A Case of Newcastle disease from an outbreak in a commercial broiler farm in Mymensingh city, Bangladesh

Background Newcastle disease (ND) is a contagious and often deadly viral disease caused by the Newcastle disease virus (NDV), affecting a wide variety of domestic and wild birds. The outbreak of this fatal disease is one of the greatest constraints to the expansion of poultry farms, resulting in significant financial losses. Here we report the clinical and pathological features of a ND case from an outbreak in a commercial broiler farm. Materials and Methods A broiler farm with a population of 850 birds aged 27 days reported the death of 100 chickens within 4 days of the onset of the disease in 2019. For investigation, one dead chicken was brought to the department of pathology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh. The case history was recorded, and an autopsy was performed. Portion of the samples were kept in 10% neutral buffered formalin for histopathological study. Results The morbidity and mortality rates were reported to be 17.65% and 11.47%, respectively. Recorded clinical history were depression, off-feed, huddling, gasping, ruffled feathers, greenish diarrhea, soiled vent and the birds were unvaccinated. On external examination, the birds appeared dehydrated, dyspneic and had nasal exudates, ruffled feathers, and soiled vents. Autopsy exhibited prominent gross lesions in the trachea, lungs, proventriculus, gizzard, intestine, cecal tonsil, liver, spleen and cloacal bursa. Grossly, tracheal hemorrhage, severe congestion in the lungs, pin point hemorrhages on the tip of the proventriculur glands, hemorrhage in the cecal tonsil, button-like ulceration in the intestine and mottled spleen were suggestive of ND. Histopathologically, severe enteritis, necrotic mass in the cecal tonsil and proventriculus, lymphoid depletion in the spleen supported the infection of NDV. The clinicopathological findings of the ND outbreak in broiler farm confirmed that it was velogenic viscerotropic in nature. Conclusion ND in commercial flocks remains a threat to the poultry industry in Bangladesh. Implementation of strict biosecurity, husbandry practice and effective vaccination are required to prevent diseases and improve economic stability.

Restricted Feeding Regimens Improve White Striping Associated Muscular Defects In Broiler Chickens

Background: Ad libitum (AD) feeding is crucial to profitable commercial broiler chicken production. However, it partly disrupts muscle development, causing myopathies like white striping in broilers’ breast meat. For this reason, this study investigated the impacts of intermittent feeding (IF) and fasting strategies as potential alternatives to AD feeding. A total of 384 one-day-old broilers were randomly allotted into 4 groups - ad libitum, 1h-IF group (4 times/day, 1 hour each time), 1.5h-IF (4 times/day, 1.5hrs each time), and acute fasting (1-day acute fasting, 6-days free access to feed). Feed intake, weight gain, muscle structure, differential genes, and protein expressions were assessed in the broiler breast muscles. Results: IF and fasting significantly reduced ectopic fat deposit and muscle fiber size (p < 0.05). Notably, 1.5h-IF promoted PAX7+ satellite cell proliferation supporting muscle growth and repair activities in fast-growth broiler chickens. Consistently, the restricted regimens downregulated the collagen protein synthesis of skeletal muscle-specific E3 ubiquitin ligases (TRIM63 and MAFBX) in 42 – days old breast muscle samples (p < 0.05), especially in the 1.5h-IF group. Compared to AD-fed birds, 1.5h-IF and fasting feeding significantly decreased white striping scores in the breast meat muscle (p < 0.05). ConclusionChronic IF or acute fasting improved muscle health of broiler chickens without significant compromise on growth rate and feed efficiency compared to AD feeding. Therefore, this study presents potential feeding frequencies relevant for optimal growth pace while alleviating the occurrence of myopathic pathophysiology in broiler chickens.

Influence of Syzygium cumini extract as feed additives on performance and haematological parameters of commercial broiler chickens

Phytogenies have been widely used as alternative feed additives to replace antibiotics in animal production. The present study aims to evaluate inclusion of S. cumini extract as feed additives on performance and haematological parameters of commercial broiler chickens. A total of 100-day-old commercial chickens (mixed sex) were randomly allocated to four treatments with five replicates. Each treatment was administrated different level of S. cumini extract in the drinking water (P0=control, P1=0.25 g/l drinking water, P2=0.50 g/l drinking water and P3=1.0 g/l drinking water). Commercial diet was provided during experiment based on nutrition requirement for starter and grower. Water and feed were given ad libitum. Data were collected to measure broiler performances and haematological parameters. One way ANOVA was applied in this study and significantly different among treatments were stated (P≥0.05). The results indicated that inclusion of S.cumini extract as feed additives in drinking water did not significantly affected (P>0.05) on animal performances and haematological parameters of commercial broiler chickens. Therefore, it concluded that S.cumini extract can be applied as alternative feed additive due to no negative effects of the S.cumini iextract on performances and haematological parameters.

Role of Clostridium perfringens Necrotic Enteritis B-like Toxin in Disease Pathogenesis

Necrotic enteritis (NE) is a devastating enteric disease caused by Clostridium perfringens type A/G that impacts the global poultry industry by compromising the performance, health, and welfare of chickens. Coccidiosis is a major contributing factor to NE. Although NE pathogenesis was believed to be facilitated by α-toxin, a chromosome-encoded phospholipase C enzyme, recent studies have indicated that NE B-like (NetB) toxin, a plasmid-encoded pore-forming heptameric protein, is the primary virulence factor. Since the discovery of NetB toxin, the occurrence of NetB+ C. perfringens strains has been increasingly reported in NE-afflicted poultry flocks globally. It is generally accepted that NetB toxin is the primary virulent factor in NE pathogenesis although scientific evidence is emerging that suggests other toxins contribute to NE. Because of the complex nature of the host-pathogen interaction in NE pathogenesis, the interaction of NetB with other potential virulent factors of C. perfringens needs better characterization. This short review will summarize the primary virulence factors involved in NE pathogenesis with an emphasis on NetB toxin, and a new detection method for large-scale field screening of NetB toxin in biological samples from NE-afflicted commercial broiler flocks.

The Role of Biosecurity in the Control of Campylobacter: A Qualitative Study of the Attitudes and Perceptions of UK Broiler Farm Workers

Campylobacter is the leading cause of human bacterial diarrhoeal disease worldwide, with poultry meat products contributing to a large proportion of cases. Due to the ubiquitous presence of Campylobacter in the poultry farm environment, biosecurity is the main area for intervention to prevent colonisation of commercial broiler chicken flocks. However, research has repeatedly demonstrated that farmers' uptake of biosecurity recommendations is often poor. This study explored farmers' attitudes towards biosecurity and identified barriers to effective implementation of biosecurity protocols. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 1–3 members of staff on each of 16 broiler farms; 6 owned by, and 10 contracted to, 3 different UK poultry integrators. In total, 28 interviewees participated, including farm owners, managers, and workers, with a range of industry experience. Thematic analysis of the interviews revealed high levels of recognition amongst broiler farmers of the importance of Campylobacter and the responsibility of the whole farm-to-fork chain within the poultry industry to reduce Campylobacter contamination of chicken meat for the benefit of public health. Participants' self-reported awareness and implementation of biosecurity has improved significantly following the industry-wide focus on Campylobacter control. However, there are frustrations with the industry's approach to tackling Campylobacter and the heavy burden of responsibility that has been put on interventions at the farm-level. There was also scepticism amongst participants as to the effectiveness of current biosecurity measures in the reduction of Campylobacter. Nevertheless, the interviewees' recognition of the benefit of improved biosecurity on broiler health and welfare and other important targets, such as reducing antimicrobial usage, leaves a legacy of which the UK broiler industry can be proud. There is scope for further farmer education about the evidence supporting biosecurity interventions, particularly in the control of Campylobacter, and a need to establish more effective channels of communication. Furthermore, to give all players within the industry agency and investment in industry targets, contributions from all levels should be permitted in the design of future biosecurity interventions. Biosecurity compliance may be improved through collaborative efforts, such as participatory and co-design practises, to facilitate knowledge co-creation and exchange.

A Mobile Application to Follow Up the Management of Broiler Flocks

Broiler meat is one of the most consumed meats worldwide. The broiler production system poses several challenges for the producer, including maintaining environmental conditions for rearing. The popularization of mobile devices (smartphones) among people, including those with lower incomes, makes it possible for specialist systems to be developed and used for diverse purposes through Apps (mobile application). The present study proposed the development of a mobile application to help farmers follow up on-farm flock management. We retrieved rearing environment and flock data from commercial broiler farms that complied with broiler-producing standards and followed the breeders’ recommendations. Data were organized and normalized to serve as the basis for the software. We specified a performance index based on the average environment and flock-based data. The language used for the application development was Python compatible with the GNU GPL (General Public License), which has a vast library of ready-made functions. For the graphical interface, we selected Kivy and KivyMD framework. The developed mobile application might help farmers evaluate broiler rearing conditions on-farm during the flock’s growth and grade the flock using a performance index.

EVALUACIÓN DEL PERFIL DE VIRULENCIA DE Campylobacter TERMOTOLERANTES AISLADOS DE GRANJAS COMERCIALES DE POLLOS PARRILLEROS

The aim of this work was to analyze the presence of genes associated with the virulence of thermotolerant Campylobacter (CT) isolated from different sources in commercial broiler farms. For this, we worked with a collection of CT isolates obtained from three commercial broiler farms during 2015. The presence of 10 genes related to CT virulence was examined with a PCR reaction. The results showed a prevalence of 100% for flaA and flhA; 91% cadF, 51% cdtABC, 48% iam, 46% racR, 32% ciaB and 11% virB11. C. jejuni showed higher prevalence of all genes evaluated than C. coli, except iam and virB11 wich were higher for C. coli. The same gene pattern was presented in different sources of isolates. The high prevalence of flaA and flhA, involved in CT mobility, cadF related to Campylobacter gut colonization of broiler and cdtABC genes involved for the expression of cytotoxin, indicates the importance of these factors in CT virulence. Differences in the prevalence of genes according to the species of CT could demonstrate different mechanisms of pathogenicity, and this is not related to the source of isolates. All the results showed the ability of CT to colonize cells but is not evidence of pathogenesis.

Breast muscle myopathies in broiler: mechanism, status and their impact on meat quality

Almost a decade ago, the sudden rise of breast muscle defects in fast-growing commercial broiler breeds challenged the broiler production industry and meat scientists to address the issue of these novel muscle abnormalities. After that, a widespread hypothesis showing a correlation between high muscle yield and incidence of these muscle myopathies got much acceptance from the research community. Increased muscle hypertrophy and unbalanced growth of connective tissues lead to an inadequate blood supply that ultimately causes hypoxia in muscle fibers. Reduced blood vascular density in muscle fibers induces oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction, leading to muscle fibrosis, lipidosis and myodegeneration. Along with physical changes, the myopathic muscles exhibit poor sensory properties, abnormal texture properties and a low nutritional profile. As these myopathies alter meat’s physical appearance, they have a negative impact on customer’s behavior and preference. A better production environment with proper dietary supplementation with balanced breeding strategies can minimize the incidence of muscle myopathies in broiler chicken. This review aims to address the underlying mechanism behind these myopathies and their impact on poultry meat quality, including nutritional value and consumer behavior. It describes the link between genetic and non-genetic elements influencing myopathies, along with the strategies to minimize the occurrence of breast muscle myopathies.