Egg drop syndrome '76 in Bolivia

Summary Four outbreaks of Egg Drop Syndrome '76 (EDS '76) were diagnosed between April 1993 and July 1993 in the Santa Cruz Department of Bolivia, around the department capital Santa Cruz. Three outbreaks involved commercial laying birds and the fourth a broiler breeder unit. Clinical signs were typical of EDS '76 with decreases in egg production of up to 55% being recorded as well as the production of thin shelled and shell-less eggs. A total of 183 serum samples from the 4 farms were tested for the presence of antibodies to the EDS '76 virus using a haemagglutination inhibition test, with titres of 16 or above being considered as a positive result. Of 63 samples from groups of birds showing signs of EDS '76, 58 (92·1%) had positive titres, and 88 out of 90 samples (97·8%) from unaffected groups of birds had negative titres. Out of 30 samples from birds not yet in lay from the affected farms 28 (93·3%) had titres below 16.EDS '76 had not been reported in Bolivia prior to these outbreaks and vaccination was not practised. The most probable source of virus was from day old chicks imported from South American countries which had recorded outbreaks of EDS '76 before April 1993. The source of the virus, its spread and the control measures implemented in the Santa Cruz area are discussed.

---

Sindrome De Caida De La Puesta '76 En Bolivia

Resumen Entre abril de 1993 y julio de 1993 se diagnosticaron 4 brotes de síndrome de caida de la puesta '76 (EDS '76) en el departamento de Santa Cruz de Bolivia, y más concretamente en los alrededores de la capital del departamento, Santa Cruz. Tres brotes afectaron a naves comerciales de ponedoras y el cuarto afectó a una granja de reproductoras tipo carne. Los síntomas fueron los característicos de EDS '76, con disminuciones en la puesta de hasta el 55% y producción de huevos sin cáscara o con la cáscara muy delgada. Un total de 183 muestras de suero procedentes de las 4 granjas fueron sometidas a una prueba de inhibición de la hemoaglutinación con objeto de detectar anticuerpos frente al virus de la EDS '76. Un título igual o superior a 16 se consideró positivo. De las 663 muestras procedentes de animales con signos clínicos, 58 (92·1%) fueron positivas, mientras que 88 de las 90 muestras (97·8%) de animales clínicamente sanos fueron negativas. De las 30 muestras procedentes de aves que noe estaban en puesta todavía pero procedían de granjas afectadas por la enfermedad, 28 (93·3%) fueron negativas.El EDS '76 no había sido diagnosticado en Bolivia anteriormente y no se realizaban vacunaciones para prevenirlo. Probablemente, el virus fue introducido al importar pollitos de un día de países sudamericanos que sufrieron brotes de EDS '76 antes del mes de abril de 1993. Se discuten la fuente del virus, su diseminación y las medidas de control implementadas en Santa Cruz.

---

Egg Drop Syndrome '76 En Bolivie (EDS '76-Infection De l'Oviducte Par Des Adenovirus Causant Une Fragilite Des Coquilles d'Oeuf)

Résumé Quatre épidémies liées à l'EDS '76 furent diagnostiquées entre Avril 1993 et Juillet 1993 dans le départment de Santa Cruz en Bolivie, autour de la capitale de Santa Cruz. Trois épidémies impliquèrent des productions de poules pondeuses et la quatrième une unité de poulets à rotir. Les signes cliniques furent typiques de l'EDS '76 avec la diminution de la production d'oeufs jusqu'à 55% ainsi que la production d'oeufs à coquilles plus fine ou en moins grande quantité. 183 serums provenant des 4 fermes furent testés pour la présence d'anticorps contre le virus de l'EDS '76 utilisant un test d'inhibition de l'hémo-agglutination, les titres au dessus ou égaux à 16 furent considérés comme positif. Sur les 63 échantillons provenant du groupe des oiseaux avec les signes de d'EDS '76, 58 (92,1%) eurent des titres positifs et sur les 90 oiseaux du groupe non-infectés, 88 (97,8%) eurent des titres négatifs. Sur les 30 oiseaux pas encore pondeurs provenant des fermes contaminées, 28 (93,3%) eurent des titres inférieurs à 16. L'infection par l'EDS '76 n'avait pas été signalé en Bolivie avant ces épidémies et la vaccination ne fut pas pratiquée. La source la plus probable de contamination proviendrait de poussins agés d'un jour et provenant de pays d'Amèrique du Sud où des épidemies de EDS '76 furent signalées avant Avril 1993. La source du virus, sa dissémination et les mesures de contrôle implantées dans la région de Santa Cruz sont discutées.

     

Egg drop sydrome -1976

减蛋综合征-1976(Egg Drop Syndrome1976,EDS 76)是一种感染产蛋母鸡的传染性疾病,主要表现为母鸡产蛋量快速下降,无法达到产蛋高峰,蛋形状不规则,软壳或无壳蛋和蛋壳褪色(图1和图2).其病原体为腺病毒3型.在层架式饲养系统中,水平传播发生缓慢,但在地面平养系统中传播迅速.     

Egg transmission of egg drop syndrome 1976 virus in fowl

Summary Egg transmission of egg drop syndrome 1976 virus (BC14 virus) in fowl was demonstrated in the second and third week after experimental infection. Eggs of BC14 virus infected hens were incubated weekly after disinfection with formaline gas. After 18 days of incubation, eggs with live embryos were homogenized. This egg material was fed to adult hens, housed in isolators. Seroconversion in these birds demonstrated egg transmission. It is suggested that egg transmission occurs as a result of viremia.     

Egg transmission of egg drop syndrome 1976 virus in fowl

Summary

Egg transmission of egg drop syndrome 1976 virus (BC14 virus) in fowl was demonstrated in the second and third week after experimental infection. Eggs of BC14 virus infected hens were incubated weekly after disinfection with formaline gas. After 18 days of incubation, eggs with live embryos were homogenized. This egg material was fed to adult hens, housed in isolators.

Seroconversion in these birds demonstrated egg transmission.

It is suggested that egg transmission occurs as a result of viremia.     

Egg drop syndrome '76 in poultry and other avian species in Nigeria.

A sero-epidemiological survey of EDS '76 antibodies was carried out in chickens, guinea fowls, ducks and pigeons in various locations in Nigeria with the haemagglutination-inhibition test. Infection rates of 67.43, 79.68, 73.91 and 86.66% were obtained for chickens, guinea fowls, ducks and pigeons respectively. The high prevalence rates observed in these non-chicken species suggest that they should be considered as important in the epidemiology of EDS '76 in poultry in Nigeria. An extensive survey is recommended together with vaccination.     

产蛋下降综合征（EDS－76）病毒DNA酶切图谱分析

选用ＥｃｏＲＩ、ＰｓｔⅠ、ＰｖｕⅡ、ＨｉｎｄⅢ、ＢｇｌⅠ和ＢｇｌⅡ６种限制性内切酶，对国内４株ＥＤＳ－７６病毒鸡源分离株和国外标准株ＡＶ－１２７及１株鹅源腺病毒的ＤＮＡ进行酶切图谱的比较，结果发现４种鸡源分离株与ＡＶ－１２７株用上述６种酶切的片段数分别为４、８、１０、１０、６和７条。各酶切图形、片段大小亦十分相似，表明均为ＥＤＳ－７６病毒。ＥｃｏＲＩ－ＨｉｎｄⅢ和ＰｓｔＩ－ＥｃｏＲＩ的双酶切也得到同样结果。鹅源分离株的酶切片段数分别为６、７、９、７、４和１０条，酶切图形和片段大小均与ＡＶ－１２７有很大不同，表明该分离株可能为１株血清型相同而基因组不同的ＥＤＳ－７６鹅腺病毒。     

Outbreaks of egg drop syndrome due to EDS-76 virus in quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica).

Two outbreaks of the egg drop syndrome were observed in quail flocks maintained on a farm together with chickens. The decrease in egg production ranged from 10.6 per cent to 50.6 per cent, and the number of soft-shelled eggs increased with the decline in egg production. In both the outbreaks haemagglutination inhibiting antibodies to EDS-76 virus were detected. Fluorescent viral antigen specific to EDS-76 virus was also detected in the lining epithelial and glandular cells of the uterus.     

Trial of an inactivated vaccine against egg drop syndrome 76 in New Zealand

There is a legal requirement to provide analgesia for velvet antler removal in New Zealand. Currently, this is achieved using local anaesthetic blockade, with or without systemically administered sedative/analgesic agents, or by compression in 1-year-old stags. Lignocaine hydrochloride 2% is most commonly used and is most effective when administered as a high-dose ring block. Combinations of various amino-amide local anaesthetic agents can achieve rapid onset and prolonged duration of analgesia, though concerns about drug residues and carcinogenic potential of a lignocaine metabolite have led to consideration of the amino-ester family of local anaesthetics as alternatives.

Systemically administered analgesics, including opioids, α2-adrenergic agents and ketamine provide dose-dependent sedation and analgesia. However, none are sufficient, alone or in combination, to produce surgical analgesia at currently recommended dose rates and when reversal agents are given, analgesic effects are usually reversed as well as sedation. Thus, local anaesthetic blockade is still indicated, though the potential for drug or drug-metabolite residues in velvet antler remains a concern.

The need for and effectiveness of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for post-operative analgesia requires investigation. Amitriptyline, locally administered K-opioid agonists, tramadol and other systemically administered agents may warrant future investigation for surgical and post-operative analgesia for velvet antler removal.     

No evidence for adaptation of current egg drop syndrome 1976 viruses to chickens

In order to determine whether the current field strains of egg drop syndrome (EDS) 1976 viruses adapt to chickens, we compared the growth efficiency of three Japanese field strains (PA-1/79, AWI/98, Gifu/01) in chicken and duck embryo liver cells. The growth efficiency in chicken or duck embryo liver cells was almost similar in these strains. The fiber protein may carry the type-specific antigen and the hemagglutination activity, and hexon protein may contain the subgroup-specific antigenic determinants. Therefore, the fiber head and hexon loop 1 DNA domain sequences of the six Japanese field strains UPA-1/79, ME/80, 44/81, Kyoto/91, AWI/98, Gifu/01) were compared, but these DNA domains were identical among the six field strains. Our data suggested that the EDS virus was maintained without discernible changes for the last two decades in the field.     

Biochemical changes in blood and uterine fluid of fowl following experimental EDS'76 virus infection

The pH, pCO2, and pO2 values and the concentrations of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride, phosphorus, bicarbonate, base excess, protein, glucose, as well as the activity of alkaline phosphatase and malate dehydrogenase were determined in the venous blood and uterine fluid of control and EDS'76 virus-infected fowl. Moreover, the pH of the mucosa of different parts of the oviduct was measured. Hens were examined in the period from 10 to 24 days following infection; blood and uterine fluid samples were collected approximately 14 hours after oviposition, provided a plumped egg was present in the uterus. Examination of blood and pH measurement of oviduct mucosa did not yield significant differences between infected and noninfected hens. In comparison with noninfected control birds, the mean sodium concentration of the uterine fluid of infected hens producing soft shelled or shell-less eggs had evidently increased, while the mean concentration of potassium, calcium, magnesium and glucose had decreased. Similar differences were also observed between infected hens producing normally shelled eggs and infected hens producing abnormally shelled eggs. No significant differences between infected and not infected hens were observed concerning the other values determined in the uterine fluid. It is concluded that functional disturbances which account for shell aberrations following EDS'76 virus infection are located in the surface epithelial cells of the uterine mucosa. These disturbances are very probably initiated by a depressed function of the sodium pump. All changes observed in the uterine fluid of infected hens could be explained by this depressed function.     

鸡产蛋下降综合征病毒的分离及初步鉴定

利用鸭胚从吉林省某鸡场表现产蛋量下降,产畸形蛋,血凝抑制试验诊断为产蛋下降综合征(EDS_(76))的病鸡输卵管、子宫中分离到两株病毒(CH—1和CH—2),经血凝试验、血凝抑制试验及电镜观察,证实为鸡产蛋下降综合征病毒.     

Effects of experimental infection of fowl with EDS'76 virus,infectious bronchitis virus and/or fowl adenovirus on laying performance

Following BCI4 (EDS'76) virus infection of brown layer hens at 33 weeks of age, production of normally shelled eggs dropped from 87 per cent to 49 per cent within 3 weeks. The production of soft shelled and shell‐less eggs attained a maximum of 33 per cent 3 weeks after infection (p.i.). Shell quality recovered completely within 5 weeks p.i.

Egg production problems in White Leghorns infected with BCI4 virus were less severe and of shorter duration than in brown layers.

Both in brown layers and in White Leghorns total egg production, mean weight of normally shelled eggs, and internal egg quality were not affected following BCI 4 virus infection at 33 and 28 weeks of age, respectively. Besides shell abnormalities no clinical disease symptoms were observed. Vaccination with a commercial EDS'76 vaccine (Nobivac EDS'76^®) at 17 weeks of age had no adverse effects on laying performance and provoked adequate immunity against challenge at 33 weeks of age. The same observations were made following BCI4 virus infection at 17 weeks of age.

After infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) (H52 virus) infection of laying fowl the percentage of eggs with shell aberrations (rough, misshapen and/ or soft shells) increased to a maximum of 8 per cent, total egg production was depressed, mean egg weight was reduced I to 2 grams, and up to 10 Per cent of normally shelled eggs showed watery, not ropy thin albumen. This abnormally thin albumen was observed in a considerably higher proportion of eggs with shell defects than in normally shelled eggs. No turbidity of the thick albumen was observed and no symptoms of respiratory disease were noticed.

The severity and duration of adverse effects of IBV infection on laying performance depend very much on the stage of production in which the infection occurs. Following IBV infection at the onset of production a much severer drop in total production and in production of normally shelled eggs, a greater increase in the number of abnormally shelled eggs, and more lasting adverse effects on egg weight and internal egg quality were observed, in comparison with infection after peak production. Compared with single infections, a combined BC14 virus and IBV infection of brown layers at 33 weeks of age resulted in greatly potentiated adverse effects on total egg production, number of eggs with aberrant internal quality, and duration of production problems.

Following a combined BC14 virus and IBV infection, in a great proportion of eggs with shell defects and watery thin albumen, turbidity of the thick albumen was observed also, probably due to combined effects on the uterus of both IBV and BC14 virus.

BC14 virus infection did not reinforce the adverse influence of IBV infection on egg weight.

The same observations as described for the combined BC14 virus and IBV infection were made following BC14 virus infection of fowl previously infected with IBV.

It is concluded that changes of internal egg quality in field cases of EDS'76 are most likely due to subclinical IBV infections.

After infection of brown layers at 33 weeks of age with fowl adenovirus 66 (FA V 66) neither symptoms of clinical disease were observed nor effects on egg production, egg weight, and egg quality. Also, in a combined infection with FA V66, IBV, and BCI4 virus, no pathogenic significance could be attributed to the FAV.