Avian hosts constitute a natural reservoir for thermophilic Campylobacter species, primarily Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli, and poultry flocks are frequently colonized in the intestinal tract with high numbers of the organisms. Prevalence rates in poultry, especially in slaughter-age broiler flocks, could reach as high as 100% on some farms. Despite the extensive colonization, Cam...

The long-term research goals in Drs. Velleman’s and McFarland’s laboratories are to improve the efficiency and the rates of muscle (meat) accretion in poultry and to identify the biochemical parameters that might improve selection criteria of poultry. The Midwest Poultry Research Program has identified “growth and body composition” including muscling as a priority research focus. The major focu...

The National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) Poultry '04 study was conducted to better describe non-commercial United States poultry populations, in particular, backyard and gamefowl breeder flocks. To estimate the density of backyard flocks in close proximity to commercial operations, a sample of 350 commercial poultry operations in 18 top poultry producing states was selected from the...

BACKGROUND In China, 30 human cases of avian influenza A (H5N1) virus infection were identified through July 2008. We conducted a retrospective case-control study to identify risk factors for influenza H5N1 disease in China. METHODS A questionnaire about potential influenza H5N1 exposures was administered to 28 patients with influenza H5N1 and to 134 randomly selected control subjects matched...

The H9N2 avian influenza virus circulates worldwide, predominantly in poultry. Its increasing infectivity and adaptation in poultry and mammals have enhanced the possibility of human infection. However, H9N2 human cases are difficult to detect due to their mild clinical symptoms. Serological study is valuable for risk assessment. A total of 15,700 serum samples were collected from occupationall...

Propionic acid (PA) is a fungicide and bactericide, registered to control fungi and bacteria in stored grains, hay, grain storage areas, poultry litter, and drinking water for livestock and poultry. European Union (EU) certifies PA as the great of grain preserver and most efficient in controlling Salmonella and other pathogens. Recently it is used as feed additive in poultry and non-ruminant pr...

Human infections of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus have continued to occur in China without corresponding outbreaks in poultry, and there is little conclusive evidence of the source of these infections. Seeking to identify the source of the human infections, we sequenced 31 H5N1 viruses isolated from humans in China (2005 to 2010). We found a number of viral genotypes, not all of ...

Backyard poultry flocks have increased in popularity concurrent with an increase in live poultry-associated salmonellosis (LPAS) outbreaks. Better understanding of practices that contribute to this emerging public health issue is needed. We reviewed outbreak reports to describe the epidemiology of LPAS outbreaks in the United States, examine changes in trends, and inform prevention campaigns. L...

To investigate human exposure to live poultry and changes in risk perception and behavior after the April 2013 influenza A(H7N9) outbreak in China, we surveyed 2,504 urban residents in 5 cities and 1,227 rural residents in 4 provinces and found that perceived risk for influenza A(H7N9) was low. The highest rate of exposure to live poultry was reported in Guangzhou, where 47% of those surveyed r...

Exposure to infected poultry is a suspected cause of avian influenza (H5N1) virus infections in humans. We detected infectious droplets and aerosols during laboratory-simulated processing of asymptomatic chickens infected with human- (clades 1 and 2.2.1) and avian- (clades 1.1, 2.2, and 2.1) origin H5N1 viruses. We detected fewer airborne infectious particles in simulated processing of infected...