Intestinal cryptosporidiosis in turkeys in Iran

Naturally occurring cryptosporidiosis is reported in turkey poults suffering from diarrhoea and unthriftness in Iran. Histological and ultrastructural studies revealed high number of Cryptosporidium developmental stages mainly located in the mid and terminal portions of small intestine of the poults. Other portions of the intestinal tract were less frequently infected. Oocyst shedding was detected only in 29% of the histologically positive birds. Based on host species, clinical signs, pathology and tissue location of the parasites, Cryptosporidium meleagridis was most likely responsible for these infections. This parasite was also reported recently in a child with diarrhoea in Iran.     

Experimentally induced infections in turkeys with Cryptosporidium baileyi isolated from chickens

Oocysts of Cryptosporidium baileyi isolated from chickens were inoculated by different routes into 3 groups of turkey poults. Intratracheal inoculation of oocysts produced clinical signs of respiratory tract disease, deaths, and gross lesions of airsacculitis. Parasites developed in the microvillous border of the nasopharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, and air sacs. Oral and intracloacal inoculations of oocysts caused no deaths or clinical signs of disease, but did produce patent infections. Respiratory tract infections limited to the nasopharynx, larynx, and trachea occurred in 3 orally inoculated poults. Respiratory tract infections were not observed in intracloacally inoculated poults. The mode of inoculation did not influence the distribution of C baileyi in the digestive tract. The cloaca was parasitized in 100% of the birds with intestinal infections, and the bursa of Fabricius was parasitized in 72.7%.     

Isolation of infectious bursal disease virus from turkeys with arthritic and respiratory symptoms in commercial farms in Quebec.

Infectious bursal disease viruses (IBDVs) were isolated from turkeys showing symptoms of arthritis and respiratory disease in commercial poultry farms in the province of Quebec, Canada. Synovial fluids collected from hock joints of arthritic birds and peripheral blood leukocytes obtained from the birds with respiratory problems were used for virus isolation in embryonated chicken eggs, and Vero and BGM-70 cell cultures. The infected cells were evaluated for the presence of IBDV by indirect immunofluorescence assay using monoclonal antibodies. The viruses were identified by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of viral genome and by electron microscopy. Although one of these turkey isolates tested was neutralized by serotype 1-specific commercial chicken antisera, preliminary results indicated that there are antigenic differences between the Quebec isolate, IBDV QT-1, and the existing strains of IBDV belonging to serotype 1.     

Sinusitis in turkeys associated with respiratory cryptosporidiosis

An outbreak of sinusitis due to cryptosporidial infection is described in 7-week-old turkeys. Infection of 3-week-old turkeys subsequently placed in the same environment is documented.     

Studies on orthoreoviruses isolated from young turkeys. II. Virus distribution in organs and serological response of poults inoculated orally

Day-old specific-antibody-negative turkey poults were inoculated orally with cloned turkey reovirus isolate 81-68. Virus reisolations from 11 different tissues revealed widespread distribution at 3, 5, and 7 days postinoculation (PI). Virus was isolated from the intestines until 21 days PI. Virus was isolated from tendons until day 7 PI and again at day 28 PI. Reovirus serum-neutralization antibodies appeared as early as 7 days PI. All inoculated birds showed positive VN serum titers (greater than or equal to 1:20) by day 21 PI. No reovirus was isolated from control poults, and they remained antibody-negative during the entire experiment.     

Experimental Cryptosporidium baileyi infections in chickens and turkeys produced by ocular inoculation of oocysts

Developmental stages of Cryptosporidium baileyi were observed on the conjunctival epithelium of 3 of 14 chicks and none of 7 turkeys following ocular inoculation of oocysts. No clinical signs of disease were observed in chicks or turkeys. All 14 chicks had developmental stages of C. baileyi in the cloaca, whereas 4 of the 7 turkeys were infected at this site.     

Light-microscopic lesions associated with naturally occurring bursal cryptosporidiosis in chickens

Information concerning histologic significance of naturally occurring bursal Cryptosporidium sp. infection in chickens was obtained by retrospective examination of histopathology reports and clinical data from histology accessions received during 1986. Cryptosporidiosis was diagnosed in 197 bursas. In two-thirds of the accessions, more than 50% of the examined bursas were infected with Cryptosporidium sp. The histologic morphologic lesion diagnosis for Cryptosporidium sp.-infected bursas most often was marked diffuse chronic-active superficial purulent protozoal bursitis with mucosal epithelial hyperplasia. Our study clearly indicates that Cryptosporidium sp. is associated with inflammation and disturbed growth in chicken bursas. Additionally, our data indicate that Cryptosporidium sp. infection is not dependent on bursal damage attributable to other agents, including infectious bursal disease virus.     

Characterization of infectious bursal disease viruses isolated in 2007 from Delmarva commercial broiler chickens

A study was performed in 2007 to isolate and characterize infectious bursal disease viruses (IBDVs) in commercial broilers grown in the Delmarva (DMV) Peninsula region of the United States. Bursae of Fabricius were collected weekly from 1 to 4 wk of age from broilers on 10 farms with a history of poor performance. Microscopic pathology was used to determine the infectious bursal disease (IBD) status of the broilers. Bursae from 1- and 2-wk-old broilers did not show IBD microscopic lesions. Moreover, broilers on 1 of the 10 farms were IBD lesion free at 3 and 4 wk of age. However, 3 of 9 and 9 of 9 farms yielded broilers with IBD-affected bursae from 3- and 4-wk-old commercial broilers, respectively. Ten IBDV isolates were recovered from 3 of 3 lesion-positive bursal pools at 3 wk of age and 7 of 9 lesion-positive bursal pools at 4 wk of age. Analysis of the viral protein (VP) 2 genes identified all isolates as serotype 1 Delaware (Del) variant viruses. Five field isolates, each representing different molecular clades of the Delaware variant viruses, were selected for further study. Experimental infection of specific-pathogen-free white leghorn chickens with isolates DMV/4813/07, DMV/4947/07, DMV/4955/07, DMV/5038/07, and DMV/5041/07 produced gross and microscopic pathology of the bursa consistent with Delaware variant infection. Monoclonal antibody testing showed DMV/4813/07, DMV/4947/07, DMV/ 4955/07, and DMV/5041/07 to be similar to previous recognized variant viruses. However, DMV/5038/07 was found to be unreactive with the monoclonal antibodies that typically recognize reference strains STC, Del E, GLS, RS593, and AL2. In a challenge of immunity study, 10-day-old progeny from breeders immunized with a commercially available inactivated IBDV vaccine containing the Del E and classic strains were protected to a lesser degree against isolate DMV/5038/07 compared to Del E challenge based on microscopic lesion scores (P < 0.01) of the bursa. This result suggests the virus is antigenically different from the Del E strain contained in the vaccine. Collectively, the monoclonal antibody and progeny challenge of immunity findings suggest DMV/5038/07 is antigenically different from the Del E strain contained in the vaccine.     

Infectivity of Cryptosporidium sp isolated from wild mice for calves and mice

A study was conducted to determine the incidence of cryptosporidiosis in wild mice (Mus musculus) and the infectivity of oocysts from their feces for susceptible calves. The presence of oocysts and the duration of shedding of oocysts in the feces were evaluated in 115 wild mice. Approximately 30% of the mice shed Cryptosporidium sp oocysts, without evidence of clinical infection; recurrence of oocyst shedding was found in about 50% of the mice. Oocysts from the feces of naturally infected mice were infective for calves and mice. Calves began shedding oocysts at 7 days and shed oocysts for about 10 days. Nonfatal, clinical cryptosporidiosis developed in 7 infected calves. The mice began shedding oocysts at 6 days and shed oocysts for 12 days. Fatalities or clinical infection did not develop in 5 infected mice. The results indicated that Cryptosporidium-infected wild mice may be a source of cryptosporidiosis in susceptible calves.     

Immune response of poults following intranasal inoculation with Artvax vaccine and a formalin-inactivated Bordetella avium bacterin

Poults 3 weeks and older developed temporary tracheal resistance to intranasal challenge following inoculation of either Artvax vaccine or formalin-inactivated Bordetella avium bacterin by the intranasal and eyedrop routes. Resistance usually persisted for 3-4 weeks after B. avium challenge. However, with constant exposure to infected controls, the vaccinated birds eventually developed tracheal infection. Day-old poults did not respond to either the Artvax or the bacterin and were completely susceptible to challenge. Two-week-old poults responded to some degree, but poults 3 weeks old and older responded best. Poults inoculated with bacterin by aerosol or by drinking water did not respond as well as those inoculated by the intranasal and eyedrop routes. When poults were given a single subcutaneous injection at 3 weeks of age and challenged 2 weeks later, three of five resisted infection for 18 days.     

Meningoencephalitis in commercial meat turkeys associated with Mycoplasma gallisepticum.

Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) infection was diagnosed in three different flocks of 12-to-16-week-old commercial meat turkeys displaying torticollis and/or opisthotonos. MG was isolated from the brain, air sacs, trachea, and sinus of one bird with neurological signs. Histological examination of brains in all three cases revealed moderate-to-severe encephalitis with lymphoplasmacytic cuffing of vessels, fibrinoid vasculitis, focal parenchymal necrosis, and meningitis. Birds with neurological signs were seropositive for MG by the serum-plate agglutination and hemagglutination-inhibition tests. The encephalitic form of MG has been described previously but is rarely mentioned in the current literature.     

Small intestinal cryptosporidiosis in cockatiels associated with Cryptosporidium baileyi-like oocysts

Four of six cockatiels died within a week after being purchased from a commercial breeder. A fifth bird was euthanatized and necropsied during this time, and tissues were collected for microscopic examination. The small intestine had moderate numbers of Cryptosporidium sp. parasites present. A few large, basophilic intranuclear inclusions were present in renal ductular epithelium. Cryptosporidium sp. oocysts were found in the feces of the surviving bird. Thirty oocysts were 7.2 by 5.5 microns. The shape index was 1.31. Morphological examinations of the fecal oocysts indicated that the Cryptosporidium species infecting the cockatiels was similar to C. baileyi, a parasite that is not usually associated with small-intestinal infections.     

Human psittacosis associated with commercial processing of turkeys.

Between May 1 and Aug 1, 1974, 114 of approximately 1,000 employees in 7 turkey processing plants in Texas (5), Missouri (1), and Nebraska (1) had an illness compatible with psittacosis. The illness was characterized by fever, severe headache, and pneumonia. Treatment with tetracycline was effective in most cases. Psittacosis was confirmed in 41 (36%) of the cases by a fourfold change in complement-fixation titer to the Chlamydia group antigen. Investigations implicated several turkey flocks from Texas as the source of the disease. Control measured, including screening turkey flocks before slaughter and assuring treatment of infected birds, were instituted by a special task force of state and federal veterinarians.     

Staphylococcosis of turkeys. 2. Assay of protein A levels of staphylococci isolated from turkeys

Ninety-eight Staphylococcus aureus isolates and 227 coagulase-negative staphylococcal isolates from turkeys were assayed for protein A content. The amount of protein A of each isolate was quantitated using a direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Of the S. aureus isolates, 83% possessed some protein A, whereas only 13% of the coagulase-negative staphylococci contained some protein A. No correlation was seen between protein A content and ability to adhere to turkey cells. No differences in virulence were seen between isolates of S. aureus possessing high or low levels of protein A; however, an isolate with no protein A was avirulent.     

Infectious bursal disease virus and Alcaligenes faecalis infections in turkeys

To determine if infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) augments alcaligenes rhinotracheitis (ART), turkey poults were exposed to IBDV, Alcaligenes faecalis, or both IBDV and A. faecalis. In five experiments, poults exposed to IBDV alone exhibited neither signs of disease nor histopathologic lesions. Serum antibodies to IBDV were detected in poults exposed to this virus by inoculation and by direct contact with inoculated birds. Signs of ART were observed 4 to 6 days following exposure to A. faecalis. Clinical signs of ART and histopathologic lesions in the upper respiratory tract of poults exposed to both IBDV and A. faecalis were similar to those observed in poults exposed to A. faecalis alone.     

Intestinal malabsorption and cryptosporidiosis in an adult dog

Chronic intestinal cryptosporidiosis was diagnosed as the cause of chronic diarrhea and weight loss in an adult dog without obvious signs of immunosuppression. Results of tests for digestive function suggested that the dog had impaired intestinal absorption or bacterial overgrowth. The nutrient malabsorption might have resulted in or have been caused by the cryptosporidiosis. Temporary clinical improvement without reduction in fecal oocyst concentration was noticed following treatment with clindamycin. The dog was euthanatized. At necropsy, the dog was found to have chronic lymphoplasmacytic enteritis and cryptosporidiosis. A veterinary student that worked in the ward where the dog was kept developed cryptosporidal diarrhea.