A Review of the Emerging White Chick Hatchery Disease

White chick hatchery disease is an emerging disease of broiler chicks with which the virus, chicken astrovirus, has been associated. Adult birds typically show no obvious clinical signs of infection, although some broiler breeder flocks have experienced slight egg drops. Substantial decreases in hatching are experienced over a two-week period, with an increase in mid-to-late embryo deaths, chicks too weak to hatch and pale, runted chicks with high mortality. Chicken astrovirus is an enteric virus, and strains are typically transmitted horizontally within flocks via the faecal–oral route; however, dead-in-shell embryos and weak, pale hatchlings indicate vertical transmission of the strains associated with white chick hatchery disease. Hatch levels are typically restored after two weeks when seroconversion of the hens to chicken astrovirus has occurred. Currently, there are no commercial vaccines available for the virus; therefore, the only means of protection is by good levels of biosecurity. This review aims to outline the current understanding regarding white chick hatchery disease in broiler chick flocks suffering from severe early mortality and increased embryo death in countries worldwide.

Download Full-text

Low Maternal Immunoglobulin G Avidity and Single Parity as Adverse Implications of Human Cytomegalovirus Vertical Transmission in Pregnant Women with Immunoglobulin M Positivity

Viruses ◽

10.3390/v13050866 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (5) ◽

pp. 866

Author(s):

Masatoki Kaneko ◽

Junsuke Muraoka ◽

Kazumi Kusumoto ◽

Toshio Minematsu

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Vertical Transmission ◽

Human Cytomegalovirus ◽

Multiple Logistic Regression Analysis ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Immunoglobulin M ◽

Igg Antibody ◽

Neurological Sequelae ◽

Previous Pregnancy

Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the leading cause of neurological sequelae in infants. Understanding the risk factors of primary CMV infection is crucial in establishing preventive strategies. Thus, we conducted a retrospective cohort study to identify risk factors of vertical transmission among pregnant women with immunoglobulin (Ig) M positivity. The study included 456 pregnant women with IgM positivity. Information on age, parity, occupation, clinical signs, IgM levels, and IgG avidity index (AI) was collected. The women were divided into infected and non-infected groups. The two groups showed significant differences in IgM level, IgG AI, number of women with low IgG AI, clinical signs, and number of pregnant women with single parity. In the multiple logistic regression analysis, pregnant women with single parity and low IgG AI were independent predictors. Among 40 women who tested negative for IgG antibody in their previous pregnancy, 20 showed low IgG AI in their current pregnancy. Among the 20 women, 4 had vertical transmission. These results provide better understanding of the risk factors of vertical transmission in pregnant women with IgM positivity.

Download Full-text

Experimental infection of broiler chicks with Salmonella Typhimurium from pigeon (Columba livia)

Semina Ciências Agrárias ◽

10.5433/1679-0359.2016v37n4p1919 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 37 (4) ◽

pp. 1919

Author(s):

Átilla Holanda de Albuquerque ◽

Régis Siqueira de Castro Teixeira ◽

Débora Nishi Machado ◽

Elisângela De Souza Lopes ◽

Ruben Horn Vasconcelos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Salmonella Typhimurium ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Columba Livia ◽

Poultry Feed ◽

Economic Losses ◽

Control Group ◽

Broiler Chicks ◽

Post Inoculation ◽

Microbiological Analysis ◽

Fecal Samples

Several cases of animal and human salmonellosis caused by the Salmonella serotype Typhimurium have been reported. In animals, subclinical infection favors pathogen dissemination through feces. In this context, the domestic pigeon (Columba livia) with an asymptomatic condition may play an important role in the transmission of salmonellosis, through the elimination of contaminated feces in commercial aviaries or in poultry feed facilities, causing economic losses to the poultry industry and presenting a risk to public health. This study aimed to evaluate the mortality, clinical signs and the presence of Salmonella Typhimurium in the feces and organs of chicks previously inoculated with bacteria isolated from a pigeon. One-day-old chicks were distributed in two experimental groups (G1 and G2) of 32 birds each, and a control group of six birds. Two inocula of 0.4 and 0.7 mL with 105 and 106 colony forming units were used in G1 and G2 birds, respectively. At 1, 4, 7 and 14 days post-inoculation (dpi) fecal samples were pooled from each cage and individual cloacal swabs were collected. At 14 dpi, all chicks were euthanized and samples were collected from the liver, spleen, lung, cecum and intestine for microbiological analysis. Mortality was only observed among G2 birds (6.25%). Most birds presented clinical signs of diarrhea at 4 dpi and no symptom as observed at 14 dpi. The results from cloacal swabs demonstrated bacterial elimination in 68.8% and 53.1% of G2 and G1 birds, respectively at 1 dpi. Additionally, fecal samples had elevated bacterial shedding in all four periods of observation , with a higher excretion at 4 dpi (62.5%) for both groups. Among G2 birds, 74.2% were positive for the pathogen in the intestine; G1 birds presented the lowest rate of lung infection (29%), and both groups had more than 50% positivity for liver and caeca. The results revealed that infected chicks with a Salmonella Typhimurium strains isolated from pigeons may host the pathogen in several organs, and simultaneously present diarrheic disorders with significant levels of bacterial excretion in feces.

Download Full-text

Short Oral Antibiotic Treatment of Osteomyelitis Questioned

Pediatrics in Review ◽

10.1542/pir.2.1.18 ◽

1980 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 18-18

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Therapy ◽

Oral Therapy ◽

Initial Period ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Signs And Symptoms ◽

Oral Route ◽

Antimicrobial Treatment ◽

Blood Levels ◽

Oral Antibiotic ◽

Cortical Destruction

Dr. Rothman of Haverhill, MA questioned the short duration of antimicrobial treatment and use of oral route for the patient with osteomyelitis presented by Bennett in PIR 1:153, November 1979. He noted that the traditional regimen for osteomyelitis calls for six weeks of intravenous antimicrobial therapy. Dr. Bennett quotes from Telzlaff et al (J Pediatr 92:485, 1978). In this report good results were found when antimicrobial regimens for patients with osteomyelitis and suppurative arthritis consisted of a brief initial period of parenteral therapy of only one to seven days followed by oral antimicrobial therapy begun when there was a definitive decrease in clinical signs of inflammation and continued for three weeks or longer. It is important to note that surgical drainage of pus was carried out, that antimicrobial blood levels were obtained after initiation of oral therapy to ensure adequate levels, that therapy was continued until all signs and symptoms had subsided, that there was no evidence of cortical destruction or sequestrum formation on roentgenogram, and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate was less than 20 mg/hr. When these conditions are met it is clear that oral therapy can be an adequate substitute for prolonged intravenous therapy for osteomyelitis in children.

Download Full-text

Susceptibility of Common Family Anatidae Bird Species to Clade 2.3.4.4e H5N6 High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza Virus: An Experimental Infection Study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-1169623/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Kosuke Soda ◽

Yukiko Tomioka ◽

Chiharu Hidaka ◽

Mayu Matsushita ◽

Tatsufumi Usui ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Avian Influenza ◽

Late Phase ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Bird Species ◽

Oral Route ◽

Post Inoculation ◽

Infectious Dose ◽

Epidemic Season ◽

Source Of Infection ◽

High Pathogenicity

Abstract Background: There were large outbreaks of high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) caused by clade 2.3.4.4e H5N6 viruses in the winter of 2016–2017 in Japan, which caused large numbers of deaths among several endangered bird species including cranes, raptors, and birds in Family Anatidae. In this study, susceptibility of common Anatidae to a clade 2.3.4.4e H5N6 HPAI virus was assessed to evaluate their potential to be a source of infection for other birds. Eurasian wigeons (Mareca penelope), mallards (Anas platyrhynchos), and Northern pintails (Anas acuta) were intranasally inoculated with 106, 104, or 102 50% egg infectious dose (EID50) of clade 2.3.4.4e A/teal/Tottori/1/2016 (H5N6). Results: All birds survived for 10 days without showing any clinical signs of infection. Most ducks inoculated with ≥104 EID50 of virus seroconverted within 10 days post-inoculation (dpi). Virus was mainly shed via the oral route for a maximum of 10 days, followed by cloacal route in late phase of infection. Virus remained in the pancreas of some ducks at 10 dpi. Viremia was observed in some ducks euthanized at 3 dpi, and ≤106.3 EID50 of virus was recovered from systemic tissues and swab samples including eyeballs and conjunctival swabs. Conclusions: These results indicate that the subject duck species have a potential to be a source of infection of clade 2.3.4.4e HPAI virus to the environment and other birds sharing their habitats. Captive ducks should be reared under isolated or separated circumstances during the HPAI epidemic season to prevent infection and further viral dissemination.

Download Full-text

Relevance of Biomarkers Currently in Use or Research for Practical Diagnosis Approach of Neonatal Early-Onset Sepsis

Children ◽

10.3390/children7120309 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (12) ◽

pp. 309

Author(s):

Maura-Adelina Hincu ◽

Gabriela-Ildiko Zonda ◽

Gabriela Dumitrita Stanciu ◽

Dragos Nemescu ◽

Luminita Paduraru

Keyword(s):

High Mortality ◽

Early Onset ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Developed Countries ◽

Extremely Low Birth Weight ◽

Invasive Infection ◽

Acute Phase Reactants ◽

Hematological Indices ◽

Live Births ◽

Early Onset Sepsis

Neonatal early-onset sepsis (EOS) is defined as an invasive infection that occurs in the first 72 h of life. The incidence of EOS varies from 0.5–2% live births in developed countries, up to 9.8% live births in low resource settings, generating a high mortality rate, especially in extremely low birth weight neonates. Clinical signs are nonspecific, leading to a late diagnosis and high mortality. Currently, there are several markers used for sepsis evaluation, such as hematological indices, acute phase reactants, cytokines, which by themselves do not show acceptable sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of EOS in neonates. Newer and more selective markers have surfaced recently, such as presepsin and endocan, but they are currently only in the experimental research stages. This comprehensive review article is based on the role of biomarkers currently in use or in the research phase from a basic, translational, and clinical viewpoint that helps us to improve the quality of neonatal early-onset sepsis diagnosis and management.

Download Full-text

KCNT1 epilepsy with migrating focal seizures shows a temporal sequence with poor outcome, high mortality and SUDEP

Brain ◽

10.1093/brain/awz240 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 142 (10) ◽

pp. 2996-3008 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Mathieu Kuchenbuch ◽

Giulia Barcia ◽

Nicole Chemaly ◽

Emilie Carme ◽

Agathe Roubertie ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Early Diagnosis ◽

High Mortality ◽

Poor Prognosis ◽

Early Mortality ◽

Temporal Sequence ◽

Clinical Spectrum ◽

Neurological Manifestations ◽

Focal Seizures ◽

Poor Outcome ◽

High Prevalence

Data on KCNT1 epilepsy of infancy with migrating focal seizures are heterogeneous and incomplete. Kuchenbuch et al. refine the syndrome phenotype, showing a three-step temporal sequence, poor prognosis with acquired microcephaly, high prevalence of extra-neurological manifestations and early mortality, particularly due to SUDEP. Refining the electro-clinical spectrum should facilitate early diagnosis.

Download Full-text

Prediction modelling of inpatient neonatal mortality in high-mortality settings

Archives of Disease in Childhood ◽

10.1136/archdischild-2020-319217 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. archdischild-2020-319217

Author(s):

Jalemba Aluvaala ◽

Gary Collins ◽

Beth Maina ◽

Catherine Mutinda ◽

Mary Waiyego ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hospital Mortality ◽

High Mortality ◽

Clinical Decision Making ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Prognostic Models ◽

Routine Practice ◽

Low Resource ◽

C Statistic ◽

Temporal Validation ◽

Time Of Admission

ObjectivePrognostic models aid clinical decision making and evaluation of hospital performance. Existing neonatal prognostic models typically use physiological measures that are often not available, such as pulse oximetry values, in routine practice in low-resource settings. We aimed to develop and validate two novel models to predict all cause in-hospital mortality following neonatal unit admission in a low-resource, high-mortality setting.Study design and settingWe used basic, routine clinical data recorded by duty clinicians at the time of admission to derive (n=5427) and validate (n=1627) two novel models to predict in-hospital mortality. The Neonatal Essential Treatment Score (NETS) included treatments prescribed at the time of admission while the Score for Essential Neonatal Symptoms and Signs (SENSS) used basic clinical signs. Logistic regression was used, and performance was evaluated using discrimination and calibration.ResultsAt derivation, c-statistic (discrimination) for NETS was 0.92 (95% CI 0.90 to 0.93) and that for SENSS was 0.91 (95% CI 0.89 to 0.93). At external (temporal) validation, NETS had a c-statistic of 0.89 (95% CI 0.86 to 0.92) and SENSS 0.89 (95% CI 0.84 to 0.93). The calibration intercept for NETS was −0.72 (95% CI −0.96 to −0.49) and that for SENSS was −0.33 (95% CI −0.56 to −0.11).ConclusionUsing routine neonatal data in a low-resource setting, we found that it is possible to predict in-hospital mortality using either treatments or signs and symptoms. Further validation of these models may support their use in treatment decisions and for case-mix adjustment to help understand performance variation across hospitals.

Download Full-text

Infectious bronchitis virus infections of chickens in Belgium: an epidemiological survey

Vlaams Diergeneeskundig Tijdschrift ◽

10.21825/vdt.v85i5.16319 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 85 (5) ◽

pp. 285-290 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

P. De Herdt ◽

M. De Gussem ◽

S. Van Gorp ◽

R. Currie

Keyword(s):

Infectious Bronchitis Virus ◽

Limit Of Detection ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Hypervariable Region ◽

Epidemiological Survey ◽

Virus Infections ◽

Base Pairs ◽

Broiler Breeder ◽

Infectious Bronchitis ◽

Vaccination History

Between April 2012 and July 2015, cloacal and/or tracheal swab samples were collected from four hundred and twenty-four Belgian chicken broiler, breeder and layer flocks. All flocks were kept for production purposes and presented clinical signs suggestive of an infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) infection. The samples were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) to detect the presence of ribonucleic acid (RNA) of IBV. When positive, approximately four hundred base pairs (bp) encoding for the hypervariable region of the IBV S1 protein were sequenced. Sequencing results, cycle threshold (Ct) values and vaccination history were used as criteria to try and distinguish vaccine strains from field strains. Of all samples examined, 22.4% was negative. In 16.4% of the samples that did contain RNA from IBV, the genotype could not be determined. In most cases, this was due to the recovery of RNA quantities below the lower limit of detection of the sequencing PCR. The remaining positive submissions predominantly revealed RNA from IBV strains that belonged to the 4/91–793B (46.8%), D388–QX (25.2%), D274-D207 (5.8%) and Massachusetts (4.0%) genotypes. Estimations indicated that approximately 58%, 11%, 37% and 46% of these detections, respectively, were vaccine strains. Infections with types CK/CH/Guandong/Xindadi/0903, Ukr/27/2011, NGA/295/2006 and Q1 were observed sporadically. The results indicate that IBV infections are highly prevalent in Belgian chickens and that at least eight different IBV types were circulating during the monitored period. This underlines the necessity of providing flocks with a strong and broad protective immunity against IBV.

Download Full-text

Interpretation of doxycycline+chloroquine dual therapy for A. phagocytophilum infection in dogs

Revista Mvz Córdoba ◽

10.21897/rmvz.58 ◽

2015 ◽

pp. 4556-4563

Author(s):

Kerem Ural

Keyword(s):

Clinical Signs ◽

Dual Therapy ◽

Oral Route ◽

Controlled Clinical Trial ◽

Obligate Intracellular ◽

Doxycycline Treatment ◽

Group I ◽

Speed Up ◽

Obligate Intracellular Pathogen ◽

Hematological Alterations

ABSTRACTObjective. A. phagocytophilum, an obligate intracellular pathogen, is a well-known agent causing granulocytic infections in both animals and humans. The purpose of the present study was to describe clinical course and consequences of Canine Granulocyctic Anaplasmosis among dogs in Aydin province, Turkey with special reference to hematological alterations and possible interpretations of doxycycline+chloroquine dual therapy. Materials and methods. A controlled clinical trial was carried out on 14 dogs referred and diagnosed as Canine Granulocyctic Anaplasmosis within Snap 4dx test. Relevant haematological data were recorded before (day 0) and after treatment (day 30) in both groups. Group I (n=7) were adminestered doxycycline (10 mg/kg q 12 h via oral route for 14 days) and chloroquine (2.5 mg/kg q 12 h for 14 days) and group II (n=7) received only doxycycline (10 mg/kg q 12 h for 14 days via oral route) therapy. Results. Doxycycline treatment hasten resolution of clinical signs in all dogs in about 2 to 7 days. There was no statistically significant differences among hematological variances detected (p>0.05). Conclusions. It may suggest that in conjunction with doxycycline chloroquine may have helped to speed up relevant clinical signs of CGA.RESUMENObjetivo. A. phagocytophilum, un patógeno intracelular obligado, es un agente ampliamente conocido que causa infecciones granulocíticas tanto en animales como en humanos. El propósito del presente estudio fue describir la evolución clínica y las consecuencias de la Anaplasmosis Granulocítica Canina en perros de la provincia de Aydin, Turquía, con especial referencia a las alteraciones hematológicas y a las posibles interpretaciones de una terapia dual de doxicilina+cloroquina. Materiales y métodos. Se realizó un estudio clínico controlado en 14 perros remitidos y diagnosticados con Anaplasmosis Granulocítica Canina usando de una prueba Snap 4dx. Se registraron datos hematológicos pertinentes antes (día 0) y después del tratamiento (día 30) en ambos grupos. Al Grupo I (n=7) se le administró doxicilina (10 mg/kg q 12 h por vía oral durante 14 días) y cloroquina (2.5 mg/kg q 12 h durante 14 días), mientras que el Grupo II (n=7) recibió una terapia únicamente con doxicilina (10 mg/kg q 12 h por vía oral durante 14 días). Resultados. La doxicilina aceleró la resolución de los signos clínicos en todos los perros en un periodo de aproximadamente 2 a 7 días. No se detectaron diferencias estadísticas significativas entre las variaciones hematológicas (p>0.05). Conclusiones. Lo anterior puede sugerir que, conjuntamente con la doxicilina, la cloroquina puede haber ayudado a acelerar los signos clínicos pertinentes de la Anaplasmosis Granulocítica Canina (AGC).

Download Full-text

Influence of lincomycin-spectinomycin treatment on the outcome of Enterococcus cecorum infection and on the cecal microbiota in broilers

Gut Pathogens ◽

10.1186/s13099-021-00467-9 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Jana Schreier ◽

Daniela Karasova ◽

Magdalena Crhanova ◽

Ivan Rychlik ◽

Silke Rautenschlein ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antibiotic Treatment ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Intervention Strategies ◽

Broiler Chicks ◽

Treatment Groups ◽

Skeletal Disease ◽

Enterococcal Species ◽

Cecal Microbiota ◽

The Impact ◽

Enterococcus Cecorum

Abstract Background Enterococcus cecorum (EC) is one of the main reasons for skeletal disease in meat type chickens. Intervention strategies are still rare and focus mainly on early antibiotic treatment of the disease, although there are no data available concerning the effectivity of this procedure. The present study aimed to investigate the effectivity of early lincomycin-spectinomycin treatment during the first week of life after EC-infection. Furthermore, the impact of lincomycin-spectinomycin treatment and EC infection on the development of cecal microbiota was investigated. Methods A total of 383 day-old broiler chicks were randomly assigned to four groups (non-infected and non-treated, non-infected and treated, EC-infected and non-treated, and EC-infected and treated). The EC-infected groups were inoculated orally with an EC suspension at the day of arrival and at study day 3. The treatment groups were treated with lincomycin-spectinomycin via the drinking water for six consecutive days, starting two hours after the first inoculation. Necropsy of 20 chickens per group was performed at study days 7, 14, 21, and 42. Bacteriological examination via culture and real-time PCR was performed to detect EC in different extraintestinal organs. Cecal samples of nine chickens per group and necropsy day were analyzed to characterize the composition of the cecal microbiota. Results No clinical signs or pathologic lesions were found at necropsy, and EC was not detected in extraintestinal organs of the EC-infected and treated birds. Lincomycin-spectinomycin promoted the growth of the bacterial genus Escherichia/Shigella and reduced the amount of potentially beneficial Lactobacillus spp. in the ceca regardless of EC-infection. Unexpectedly, the highest abundances of the genus Enterococcus were found directly after ending antibiotic treatment in both treatment groups, suggesting the growth of resistant enterococcal species. EC was not detected among the most abundant members of the genus Enterococcus. Oral EC-infection at the first day of life did not influence the development of cecal microbiota in the present study. Conclusions Lincomycin-spectinomycin treatment during the first week of life can prevent the EC-associated disease in broiler type chickens and has a direct impact on the development of the cecal microbiota. The low abundance of EC in the ceca of infected chickens underlines the pathogenic nature of the disease-causing EC strains. Further research on alternative prevention and intervention strategies is needed with regard to current efforts on reducing the use of antibiotics in livestock animals.

Download Full-text