheitis, Aspergillus sp., or Salmonella pullorum. Trace amounts of endrin were found in the plasma of one bird, but all other chlorinated pesticide and polychlorinated biphenyl levels were below detectable limits.     

Evaluation of the health of free-ranging greater rheas (Rhea americana) in Argentina

The health of 22 free-ranging adult rheas (Rhea americana) examined and sampled during a translocation/reintroduction project and six juvenile rheas kept in semicaptivity was investigated, and details of their haematology and plasma biochemistry are presented. Serological testing for antibodies to infectious agents was negative for infectious laryngotracheitis, avian adenovirus, avian influenza, avian reovirus, infectious bursal disease, infectious bronchitis virus, paramyxovirus types 1, 2, and 3, fowlpox and Salmonella Pullorum. Antibodies to Chlamydophila species were found in 25 of 27 of the birds, and 22 of 25 had antibodies to Aspergillus species. Ova of gastrointestinal nematodes of the genus Capillaria were identified, and the anoplocephalid cestode Monoecocestus cf rheiphilus was identified in R americana for the first time.     

Health evaluation of free-ranging and captive blue-fronted Amazon parrots (Amazona aestiva) in the Gran chaco, Bolivia.

Bolivia has a total of 47 species of Psittacidae, seven of which have been identified in our study site, the semiarid Gran Chaco of the Isoso. One species, the blue-fronted parrot (Amazona aestiva), is frequently captured by local Isose?o Guaraní Indians for exploitation on the national and international market. These birds are often temporarily housed in small villages under unhygienic conditions with poultry and other domestic species. On occasion, these parrots escape back to the wild. Additionally, many of these birds are kept as pets or are used to lure wild. parrots within slingshot range for subsequent capture. In this study, we evaluated the health status, including the level of exposure to selected infectious agents, in the wild-caught captive birds and free-ranging birds. Physical examinations were performed, and blood was collected, from 54 live birds (20 captive and 34 free-ranging). Feces were collected from 15 birds (seven captive and eight free-ranging). Necropsies were also performed on four recently dead wild-caught birds. On serologic testing, no birds were found to have antibodies to avian influenza virus, Chlamydophila psittaci, infectious bronchitis virus, infectious bursal disease virus, infectious laryngotracheitis virus, Marek's disease virus, paramyxovirus-1, paramyxovirus-2, paramyxovirus-3, polyomavirus, eastern equine encephalitis virus, western equine encephalitis virus, or Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus. Positive antibody titers were found for psittacine herpesvirus (8/44, 18.2%), Aspergillus spp. (3/51, 5.9%), and Salmonella pullorum (33/49, 67.3%). All three of the birds that tested antibody positive for Aspergillus spp. were captive, whereas six of the eight and 15 of the 33 birds that tested positive for psittacine herpesvirus and S. pullorum, respectively, were wild.     

Serological survey of the infectious disease status of Old English Game fowl in the lower North Island, New Zealand

AIM: To investigate the serological status of Old English Game (OEG) cockerels for a range of infectious diseases of poultry. METHODS: Standard methods were used to screen serum collected from approximately 200 birds during routine dubbing operations, in 2004 and 2005. RESULTS: There was no serological evidence of infection with Newcastle disease, infectious bursal disease, or Salmonella Pullorum. Antibodies to infectious bronchitis virus, avian encephalomyelitis (AE) virus, Mycoplasma gallisepticum and Mycoplasma synoviae were detected. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The disease status of OEG birds is similar to that of commercial poultry.     

Hematology, plasma chemistry, serology, and Chlamydophila status of the waved albatross (Phoebastria irrorata) on the Galapagos Islands.

Venipuncture was performed on 50 adult, free-ranging waved albatrosses (Phoebastria irrorata) on Espa?ola, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, to establish hematologic and plasma biochemistry reference ranges and to determine the prevalence of exposure to important domestic avian pathogens. Weights and plasma creatine phosphokinase activities differed significantly between males and females. Serum was tested for evidence of exposure to avian influenza, avian paramyxoviruses 1, 2, and 3, avian cholera, adenovirus groups 1 and 2, avian encephalomyelitis, Marek's disease, infectious bursal disease, and infectious bronchitis virus (Connecticut and Massachusetts strains). Of 44 birds, 29 (66%) seroreacted to adenovirus group 1, and four seroreacted to avian encephalomyelitis. Cloacal swabs were negative for Chlamydophila psittaci DNA.     

Survey of peafowl (Pavo cristatus) for potential pathogens at three Michigan zoos.

Blood samples collected from 31 free-roaming peafowl from three zoos in Michigan were tested serologically. Antibody titers were present against avian adenovirus and Bordetella avium in 19.3% and 61.3% of the samples, respectively. Serum plate agglutination tests were positive for Mycoplasma meleagridis and Mycoplasma synoviae in 3.2% and 38.7% of the samples, respectively. All birds were seronegative for avian influenza, Newcastle disease virus, West Nile virus, Mycoplasma gallisepticum, Salmonella pullorum, Salmonella typhimurium, and Giardia sp. No parasites were seen in blood smears. Cloacal swabs were cultured for anaerobic, aerobic, and microaerophilic bacteria. Clostridium perfringens type A and Escherichia coli were cultured most frequently from 64.5% and 29% of the samples, respectively, whereas Salmonella sp. and Campylobacter sp. were not isolated. Fecal samples contained moderate numbers of ascarid and Capillaria sp. ova and coccidian oocysts. Female biting lice (Goniodes gigas) were identified on three birds.     

Cases of swollen head syndrome in broiler chickens in Greece

From 50 commercial broiler flocks included in a study concerning respiratory disease, signs of swollen head syndrome (SHS) were shown in eight. Postmortem examination was performed in eight birds showing signs of SHS from each flock. The trachea and head from each bird were collected for laboratory investigation. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used for the detection of viral and avian mycoplasma antigens in the trachea, and bacteriologic examinations were performed from the infraorbital sinuses of the infected birds. According to the ELISA results, the most frequently detected antigen in the trachea was Mycoplasma synoviae (six flocks, 75%), followed by infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) (five flocks, 62.5%), avian adenovirus (four flocks, 50%), avian reovirus (three flocks, 37.5%), Mycoplasma gallisepticum (one flock, 12.5%), and Newcastle disease virus (NDV) (one flock, 12.5%). Turkey rhinotracheitis (TRT), infectious laryngotracheitis, and avian influenza viral antigens were not detected. Experimental assays for characterization of NDV and IBV isolates showed that they were strains of low virulence (evidently vaccine strains). Bacteriologic examinations from the infraorbital sinuses of the affected birds resulted in the isolation of Escherichia coli (seven cases, 87.5%) and Staphylococcus spp. (one case, 12.5%). It is evident that TRT virus did not play a causal role in SHS in commercial broiler flocks in Greece, but in this condition, other viruses (IBV, NDV), mycoplasmas, or bacteria may be involved, and environmental conditions seem to be essential to the occurrence and severity of the disease.     

沙门氏菌感染后鸡血液中核苷酸结合寡聚化结构域1基因的表达量变化分析

为了探讨核苷酸结合寡聚化结构域1(nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain containing 1,NOD1)在抗沙门氏菌感染过程中的作用,本试验采用实时荧光定量PCR的方法检测了血液中NOD1基因在转录水平的表达量变化.试验分为3组,鸡白痢沙门氏菌组、肠炎沙门氏菌组和对照组,分别在感染后1、3、5、7 d检测NOD1 mRNA的表达水平.结果显示,感染后的1~7 d,鸡白痢沙门氏菌和肠炎沙门氏菌感染后的表达量变化趋势不同,其中,鸡白痢沙门氏菌感染后表达量呈先上升再下降然后再上升的波浪形变化,而肠炎沙门氏菌感染后的表达量呈逐渐上升趋势.与对照组相比,血液中NOD1 mRNA的水平,在鸡白痢沙门氏菌感染后的3和7 d的表达量显著高于对照组(P <0.05),在肠炎沙门氏菌感染后的5、7 d的表达量显著高于对照组(P <0.05).提示,鸡白痢沙门氏菌和肠炎沙门氏菌感染后均可促进鸡血液中NOD1基因的表达,NOD1基因可能参与了机体抗沙门氏菌感染过程.     

Antibody response of five bird species after vaccination with a killed West Nile virus vaccine.

West Nile virus has been associated with numerous bird mortalities in the United States since 1999. Five avian species at three zoological parks were selected to assess the antibody response to vaccination for West Nile virus: black-footed penguins (Spheniscus demersus), little blue penguins (Eudyptula minor), American flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber), Chilean flamingos (Phoenicopterus chilensis), and Attwater's prairie chickens (Tympanuchus cupido attwateri). All birds were vaccinated intramuscularly at least twice with a commercially available inactivated whole virus vaccine (Innovator). Significant differences in antibody titer over time were detected for black-footed penguins and both flamingo species.     

A serological survey for pathogens in old fancy chicken breeds in central and eastern part of The Netherlands

To get an impression of the presence of pathogens in multi-aged flocks of old fancy chicken breeds in the Netherlands, plasma samples originating from 24 flocks were examined for antibodies against 17 chicken pathogens. These flocks were housed mainly in the centre and east of the Netherlands, regions with a high poultry density. The owners of the tested flocks showed their chicken at national and international poultry exhibitions. Antibodies against Avian Influenza, Egg Drop Syndrome '76 virus, Pox virus, Salmonella pullorum/gallinarum, Salmonella Enteritidis or Salmonella Typhimurium were not detected. However, antibodies against other Salmonella species, Mycoplasma gallisepticum, infectious bursal disease virus, infectious bronchitis virus, avian encephalomyelitis virus, chicken anaemia virus, infectious laryngotracheitis virus, and avian leukosis virus, subgroups A and B, and subgroup J were detected in a varying proportion of the flocks. This study shows that antibodies against many chicken pathogens are present among the flocks of old fancy chicken breeds that are exhibited at international poultry exhibitions.     

Serologic survey of slaughter-age ostriches (Struthio camelus) for antibodies to selected avian pathogens

Serum samples from 163 slaughter-age ostriches (Struthio camelus) in Ohio and Indiana were tested for antibodies to avian influenza virus (AIV), Newcastle disease virus (NDV), paramyxovirus (PMV) 2, PMV3, PMV7, infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV), Bordetella avium, Mycoplasma synoviae, Mycoplasma gallisepticum, Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale, Salmonella pullorum, Salmonella gallinarum, and Salmonella typhimurium. One ostrich had antibodies to AIV H5N9, 57% of the ostriches had antibodies to NDV, four ostriches had antibodies to both NDV and PMV2, and one ostrich had antibodies to NDV, PMV2, PMV3, and PMV7. None of the ostriches had antibodies to IBDV, B. avium, M. synoviae, M. gallisepticum, O. rhinotracheale, S. pullorum, S. gallinarum, and S. typhimurium. This is the first report of antibodies to avian influenza and PMV7 in ostriches in the United States.     

Differential identification of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Gallinarum biovars Gallinarum and Pullorum based on polymorphic regions of glgC and speC genes

Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Gallinarum biovars Gallinarum and Pullorum cause fowl typhoid and pullorum disease in avian species, respectively, and have been of considerable economic importance to the poultry industry in parts of the world. The definitive diagnosis of these diseases can be made only by isolation and identification of the causative agent. However, rapid identification of biovars Gallinarum and Pullorum is not easily feasible due to their common antigenic structure and genomic sequence similarity. We developed a duplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay to identify and discriminate between strains of biovars Gallinarum and Pullorum. Duplex PCR primers were designed to target polymorphic regions of glgC and speC genes showing multiple mutations in the sequenced S. enterica subsp. enterica serovar Gallinarum 287/91 genome and were applied to the specific identification of biovars Gallinarum and Pullorum. Boiled lysates of 131 reference and field strains of Salmonella and other related Gram-negative bacteria were tested to validate the duplex PCR assay. All strains of biovars Gallinarum (n=53) and Pullorum (n=21) tested were correctly identified based on this assay (100% sensitivity) while the other strains (n=57) were PCR negative (100% specificity). These results demonstrate that a highly accurate biovar-specific duplex PCR assay can be performed for the rapid identification and discrimination of biovars Gallinarum and Pullorum from field isolates.     

Metabolic bone disease in juvenile Humboldt penguins (Spheniscus humboldti): investigation of ionized calcium, parathyroid hormone, and vitamin D3 as diagnostic parameters.

Three cases of metabolic bone disease (MBD) were identified in juvenile Humboldt penguins (Spheniscus humboldti) in a zoological collection. Diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment were challenging, in part because radiographs and traditional serum biochemistries did not provide adequate information to guide appropriate clinical management. Normal values for ionized calcium (iCa), 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25-(OH) D3], and parathyroid hormone (PTH) have not been reported for any species in the order Sphenisciformes. This study aimed to establish reference ranges for these parameters to provide a method for assessing clinical cases of MBD and other disease processes. iCa was measured in 33 healthy adult birds from two zoological collections by using a portable clinical analyzer. iCa also was measured from 14 of these birds at a commercial laboratory. Mean and standard deviation were determined to be 1.21 +/- 0.09 and 1.29 +/- 0.10 mmol/L, respectively. Limited data exist on iCa in avian species, but these results are consistent with other reports and provide a useful clinical parameter. Analysis of PTH and 25-(OH) D3 was performed at a commercial laboratory on samples from 14 healthy adult penguins in one collection. Means and standard deviations for PTH and 25-(OH) D3 were 0.8 +/- 0.3 pmol/L and 3.7 +/- 2.4 nmol/L, respectively. These results are near the minimal functional detectable limits of the assays; raising uncertainty about the validity and usefulness of currently available PTH and 25-(OH) D3 tests in this species.     

鸡沙门氏菌脉冲场凝胶电泳分型研究

为应用脉冲场凝胶电泳(PFGE)从分子水平上对禽源沙门氏菌之间的差别进行分析和研究,本研究采用自动微生物鉴定仪对12株疑似鼠伤寒沙门氏菌和15株疑似鸡白痢沙门氏菌进行了鉴定.以限制性核酸内切酶Xba I对其全基因组DNA进行酶切、PFGE分型,Info Quest FP聚类分析软件对电泳结果进行分析.结果显示,共鉴定出11株鼠伤寒沙门氏菌、1株圣保罗沙门氏菌、6株阿姆斯特丹沙门氏菌、5株亚拉巴马沙门氏菌、1株鸡白痢沙门氏菌、2株纽波特沙门氏菌和2株肠炎沙门氏菌,一共分为12个PFGE型.实验结果表明,江苏地区存在有不常见的沙门氏菌血清型,同种血清型之间的基因型差别较小(相似值为0.85～1),不同血清型之间差别较大(相似值为0.45～0.70).PFGE能从分子水平上对禽源沙门氏菌的基因组DNA进行分型.     

Evaluation of the infectivity, length of infection, and immune response of a low-pathogenicity H7N2 avian influenza virus in specific-pathogen-free chickens

The H7N2 subtype of avian influenza virus (AIV) field isolate (H7N2/chicken/PA/3779-2/97), which caused the 1997-98 AIV outbreak in Pennsylvania, was evaluated for its infectivity, length of infection, and immune response in specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chickens. The composite findings of three clinical trials with various concentrations of virus indicated that this H7N2 subtype contained minimal pathogenicity for chickens. The concentration of the virus in the inoculum proved critical in the establishment of a productive infection in a chicken. Seven-day-old SPF chickens were not infected when inoculated with 10(0.7-2.0) mean embryo lethal dose (ELD50) of the H7N2 virus per bird. At this dose level, the immune response to this virus was not detected by the hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) test. Nonetheless, chickens at ages of 5 and 23 wk old tested were successfully infected when exposed to 10(4.7-5.7) ELD50 of H7N2 infectious doses per bird by various routes of administration and also by direct contact. Infected birds started shedding virus as early as 2 days postinoculation, and the period of virus shedding occurred mostly within 1 or 2 wk postinoculation (WPI). This H7N2 subtype of AIV induced a measurable immune response in all birds within 2 wk after virus exposure. Antibody titers were associated with AIV infectious doses and age of exposure of birds. Challenge of these infected birds with the same H7N2 virus at 5 and 10 WPI indicated the infective virus was recoverable from cloacal swabs at 3 days postchallenge and disappeared thereafter. In these challenged birds, the antibody levels as measured by the HI test spiked within 1-2 wk.     

Viral and bacterial agents associated with experimental transmission of infectious proventriculitis of broiler chickens.

Proventriculitis of broilers can be reproduced by oral inoculation of day-old chicks with a proventricular homogenate from affected 3-wk-old broilers. The objective of the following studies was to isolate from this homogenate viral and bacterial isolates that could produce proventriculitis. A monoclonal antibody to infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) was used to precipitate virus from the homogenate. A primary chicken digestive tract cell culture system was also used to isolate virus from a 0.2-microm filtrate of the homogenate, and a bacterium was also isolated from the homogenate. In trial 1, day-old birds were orally inoculated with either proventriculus homogenate or monoclonal antibody immunoprecipitated IBDV (MAB-IBDV). At 4, 7, 14, and 21 days postinfection (PI), 12 birds from each treatment group were subjected to necropsy. In trial 2, day-old birds were orally inoculated with either infectious proventriculus homogenate, suspect virus isolated in cell culture and propagated in embryo livers and spleens, or a bacterial isolate. Twelve birds from each treatment were subjected to necropsy at days 7, 14, 21, and 28 PI. In trial 3, treatments were maintained in negative pressure isolation chambers, and an additional treatment included virus plus bacterial isolate. Twenty-four birds from each treatment were subjected to necropsy at day 21 PI. In trial 1, infectious homogenate decreased body weight and relative gizzard weights at 4, 7, 14, and 21 days PI. Proventriculus relative weight was increased at days 7, 14, and 21 PI, and proventriculus lesion scores were increased at days 14 and 21 PI. Bursa/spleen weight ratios were decreased at day 14, and feed conversion was increased at days 4 and 21. The MAB-IBDV treatment decreased proventriculus and gizzard relative weights at day 4 PI, increased proventriculus lesion scores and bursa/spleen weight ratios at day 14, and decreased heterophil/lymphocyte ratios at day 21. In trial 2, all infected birds had significantly higher mean relative proventriculus weights at 21 days PI and had higher 4-wk mean proventriculus scores as compared with both control groups. In trial 3, birds treated with homogenate and birds treated with both suspect virus and the bacterial isolate had significantly higher proventriculus lesion scores; higher relative weights of proventriculus, gizzard, liver, and heart; lower body weights; and lower relative bursa weights compared with the saline control group. These studies suggest that infectious proventriculitis has a complex etiology involving both viral and bacterial infection.     

华中地区鸡源沙门菌分离鉴定及耐药性分析

为了探明华中地区种鸡场沙门菌(Salmonella)的优势血清型和耐药情况,本研究从湖北、河南、湖南等省市22个规模化鸡场采集病鸡、死胚及弱雏组织样品3 724份,通过分离培养、生化试验、PCR鉴定及血清型试验确定分离菌种属及其血清型,并采用Kirby-Bauer法对分离菌株进行了耐药性分析。结果显示,本试验从3 724份病料中共分离鉴定出124株沙门菌,其中79株为D群肠炎沙门菌(63.71%,79/124),34株为D群鸡白痢沙门菌(27.42%,34/124),8株为B群鼠伤寒沙门菌(6.45%,8/124),有3株沙门菌未能确定血清型。O抗原鉴定79株肠炎沙门菌和34株鸡白痢沙门菌为O9,8株鼠伤寒沙门菌为O4。H抗原鉴定79株肠炎沙门菌为Hg,m,8株鼠伤寒沙门菌为Hi。药敏试验结果显示,124株分离菌株对萘啶酸、氨苄青霉素、四环素和多西环素耐药率分别为95.97%(119/124)、91.94%(114/124)、57.26%(71/124)和70.16%(87/124);对复方新诺明和红霉素耐药率分别为25.81%(32/124)和12.10%(15/124);对氯霉素、庆大霉素、头孢噻肟和卡那霉素耐药率分别为6.45%(8/124)、1.61%(2/124)、1.61%(2/124)和0.81%(1/124);对左氧氟沙星、阿米卡星和多黏菌素B完全敏感。99.19%(123/124)的分离株至少对一种药物耐药,87.10%(108/124)的分离株表现多重耐药。本研究为华中地区养鸡场沙门菌的诊断及防控提供了数据支撑。     

The sensitivity of some avian viruses to formaldehyde fumigation.

Various avian viruses (infectious bursal agent, reovirus, adenovirus, infectious bronchitis, Newcastle disease, poxvirus, avian encephalomyelitis and infectious laryngotracheitis virus) as suspensions in buffer or in a litter slurry were exposed to aerosolized formalin in an attempt to determine the efficacy of this fumigation method for decontamination of laboratory isolation cubicles. Formalin (37% formaldehyde) was delivered by a commercial insecticide fogger at a flow rate of 40 ml per minute and a volume of 36 ml per cubic meter of space. Fumigated cubicles were left sealed for 18 hr (cycle 1) before viruses were sampled, or were then exposed to a second fumigation and left sealed for an additional six hour period (cycle 2) before viruses were titrated (commencing at a 1:10 dilution) for residual infectivity. Although the infectivity of all viruses was reduced by over 99% by one fumigation cycle, the second cycle was necessary for reduction of Newcastle disease and reoviruses to non-detectable (no infectivity demonstrated in a 1:10 dilution of fumigated virus) levels.     

Pigeon paramyxovirus-1 (P-group) as the cause of severe outbreaks in fancy Columba livia in Saudi Arabia

An avian paramyxovirus-1, which was previously isolated from ailing fancy Columba livia in Saudi Arabia, was characterized in this study using monoclonal antibodies (Mabs). The results indicate that although the virus belongs to the pigeon paramyxovirus-1 (PPMV-1) group 'P' still it shows some variation in its binding pattern to the Mabs.     

鸡新城疫、减蛋综合征、传染性支气管炎三联油佐剂灭活苗的研究Ⅰ、三联灭活苗对鸡免疫试验

用新城疫病毒克隆７９株，减蛋综合征病毒ＮＥ＿４株和传染性支气管炎病毒Ｍ＿（４１）株分别接种于鸡胚和鸭胚，并收取其鸡、鸭胚尿囊液毒，经甲醛灭活，按一定比例配比，以矿物油为佐剂制成三联油佐剂灭活苗。本苗接种于产蛋后备鸡，免疫后７天产生免疫应答，免疫后３０天保护率达９０％～１００％，免疫后六个月攻毒，ＮＤ和ＩＢ保护宰为１００％，ＥＤＳ＿（７６）为９５％。１９９２～１９９４上半年，本苗在江苏、安徽、山东等省的一些鸡场免疫十万余只鸡，均获得满意效果。