Avian anaesthesia related mortality and the associated risk factors in a UK zoological collection

ObjectiveTo analyse avian anaesthesia-related mortality in a UK zoological collection over a 5-year period and identify risk factors for mortality.Study designRetrospective cohort study.AnimalsA total of 135 individual birds across 37 species, anaesthetized during 206 events in a UK zoological collection between 1 January 2014 and 30 June 2019 (inclusive).MethodsAnaesthesia records were reviewed and variables such as age, body condition, weight, sex, duration of anaesthesia and health status were collated. Anaesthesia-related mortality was defined as those deaths occurring during anaesthesia and up to 7 days postanaesthesia. Outcome was analysed using multivariable conditional logistic regression. Overall mortality was defined and included birds euthanised during anaesthesia for non-anaesthesia related reasons. Data were summarised as median (range). A value of p < 0.05 was considered significant. Relative risks and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated for the association between risk factors and anaesthetic death where a statistically significant difference was found.ResultsThe overall mortality rate was 10.19% (95% CI = 6.06–14.3%), while anaesthesia-related mortality was 3.88% (95% CI = 1.69–7.51%). Birds with an abnormal health status had a 15.53-fold (95% CI = 1.95–123.63) increased risk of death compared with those with a normal health status. The duration of anaesthesia was also a statistically significant risk factor (p = 0.021) in the univariable analysis, but not when combined with health status. No other variables were associated with anaesthesia-related mortality.Conclusions and clinical relevanceAbnormal health status and longer anaesthetic procedures were associated with a significantly increased risk of anaesthesia-related death in this population of birds. It is recommended that anaesthetic duration is minimized, and pre-existing diseases are diagnosed where possible prior to general anaesthesia of birds. Anaesthetizing healthy birds was associated with a low risk of mortality.     

Cloning and Sequence Analysis of HA and NA Genes of One Strain of H6N6 Subtype Avian Influenza Virus Isolated from Guizhou Province

To investigate the epidemic situation of H6N6 subtype avian influenza virus (AIV) in Guizhou province,A/duck/Guizhou/013/2014 was isolated from Sansui duck in live poultry market of Guizhou in 2014,the hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes of DK/GZ/14 were subjected to clone and sequence analysis.The results showed that HA gene had the highest nucleotide homologies (97.5%) with the duck-origin H6N6 subtype AIV isolated from Eastern China in 2009,and the strains of HA gene proteolytic cleavage sites was P-Q-I-E-T-R-G,which accordeol with the molecular characteristic of low pathogenic AIV (LPAIV).However,NA gene of A/duck/Guizhou/013/2014 had the highest nucleotide homologies (98.2%) with the duck-origin H6N6 subtype AIV isolated from Fujian in 2007.The phylogenetic tree showed that A/duck/Guizhou/013/2014 and Hunan strains located in the same branch,while three duck-origin H6N6 subtype AIV isolated from Guizhou in 2007 and A/duck/Guizhou/013/2014 located in the different branch for HA and NA genes in genetic evolution,which suggested that A/duck/Guizhou/013/2014 was far with the local H6N6 subtype.The results also clearly indicated that duck-origin H6N6 subtype AIV had genetic diversity in duck population in Guizhou.     

Basic characterization of avian β‐defensin genes in the Japanese quail,Coturnix japonica

In this study, we identified a cluster of 14 avian β‐defensins (AvBD; approximately 66 kbp) in the Japanese quail, Coturnix japonica. Except for AvBD12 (CjAvBD12) and ‐13, the CjAvBDs coding sequences exhibited greater than 78.0% similarity to the respective orthologous chicken AvBD genes (GgAvBD). The putative amino acid sequence encoded by each CjAvBD contained six cysteine residues and the GXC (X1‐2) motif considered essential for the β‐defensin family. Each CjAvBDs also formed a sub‐group with the respective orthologous genes of various bird species in a phylogenetic tree analysis. Synteny between the CjAvBD cluster and GgAvBD cluster was confirmed. The CjAvBD cluster was mapped on the long‐arm end of chromosome 3 by linkage analysis based on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of CjAvBD1 and CjAvBD12 (approximately 46kbp), as well as GgAvBD cluster. We also confirmed that CjAvBD1, ‐4, ‐5, ‐9, and ‐10 are transcribed in 20 tissues, including immune and digestive tissues. However, our experimental data indicated that the CjAvBD cluster lacks the AvBD3 and ‐7 loci, whereas the CjAvBD101α, ‐101β, and ‐101θ loci arose from gene duplication of the AvBD6 orthologous locus in the CjAvBD cluster after differentiation between Coturnix ‐ Gallus.     

Analysis of human infectious avian influenza virus: Hemagglutinin genetic characteristics in Asia and Africa from 2004 to 2009

In the present study, we used nucleotide and protein sequences of avian influenza virus H5N1, which were obtained in Asia and Africa, analyzed HA proteins using ClustalX1.83 and MEGA4.0, and built a genetic evolutionary tree of HA nucleotides. The analysis revealed that the receptor specificity amino acid of A/HK/213/2003, A/Turkey/65596/2006 and etc mutated into QNG, which could bind with á–2, 3 galactose and á–2, 6 galactose. A mutation might thus take place and lead to an outbreak of human infections of avian influenza virus. The mutations of HA protein amino acids from 2004 to 2009 coincided with human infections provided by the World Health Organization, indicating a “low–high–highest–high–low” pattern. We also found out that virus strains in Asia are from different origins: strains from Southeast Asia and East Asia are of the same origin, whereas those from West Asia, South Asia and Africa descend from one ancestor. The composition of the phylogenetic tree and mutations of key site amino acids in HA proteins reflected the fact that the majority of strains are regional and long term, and virus diffusions exist between China, Laos, Malaysia, Indonesia, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Iraq. We would advise that pertinent vaccines be developed and due attention be paid to the spread of viruses between neighboring countries and the dangers of virus mutation and evolution.     

Acute pancreatitis in parrots

Acute pancreatitis was diagnosed in three parrots. Antemortem diagnosis of pancreatitis in the avian patient is rarely documented, and should be suspected in birds showing clinical signs attributable to abdominal pain or gastro-intestinal dysfunction. However, not all birds with confirmed pancreatitis display these signs. A serum amylase level greater than 1,500 U/L is suggestive of pancreatitis and pancreatic biopsy can be used to confirm a diagnosis. The aetiology of acute pancreatitis in parrots is discussed and a suggested treatment protocol is described.     

中国禽(番鸭)呼肠孤病毒分离株S1基因全序列分析

采用RT-PCR技术,分别以DRV-YH、DRV-YJL两株中国禽(番鸭)呼肠孤病毒RNA为模板,扩增了S1全基因的cDNA片段.将S1 cDNA克隆到T载体后进行序列测定,测序结果表明所扩增的cDNA片段长1643个核苷酸,包含了完整的S1基因的三个开放阅读框架(ORF1,ORF2和ORF3)和基因两端的非编码区.核苷酸序列比较分析结果表明:DRV-YH与ARV-S1133,176分别有6个,10个核苷酸的差异,DRV-YJL与ARV-S1133,176分别有8个,12个核苷酸的差异,DRV-YH与DRV-YJL有4个核苷酸的差异.     

一株禽流感病毒全基因的序列分析

通过反转录-聚合酶链式反应(RT-PCR)技术对禽流感病毒A/Turkey/Wisconsin/1/66(H9N2)的8个基因片段即PA、PB1、PB2、NS、NP、M、HA、NA分别进行扩增,然后将其克隆到PMD18-T载体后进行序列测定和拼接;并将克隆到的8个基因片段与以下毒株各个基因的相应序列进行比较分析:Duck/HongKong/Y280/97(DHKY280/97)、Duck/HongKong/YT439/97(DHKY439/97)、Quail/HongKong/G1/97(QHKG1/97)、A/Chicken/Beijing/1/94(CBJ1/94)、Chicken/HongKong/G9/97(CHKG9/97)、A/Turkey/California1/66(TC/1/66).结果表明:我们克隆到的TW1/66株的8个基因片段均含有相应病毒基因的完整开放阅读框架:TW1/66的各基因与TC/1/66株相应各基因同源性最高(NS基因除外,同源性只有(67.4%).与其它各毒株各基因同源性均较低,但与DHKY439/97各基因同源性高于与DHKY280/97、QHKG1/97、CBJ1/94、CHKG9/97各基因同源性.     

H5亚型禽流感疫苗对特禽及水禽的免疫效果观察

用H5N2亚型禽流感疫苗,分别免疫SPF鸡、乌鸡、珍珠鸡、贵妃鸡、火鸡、鸭及鹅,免疫后采血测定其HI抗体,观察我国现有的H5N2亚型禽流感疫苗对特禽及水禽的免疫效力.结果,免疫后3周,SPF鸡、乌鸡、珍珠鸡、贵妃鸡、火鸡、鸭及鹅的平均HI抗体滴度分别为2 7.2、2 7.6、2 4.3、2 4.83、2 4.6、2 6.2及2 5.3,乌鸡两次免疫,其中一次HI抗体为2 9.65.试验证明,SPF鸡、特禽及水禽用H5N2亚型禽流感疫苗免疫后,均能产生一定水平的HI抗体,但不同种类的家禽所产生的HI抗体滴度存在较大差异,以SPF鸡及乌鸡所产生的HI抗体滴度最高,而珍珠鸡、贵妃鸡及火鸡所产生的HI抗体滴度较低,水禽对H5N2亚型禽流感疫苗可产生一定水平的HI抗体.     

Dynamics of Protein 27 of Avian Leukosis Virus and Transforming Growth Factor β2 in Lymphoid Leukosis Susceptible and Resistant Broiler Chicken Breeding Stock

The dynamics of the serum concentration of protein 27 (P27) of avian leukosis virus and transforming growth factor ₂ (TGF-₂) were compared during the period between 29 and 59 weeks of age in two flocks of broiler chicken breeding stock undergoing outbreaks of severe lymphoid leukosis (LL) associated with persistent high mortality (susceptible) and in another two flocks of breeding stock with the presence of avian leukosis virus in association with low mortality due to LL (resistant). The average mean concentration of serum P27 in the LL-susceptible flocks was significantly higher (<0.05) than that in the LL-resistant flocks in six out of seven samplings performed at 5-week intervals, between 29 and 59 weeks of age. The peak in the average rise of serum P27 in the LL-resistant flocks (309 pg/ml) was associated with the highest level of TGF-₂ (1282 pg/ml) among all flocks and at all sampling times. The significance of TGF-₂ in inhibition of lymphoid tumour development is discussed.