This study aimed to determine the prevalence of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) and Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) in breeder flocks showing respiratory symptoms. A total of 77 flocks (2153 tracheal swabs and blood samples) were sampled and all were tested by MG real time PCR (MG-rPCR) and MG-ELISA, and 32 flocks were tested by MS real time PCR (MS-rPCR). In the first part of this study covering 28 flo...

This chapter provides brief descriptions of diseases that 1) more commonly are found in small, backyard poultry flocks, or 2) are more significant economically or personally when they do occur. Further reading on these and many other diseases is recommended. All Poultry Types. Two important diseases shared by chickens, turkeys, guinea fowl, partridges, pheasants, quail, and domestic waterfowl (...

Background: Fowl adenoviruses (FAdVs) are distributed widely throughout the world, and domestic avian species of all ages are susceptible. Fowl aviadenoviruses (FAdVs) can be separated into 5 different species (A-E) with various genotypes and 12 serotypes. Some geno- or serotypes induce hepatitis-hydropericardium syndrome (HPS), inclusion body hepatitis (IBH), and adenoviral gizzard erosion (AG...

Anaerobic intestinal spirochetes (genus Brachyspira) include several species that are recognized as pathogens of poultry. Surveys undertaken in Europe and Australia have shown that layer and breeder flocks are often colonized by the pathogenic species Brachyspira intermedia and Brachyspira pilosicoli, but similar surveys have not been conducted in the United States. In the current study, DNA wa...

Broiler flocks on two Dutch poultry farms were screened weekly for the presence of campylobacter in fresh caecal droppings during eight consecutive production cycles. Hatchery and fresh litter samples were taken at the start of each new cycle. Water, feed, insects, and faeces of domestic animals, present on the farms were also included in the sampling. Penner serotyping of isolates was used to ...

Campylobacter, a foodborne pathogen closely associated with poultry, is considered to be an important agent of human gastroenteritis in New Zealand. The pathways involved in the contamination of poultry flocks remain unclear; however, many vectors, such as insects, rodents, and wild birds, have been implicated. Infestation of poultry houses by insects, particularly darkling beetles (Alphitobius...

OBJECTIVE To demonstrate the safety and efficacy of the Marek's Disease Virus-1 vaccine (strain BH 16) from field studies in comparison with the CVI 988 Rispens vaccine currently available in Australia. STUDY DESIGN A small field trial was carried out on nine breeder flocks and a larger trial on 21 breeder flocks. All chickens were obtained from a commercial hatchery and each was vaccinated a...

It has been demonstrated that horizontal and vertical transmission of Salmonella and Campylobacter can occur in broiler breeder flocks. The mechanism of this transmission is still unclear. Previously negative broiler breeder flocks have been reported to become positive with Salmonella, Campylobacter, or both after the introduction of "spike" roosters at 45 wk of age. To determine whether the ro...