Intracranial fat bodies and their potential effect on brain composition and behaviour in domestic ducks with feather crests (3 case studies)

Intracranial fat tissue was found in the brains of three crested ducks. The three ducks differed in the size of their crest and in the volume and the location of the fat body within their brains. The duck with the large crest showed a fat body which counts for 19 % of its brain volume. Due to this fat accumulation, brain structures, mainly the cerebellum, were moved laterally. This duck had serious problems in motor coordination. Fat body of the second duck with a middle sized crest was situated in neostriatum and constituted 0,6 % of total brain volume. Additionally this duck displayed an encephalocele. The last duck did show a small crest. Its fat body was found in the area of the tentorium cerebelli and made up 17 % of its brain volume. The later two ducks were not hampered behaviourally.     

Ataxia and disequilibrium in domestic ducks (Anas platyrhynchos f. dom.) with intracranial lipomas

Four birds in a flock of 125 purebred Crested ducks (Anas platyrhynchos f. dom.) had cerebellar signs of unknown etiology. They had radiographically evident perforations of various sizes in the parieto-occipital calvaria. Gross necropsy of euthanatized ducks revealed yellow intracranial masses in the brain of each. Histologically, these masses were intracranial lipomas consisting of univacuolated fatty tissue separated into lobules by strands of connective tissue. The masses had caused serious deformation of the rostral part of the cerebellum, leading to a nearly complete flattening of cerebellar folia, and were interpreted as the cause for the central nervous clinical signs observed. These intracranial lipomas were similar to those previously reported in other animals and humans.     

Cross‐Sectional Serosurvey of Avian Influenza Antibodies Presence in Domestic Ducks of Kathmandu,Nepal

Kathmandu, Nepal has been classified as a high‐risk area for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) by the Nepali Government. While ducks have an important role in the transmission of avian influenza viruses (AIV), including HPAI, seroprevalence of antibodies to AIV in domestic ducks of Kathmandu has never been assessed. The objectives of this study were (i) to estimate the prevalence of seroconversion to AIV in domestic ducks in major duck‐raising areas of Kathmandu and (ii) to assess the effect of age, sex, presence of swine and the number of ducks on the farm on the carriage of antibodies to AIV in these ducks. From April through July of 2011, a cross‐sectional study was conducted and a total of 310 ducks in the major duck‐raising areas of Kathmandu were sampled. The estimated prevalence of AIV antibodies was 27.2% [95% confidence interval (CI): 24.6–29.5]. Of 62 enrolled farms, 42% had at least one seropositive duck. Half of the enrolled farms also kept pigs of which 52% had at least one seropositive duck. Bivariate analysis indicated association between ducks' seroconversion to AIV and their age, sex and farm size. However, the final multivariable model, after controlling for clustering of ducks within farms, identified age as the only significant risk factor. Based on this model, ducks older than 1 year of age were more likely to be seropositive compared to ducks <6 months of age [odds ratio = 2.17 (1.07–4.39)]. These results provide baseline information about the AIV seroprevalence in domestic ducks in the major duck‐raising areas of Kathmandu and identify a high‐risk group that can be targeted in surveillance activities. Future studies should be conducted to differentiate the subtypes of AIV present among domestic ducks in Kathmandu, with particular interest in the presence of HPAI viruses.     

白色羽毛半番鸭选育的研究

从正交，反交，轮交和侧交揭示产生半番鸭白色羽毛起主导作用的是家鸭。不同基因型家鸭产生白羽半番鸭频率是不同的，同一品种母家鸭个体间产生白羽半番鸭亦不同，母爱鸭生产白羽率高的个体，用不同公番鸭交配，其Ｆ１白率仍然是高的，估测ｈ＾２为０．６６３８。经５个世代亲本选择，半番鸭白羽率达９３．４９％，１０周龄活重２７８６克。     

凤头白鸭与连城白鸭的群体遗传多样性分析

为系统地评价、保护凤头白鸭资源的遗传多样性,进一步对其开发利用,本研究利用12个微卫星位点(STR分型技术)对凤头白鸭与连城白鸭(各60只)2个群体的遗传多样性参数进行检测和计算。结果表明:除位点AJ272578以外,凤头白鸭群体在APL2、AJ272577、AJ272579、AJ515884、APH01、AY493256、AY4932898、CMO11等8个STR位点上的等位基因多于连城白鸭,在AJ515887、AJ515893、AY493313等3个位点上与连城白鸭相等;凤头白鸭群体的有效等位基因数(Ne)、期望杂合度(He)、观察杂合度(Ho)、多态信息含量(PIC)均大于连城白鸭;2个群体的群体内近交系数(Fis)分别为-0.02、0.09,凤头白鸭群体表现为杂合子过剩。综上,凤头白鸭群体的遗传多样性较连城白鸭更为丰富。     

Effect of species,breed and route of virus inoculation on the pathogenicity of H5N1 highly pathogenic influenza (HPAI) viruses in domestic ducks

H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses continue to be a threat to poultry in many regions of the world. Domestic ducks have been recognized as one of the primary factors in the spread of H5N1 HPAI. In this study we examined the pathogenicity of H5N1 HPAI viruses in different species and breeds of domestic ducks and the effect of route of virus inoculation on the outcome of infection. We determined that the pathogenicity of H5N1 HPAI viruses varies between the two common farmed duck species, with Muscovy ducks (Cairina moschata) presenting more severe disease than various breeds of Anas platyrhynchos var. domestica ducks including Pekin, Mallard-type, Black Runners, Rouen, and Khaki Campbell ducks. We also found that Pekin and Muscovy ducks inoculated with two H5N1 HPAI viruses of different virulence, given by any one of three routes (intranasal, intracloacal, or intraocular), became infected with the viruses. Regardless of the route of inoculation, the outcome of infection was similar for each species but depended on the virulence of the virus used. Muscovy ducks showed more severe clinical signs and higher mortality than the Pekin ducks. In conclusion, domestic ducks are susceptible to H5N1 HPAI virus infection by different routes of exposure, but the presentation of the disease varied by virus strain and duck species. This information helps support the planning and implementation of H5N1 HPAI surveillance and control measures in countries with large domestic duck populations.     

家鸭、媒鸭和野鸭mtDNA D-loop区的遗传变异

旨在从mtDNA水平探讨我国家鸭的遗传多样性及家鸭与野鸭间的亲缘关系.运用DNA测序方法,测定了不同地域、水域和表型性状的9种家鸭(北京鸭、高邮鸭、巢湖鸭、绍兴鸭、连城白鸭、吉安红毛鸭、文登黑鸭、云南麻鸭、建昌鸭)80个个体、4种媒鸭(西湖野鸭、钱江野鸭、枞阳媒鸭、媒头鸭)26个个体和斑嘴鸭8个个体,共计114个个体的mtDNA D-loop区667 bp序列.9种家鸭单倍型多样度和核苷酸多样度分别为0.250 00～0.607 14和0.000 38～0.001 18;9种家鸭、媒鸭、绿头鸭和斑嘴鸭之间的遗传距离为0.001～0.015;39种单倍型系统发生树和单倍型网络关系图表明,9种家鸭主要属于A1亚簇(绿头鸭单倍型簇).我国家鸭遗传多样性中等丰富,母系起源主要是绿头鸭,极少量个体含有斑嘴鸭血统.     

Contribution of mutation I142M in fusion protein and Q44R in matrix protein of Newcastle disease virus to virulence in ducks

Although verogenic Newcastle disease viruses (NDVs) generally cause subclinical infection in waterfowls such as ducks, NDVs with high virulence in waterfowl have been sporadically reported. We previously reported that the NDV d5a20b strain, which is obtained by serial passaging of the velogenic 9a5b strain in domestic ducks, showed increased virulence in ducks (Hidaka et al., 2021). The d5a20b strain had 11 amino acid substitutions in its P/V, M, F, HN, and L proteins as compared to 9a5b. In the present study, we generated a series of recombinant (r) NDVs with these amino acid substitutions to identify the molecular basis of virulence of NDV in ducks, and evaluated their influences on virulence and in vitro viral properties. Each of the single amino acid substitutions in either the F protein I142M or the M protein Q44R contributed to the enhancement of intracerebral and intranasal pathogenicity in domestic ducks. The cell-cell fusion activity of the virus with F I142M was five times higher than that of the parental r9a5b. The virus with M Q44R rapidly replicated in duck embryo fibroblasts. Additionally, the rM+F+HN strain, which has the same amino acid sequences as d5a20b in M, F, and HN proteins, showed the highest level of virulence and replication efficiency among the generated recombinant viruses, nearly comparable to rd5a20b. These results suggest that multiple factors are involved in the high growth ability of NDV in duck cells, leading to increased virulence in vivo.     

离子载体药物对家鸭球虫病治疗效果比较

鸭球虫病是由多种鸭艾美耳球虫寄生于鸭肠上皮细胞引起的一种原虫病,给养禽业带来巨大的经济损失。为了解离子型抗球虫药物对鸭球虫病的防治效果,在模拟家鸭笼养的环境条件下,选用莫能霉素、盐霉素、马杜拉霉素、拉沙里菌素、那拉霉素等5种离子载体药物进行试验。试验结果表明,5种离子载体类药物对鸭球虫病均有很好的防治效果,并且马拉霉素等对家鸭的增重也有一定效果。     

Brain size, brain composition and intracranial fat bodies in a population of free-living crested ducks ('Hochbrutflugenten')

(1) Brain sizes and brain structure volumes of crested specimens from a population of 'Hochbrutflugenten' ducks (HBTcr), living under seminatural conditions, were compared with those of other duck breeds, among them the breed 'Landente' with the same morphological trait, the crest (LEcr). (2) Brains of both HBTcr and LEcr were larger than expected from an allometric comparison with uncrested breeds. (3) Fat bodies invading the skull were observed in both breeds. (4) In LEcr they could be voluminous; after subtraction of their volume from the brain volume, most brain structures measured were allometrically of the same size as in uncrested breeds. (5) In contrast, HBTcr had small fat bodies, and most of their brain structures were allometrically larger than those of the other breeds. (6) A small fat body in the skull does not appear to influence the survival of HBTcr under seminatural conditions.     

Evidence of Muscovy duck parvovirus in Muscovy ducklings in California

Muscovy duck parvovirus (MDPV) has been demonstrated in tissue samples from one- to four-week-old commercially reared Muscovy ducks that were weak, unable to walk and had a high mortality rate. On postmortem examination, the thigh and leg muscles, and the myocardium were found to be pale, and there was a fibrinous exudate on the capsule of the liver, and ascites. The parvovirus was isolated in embryonated Muscovy duck eggs and visualised by negative stain electron microscopy, detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) directly from the tissues, and antibodies to it were detected by immunoelectron microscopy, ELISA and immunofluorescence. In addition, the PCR products obtained that represented 1625 bp (74 per cent) of the capsid vP1 gene, including a hypervariable region between Derzsy's disease virus or goose parvovirus and MDPV, were sequenced and shown to be 100 per cent homologous with the MDPV 89384 reference strain, but only 82.3 per cent homologous with Derzsy's disease virus.     

利用线粒体D-loop区分析家鸭品种遗传多态性与系统进化

通过线粒体DNA控制区的结构和多态性来研究我国家鸭的遗传多态性与系统进化。利用DNA测序技术测定了我国9个家鸭品种106个个体线粒体DNA控制区多变序列。序列分析结果显示:A、C、T、G碱基的平均含量分别为25.6%、33.3%、15.2%和25.9%。检测到34个变异位点,约占分析位点总数的5.1%,有转换、颠换、插入/缺失4种类型的变异。确定了31种单倍型,其中单倍型A7为家鸭的主体单倍型,品种之间有9种共享单倍型。9个家鸭品种单倍型多样度(Hd)平均为0.798,核苷酸多样度(Pi)平均为0.28%,单倍型多样度在荆江麻鸭中最高,其次是攸县麻鸭和恩施麻鸭,在文登黑鸭中最低。9个品种家鸭之间双参数距离范围为0.001 3~0.004 4。31个家鸭单倍型序列的系统发生分析表明,9个家鸭品种只有1个母系起源,没有发现东亚斑嘴鸭对9个家鸭品种起源有贡献的证据。     

Prior infection with antigenically heterologous low pathogenic avian influenza viruses interferes with the lethality of the H5 highly pathogenic strain in domestic ducks

Low and highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (LPAIVs and HPAIVs, respectively) have been co-circulating in poultry populations in Asian, Middle Eastern, and African countries. In our avian-flu surveillance in Vietnamese domestic ducks, viral genes of LPAIV and HPAIV have been frequently detected in the same individual. To assess the influence of LPAIV on the pathogenicity of H5 HPAIV in domestic ducks, an experimental co-infection study was performed. One-week-old domestic ducks were inoculated intranasally and orally with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) (control) or 10⁶ EID₅₀ of LPAIVs (A/duck/Vietnam/LBM678/2014 (H6N6) or A/Muscovy duck/Vietnam/LBM694/2014 (H9N2)). Seven days later, these ducks were inoculated with HPAIV (A/Muscovy duck/Vietnam/LBM808/2015 (H5N6)) in the same manner. The respective survival rates were 100% and 50% in ducks pre-infected with LBM694 or LBM678 strains and both higher than the survival of the control group (25%). The virus titers in oral/cloacal swabs of each LPAIV pre-inoculation group were significantly lower at 3–5 days post-HPAIV inoculation. Notably, almost no virus was detected in swabs from surviving individuals of the LBM678 pre-inoculation group. Antigenic cross-reactivity among the viruses was not observed in the neutralization test. These results suggest that pre-infection with LPAIV attenuates the pathogenicity of HPAIV in domestic ducks, which might be explained by innate and/or cell-mediated immunity induced by the initial infection with LPAIV.     

Comparison of the kinetics of the specific cellular immune response to duck hepatitis B virus in infected and immune ducks.

The kinetics of the cell mediated immune response by ducks acutely and chronically infected with, or immune to infection by duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) was determined. This was measured by an antigen specific blastogenesis assay to duck hepatitis B surface antigen (DHBsAg) and duck hepatitis B core antigen (DHBcAg) using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). The three outcomes of acute infection by DHBV were either clearance from both serum and liver, clearance from serum but not liver, or the development of persistent viraemia. Acutely infected ducks that failed to clear the infection also failed to develop a significant cellular immune response to both antigens. Ducks with chronic infection acquired as neonates or as the result of the failure to clear acute infection had an increasing cellular immune response over time. Two groups of immune ducks were examined. These were either ducks that had become immune following infection or that had been vaccinated. Both groups of ducks demonstrated significant cellular responses following challenge with DHBV irrespective of the level of their responses before challenge. However, there was a reduction in the response of their PBMC over a 4-week-period postchallenge. The range of cellular immune responses to DHBV antigens observed in this study has a number of counterparts in hepatitis B infection of humans. Coupled with the defined clinical outcomes that can be established in the duck/DHBV model, further study of the cellular immune response to DHBV is warranted.     

从鸭腹水综合征病鸭体内分离鉴定到血清1型鸭肝炎病毒

2011年4月份,河北省某地一些鸭场饲养的20～45日龄的樱桃谷肉鸭发生了以腹腔中充满大量清亮、茶色或啤酒样腹水为主要病变特征的疾病,即鸭腹水综合征。采集两个不同日龄的病死鸭肝脏样品,接种SPF鸭胚进行病毒分离,获得两个病毒分离物（HB01和HB02）。这两个病毒分离物对鸡、鸭和鹅的红细胞均无血凝活性。RT-PCR或PCR检测表明,HB01和HB02中鸭肝炎病毒检测为阳性,而鸭呼肠孤病毒、鸭圆环病毒、鸭黄病毒等检测均为阴性。将HB02接种5日龄SPF鸭,致死率为40%;对20日龄的鸭不致死。HB02分离物中鸭肝炎病毒的序列分析表明其与鸭肝炎病毒NA株及弱毒疫苗株C80和F64遗传距离较近。根据试验结果,推测鸭肝炎病毒可能是诱发本次鸭腹水综合症的因素之一。     

番鸭呼肠病毒病的病原学研究进展

番鸭呼肠病毒病是由番鸭呼肠病毒引起的一种急性传染病,主要发生于40日龄内的番鸭,临床上以软脚为主要症状,并伴有腹泻,发病率高,病情严重时可致全群死亡,给番鸭养殖业带来了巨大的损失。其病原为呼肠病毒科正呼肠病毒属番鸭呼肠病毒。文章综合了国内外对该病的病原学研究成果,从病毒的分类地位、生物学特性、基因组与编码蛋白、病原分布及流行特性、检测与防控等方面对该病的病原学进行了较全面的论述,以期对该病的深入研究和防控提供有用的资料。     

Genetic relationship of H3 subtype avian influenza viruses isolated from domestic ducks and wild birds in Korea and their pathogenic potential in chickens and ducks

The H3 subtype avian influenza virus (AIV) is one of the most frequently isolated subtypes in domestic ducks, live poultry markets, and wild birds in Korea. In 2002-2009, a total of 45 H3 subtype AIVs were isolated from the feces of clinically normal domestic ducks (n=28) and wild birds (n=17). The most prevalent subtypes in domestic ducks were H3N2 (35.7%), H3N6 (35.7%), H3N8 (25.0%), and H3N1 (3.6%, novel subtype in domestic duck in Korea). In contrast, H3N8 (70.6%) is the most prevalent subtype in wild birds in Korea. In the phylogenetic analysis, HA genes of the Korean H3 AIVs were divided into 3 groups (Korean duck, wild bird 1, and wild bird 2) and all viruses of duck origin except one were clustered in a single group. However, other genes showed extensive diversity and at least 17 genotypes were circulating in domestic ducks in Korea. When the analysis expanded to viruses of wild bird origin, the genetic diversity of Korean H3 AIVs became more complicated. Extensive reassortments may have occurred in H3 subtype influenza viruses in Korea. When we inoculated chickens and ducks with six selected viruses, some of the viruses replicated efficiently without pre-adaptation and shed a significant amount of viruses through oropharyngeal and cloacal routes. This raised concerns that H3 subtype AIV could be a new subtype in chickens in Korea. Continuous surveillance is needed to prepare the advent of a novel subtype AIV in Korea.     

Nutritional requirements of meat-type and egg-type ducks: what do we know?

The demand for duck meat, duck eggs, and associated products is increasing each year. Classic and modern selection programs have been applied to enhance the economic traits of ducks to satisfy the requirements of consumers and enhance the incomes of producers. The nutritional requirements of unselected ducks may not be adequate, however, to fulfill the potential productivity performance of modern birds, including both meat-type and egg-type ducks. In particular, an imbalanced diet is associated with low productive performance and signs of nutritional deficiency(if insufficient nutrients are supplied), as well as with high feed costs and manure problems that reflect flock health and welfare(if excessive nutrients are supplied). Thus, the main aim of this review is to summarize the results of previous studies that estimated the nutrient requirements of meat-type and egg-type ducks in order to evaluate current knowledge and to identify further issues that need to be addressed. In addition,the results obtained in previous studies are compared in order to understand how to lower commercial feed costs,fulfill the genetic potential of selected ducks, protect the environment from pollution, and satisfy the welfare and health needs of ducks.     

Thoracic teratoma in a white Pekin duck (Anas platyrhinchos domesticus)

Teratomas are infrequent tumors in domestic fowl and have been rarely reported in ducks. It appears that the only case of mediastinal teratoma in a Pekin duck was observed by Alezais and Cotte in 1908. A lobulated, firm mass occupied the thorax of a 7-mo-old male white Pekin duck (Anas platyrhinchos domesticus). The tumor was composed of squamous epithelium, feather follicles, glandular epithelium, bone and cartilage, and thymus and was classified as tridermic, thoracic teratoma.     

A survey of gastro-intestinal parasitic infection in domestic and wild birds in Chittagong and Greater Sylhet,Bangladesh

A survey of gastrointestinal parasitic infection as determined by faecal examination was conducted among domestic and wild birds in Bangladesh. Birds were sampled from households, wet markets and wetlands in Chittagong and Greater Sylhet districts during April 2012 to February 2013. Mist nets were used to catch resident wild and migratory birds. The overall prevalence of parasitic infection ranged among locations from 25 to 55% in indigenous domestic ducks (live bird samples = 304), 20% in resident wild birds (environmental faecal samples = 40) and 40% in migratory birds (live bird samples = 35). The prevalence of parasitic infection was significantly higher in indigenous domestic ducks collected during summer (39%) than winter (22%) (p = 0.04). In domestic indigenous ducks and Muscovy ducks, both single and multiple types of parasitic infections were found. However, other domestic birds and wild birds often had a single type of parasitic infection. Ascaridia spp. with an average egg load of 50–900, was commonly detected in faecal samples of domestic and wild birds in this study. Other identified parasites were Capillaria spp. and Heterakis spp. both in domestic and wild birds. Improvement of biosecurity measures for household duck farms through educating and motivating household farmers could help mitigate the effects of parasitic infection on production.