Relationship of increased fowl cholera outbreaks in turkeys with high environmental temperatures.

The relationship of an increase in fowl cholera outbreaks in turkeys with an increase in environmental temperatures during June, July, August, and September between 1959 and 1992 was analyzed. High environmental temperatures were found to be influential in the development of fowl cholera in turkeys. When the average monthly maximum environmental temperatures for 5 mo of July and 7 mo of August during the 13 yr between 1967 and 1979 were above 30.5 C, there was a significantly (P < 0.05) higher number of fowl cholera outbreaks in turkeys for each month than during the same months when the average maximum temperatures were below 30.5 C. To test the hypothesis that an increase in fowl cholera outbreaks was preceded by an increase in temperature, the pre- and postoutbreak temperatures for 46 selected outbreak clusters occurring between 1959 and 1992 were averaged. Both the average maximum and minimum temperatures for the latter 9 days of the preoutbreak period were highly significantly (P < 0.001) higher than those of the average cluster outbreak day and the following four postoutbreak days. Also, for the nine individual days of the latter pre-outbreak period, the daily average maximum temperature was significantly (P < 0.05) higher for 3 days and partially significantly (P < 0.10) higher for 3 days than that of the average cluster outbreak day, and the daily average minimum temperature was significantly (P < 0.05) higher for 2 days and partially significantly (P < 0.10) higher for 1 day than that for the average cluster outbreak day.     

Characterisation of Pasteurella multocida isolated from fowl cholera outbreaks on turkey farms

SUMMARY: Biochemical profiles, restriction endonuclease analysis (REA) and ribotyping were used to investigate Pasteurella multocida isolates from outbreaks of fowl cholera on 7 turkey farms in New South Wales. While only a single isolate was available from 5 of the farms, multiple isolates, 4 and 12 respectively, were available from the other 2 farms. The available field evidence suggested that 8 outbreaks had occurred with one farm suffering 2 outbreaks. The isolates obtained were all confirmed as Pasteurella multocida . Biochemical profiles allocated the isolates to 4 groups, 3 being variants of P multocida subsp multocida and the fourth being P multocida subsp septica . REA performed with Hpall established 7 groups. Ribotyping using the Hpall digests probed with the 16S rRNA operon of Haemophilus paragallinarum recognised the same 7 groups as REA. Unlike the biochemical profiles, both REA and ribotyping provided a fine subdivision that identified outbreaks as either related or unrelated. The REA and ribotyping patterns as well as biochemical profiles were stable for all isolates from the outbreaks in which multiple isolates were obtained from either the same bird or from different birds. REA and ribotyping were found to be superior to biotyping methods for the investigation of fowl cholera outbreaks.     

防治种鸡暴发里氏杆菌的有效措施

1997年2月,广西玉林市某种鸡场发生了急性黑氏杆菌病,疫情从肉鸡群迅速传播到整个种鸡群,并持续近半年,造成了严重的经济损失.现将发病情况及防治措施报告如下:     

Characteristics of fowl cholera outbreaks in turkeys in Georgia in 1986

Information was gathered from 64 cases of fowl cholera (FC) in turkey flocks through diagnostic case records, flock records, and telephone and mail surveys. Forty-five cases came from flocks of commercial turkeys, of which 15 were presented twice, and four came from mature breeder flocks. The prevalence of FC was 18.0% of commercial flocks and 14.7% of breeder flocks at risk. The average age at first diagnosis of FC was 90 days in commercial turkey flocks and 32 weeks 5 days in breeder flocks. Acute mortality was the most common presenting complaint, with a 0.37% average mortality in commercial flocks on the day of first presentation, 0.80% in commercial flocks presented a second time, and 0.43% in breeder flocks. Pasteurella multocida was cultured from 69.8% of the 361 tissue samples submitted from these cases. Novobiocin, penicillin, and chlortetracycline (CTC) had the greatest in vitro activity against isolates. Serotype 3-cross-4 was found in all 18 commercial flocks from which isolates were typed. All breeder flocks and 88.6% of commercial flocks were vaccinated before disease onset. Flocks were treated for an average of 14.3 days, most commonly with high levels of sulfadimethoxine and/or CTC. Body weights of affected birds were comparable to those of birds in unaffected flocks, but mortality and feed efficiency were worse.     

禽痢净口服液的临床效果观察

根据兽医学理论，选用三题针或十大功劳、草珊瑚、穿心莲、博落回、苦参等纯中草药为原料精制而成的禽痢净口服液，是一种新型的混悬液剂型。试验表明：其对常见的禽霍乱、鸡白痢、伤寒下痢等禽病有较好的治疗和预防效果，对追踪调查的2493只本地杂交鸡、鸭治愈率分别为93．9％、93．3％和94．7％。     

Molecular epidemiology of strangles outbreaks in the UK during 2010

The sequence of the Streptococcus equi subspecies equi (S equi) M-like protein (SeM) gene was determined for 105 isolates of S equi from strangles outbreaks in the UK during 2010 and compared with previous data from 2007 to 2008. Twenty-three distinct alleles were identified, including 11 novel alleles. One allele giving rise to a putative truncated M protein was identified from the guttural pouch of an asymptomatic carrier. Allele 9 was the most prevalent, comprising 57.7 per cent of isolates, followed by allele 6 (10.3 per cent). Significant changes in allele prevalence were found between 2007, 2008 and 2010, with an increasing prevalence in SeM-9-related alleles and a corresponding decreasing prevalence in SeM-6-related alleles observed over the period (P<0.001). Geographical proximity of outbreaks caused by some uncommon alleles was apparent between 2007, 2008 and 2010.     

Proteins and antigens of Pasteurella multocida serotype 1 from fowl cholera.

The protein profiles of Pasteurella multocida serotype 1 isolates and the response of chickens to serotype 1 antigens were investigated using SDS-PAGE. Patterns obtained with Coomassie blue staining of soluble protein extracts were similar. The major difference between isolates was the position of one of the major proteins in the 34-38 kDa region. When chickens were experimentally infected with a clinical isolate of P. multocida serotype 1 various proteins were recognised by immunoblotting, including one with a relative molecular weight of 34 kDa; however, no reactions were observed in the region where LPS is known to migrate. When these infection sera were used in an EIA with purified LPS obtained from Heddleston serotype 1 type strain (X-73) they reacted strongly. Serum used for serotyping isolates in the gel diffusion precipitin test recognised many antigens in common with sera from infected birds, but some antigens were specific to typing sera.     

鸡源大肠杆菌整合子及基因盒分子流行病学研究

对河南省鸡源大肠杆菌Ⅰ类、Ⅱ类和Ⅲ类整合子及其携带的耐药基因盒进行了分子流行病学研究。结果表明：51株鸡源大肠杆菌中86．3％（44／51）检出Ⅰ类整合子,3．9％（2／51）检出Ⅱ类整合子,未检出Ⅲ类整合子。Ⅰ类整合子共检出5种类型的基因盒,分剐是sat基因盒（100％）,dfrAl＋aadAl基因盒（45．4％,20／44）,dfrAl7＋aadA5基因盒（22．5％,9／44）,dfrAl＋sat＋aadA2基因盒（6．8％,3／44）和4800bp未知基因盒（27．3％,12／44）,其中4800bp未知基因盒的下游携带有ESBLCTX-M基因,Ⅱ类整合子的基因盒携带dfrAl＋sat＋aadAl3种基因。     

The identification of Anaplasma spp. isolated from fallow deer (Dama dama) on a free-range farm in eastern Poland

The aim of the present study was to investigate the occurrence of Anaplasma spp. in group of 50 fallow deer (Dama dama) from free-range farm in eastern Poland and determine what species of Anaplasma could infect these animals based on PCR gene sequencing. The PCR technique revealed the presence of 16S RNA Anaplasma spp. genetic material in the blood of 7 out of 50 examined animals. The sequences of the PCR products obtained showed a 100% homology with each other and 100% homology with GU 183908 sequence of A. phagocytophilum, isolated in our earlier study from a horse with clinical form of anaplasmosis. Here, we report the first molecular evidence of Anaplasma spp. among naturally infected fallow deer in eastern Poland.     

Systemic adjuvant effect of cholera toxin in the chicken.

Cholera toxin (CT) is a well-known mucosal adjuvant in mammals, but it does not give conclusive results in chickens. Cells from the chicken immune system may be insensitive to CT activity. Our results showed that intravenously administered CT had strong immunomodulatory effects on chicken antigen-specific T- and B-cell immune responses. Seven and eight days post-inoculation (p.i.), chickens immunized with KLH and CT exhibited a faster and higher specific proliferative response in the spleen after in vitro restimulation than chickens immunized with KLH alone. At the same time, the specific antibody response in serum was significantly higher, with a strong IgG enhancement and a peak of IgA in chickens immunized with KLH and CT. The anti-KLH splenic antibody response in vitro involved a significant increase in specific IgG and IgA isotypes when CT was used as adjuvant. In conclusion, as in mammals, systemic CT demonstrated strong adjuvant properties in chickens enhancing T-cell priming in vivo and, thus, leading to increased specific antibody production, including IgA.     

Thermal resistance of chicken (Gallus domesticus) plumage: a comparison between broiler and free-range birds.

1. We compared Ross chickens reared under broiler and free-range conditions to see whether there was a difference in thermal resistance of the plumage. 2. There was no difference in resistance to heat loss attributable to rearing environment for plumage from the back and leg but there was a significant difference in the pectoral region. 3. Free-range birds had a thicker plumage and a higher total resistance to heat transfer in the pectoral region, despite showing a lower resistance per unit depth than broiler birds. The pectoral plumage was more heavily soiled in broiler birds, which is the most likely explanation for the higher resistance per unit depth. 4. We suggest that behavioural selection of microclimate is likely to be a more important determinant of heat balance in free-range birds than intrinsic plumage adaptations.     

Lead contamination of chicken eggs and tissues from a small farm flock.

Twenty mixed-breed adult laying hens from a small farm flock in Iowa were clinically normal but had been exposed to chips of lead-based paint in their environment. These chickens were brought to the Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Ames, Iowa, where the concentration of lead in blood, eggs (yolk, albumen, and shell), and tissues (liver, kidney, muscle, and ovary) from 5 selected chickens was determined over a period of 9 days. Blood lead levels ranged from less than 50 to 760 ppb. Lead contamination of the yolks varied from less than 20 to 400 ppb, and shells were found to contain up to 450 ppb lead. Albumen contained no detectable amount. Lead content of the egg yolks strongly correlated with blood lead levels. Deposition of lead in the shells did not correlate well with blood lead levels. Mean tissue lead accumulation was highest in kidneys (1,360 ppb), with livers ranking second (500 ppb) and ovarian tissue third (320 ppb). Muscle contained the lowest level of lead (280 ppb). Lead contamination of egg yolks and edible chicken tissues represents a potential public health hazard, especially to children repeatedly consuming eggs from contaminated family-owned flocks.     

Epidemiology and financial impact of fowl cholera in turkeys: a retrospective analysis

A retrospective study of the epidemiology and financial impact of fowl cholera (FC) in California meat turkeys during 1984 was performed. Data were collected from 64 flocks--23 FC-outbreak flocks and 41 controls (non-outbreak)--raised in the Central Valley of the state. Mean flock age at the time of the FC outbreak was 11.3 weeks. Flocks that reported a colibacillosis outbreak had increased odds (P = 0.11) of also having an FC outbreak. (This association may or may not indicate a cause-effect relationship.) There was no significant difference between FC-outbreak and control flocks in number of diseases reported, age at onset, or duration of diseases or syndromes except age at onset of roundheart disease. The relative mortality rates were 52% higher in FC-outbreak toms and 26% higher in FC-outbreak hens than in their controls. Medication costs were nearly tripled, and the relative condemnation rate was 60% higher in FC-outbreak flocks than in control flocks. The average costs of FC were nearly $0.40 per bird, or $18,750 per flock, in an outbreak flock of 50,000 birds, and $0.12 per bird, or $6000 per flock, in non-outbreak flocks vaccinated against FC.