For multispecies autoethnography

This article makes the case for multispecies autoethnography as a methodological approach in qualitative research involving other species. Multispecies autoethnography can work to address the persistent anthropocentrism in multispecies methods and offer a richer understanding of the way humans are implicated in the lives and deaths of other animals. I use a brief sketch of the experience of raising “backyard chickens” to illustrate what multispecies autoethnography might do in the world and for more ethical practices of research. Ultimately, this article argues for an explicitly anti-anthropocentric approach to research, scholarship, and living that might expand possibilities for more just, ethical, and caring multispecies worlds.

Pathology and molecular characterization of Leucocytozoon caulleryi from backyard chickens in Khon Kaen Province, Thailand

Aim: The aim of this study was to characterize Leucocytozoon caulleryi from backyard chickens in Khon Kaen Province, Thailand. Materials and Methods: Tissue samples were collected from backyard chickens suspected to have leucocytozoonosis and subjected to histopathology examination. The BLAST Tool at NCBI GenBank (Basic Local Alignment Research Tools) (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/BLAST) was used to identify the nucleotide sequence of the partial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox I) gene. A Phylogenetic tree for analysis of L. caulleryi was constructed by using MEGA 7.0 software (https:// www.megasoftware.net/). Results: The necropsy results revealed the subcutaneous hemorrhages of pectoral muscles, multifocal hemorrhages of the thymus and pectoral muscles, hemorrhage of the proventriculus and peritoneal cavity, and megaloschizonts of the pancreas and intestine, including subcapsular hemorrhages of the liver. Microscopic examination revealed numerous megaloschizonts of Leucocytozoon spp. in the pectoral muscles, intestine, pancreas, and thymus. Molecular analysis of the partial cox I gene showed that the causal agent was closely related to L. caulleryi reported in Japan. Conclusion: From these results, L. caulleryi was determined to be the causal agent of leucocytozoonosis and was closely associated with L. caulleryi reported in Japan.

Assessing the Potential for Noise Complaints due to Backyard Chickens

During the past decade, there has been tremendous growth in the popularity of backyard chickens in urban and suburban locations throughout the United States. While there are many advantages to raising chickens, their introduction has not gone without controversy. Noise has been a common concern during discussions of municipal ordnances and a common complaint against flock owners. There is very little data on the sound levels produced by chickens in the technical literature. What data is published is not appropriate for predicting sound levels at owners' property lines. In addition, the non-technical literature, social media, newspaper stories, etc. abounds with misinformation. To determine the sound power of various chicken breeds, the author has been measuring sound levels from birds in his flock. This data can then be compared to the sound level from other typical back yard sound sources, existing community annoyance prediction models, and records of noise complaints.

Prevalence of ectoparasites in free-range backyard chicken flocks in northeast Algeria

Free-range backyard chicken breeding is gaining popularity in Algerian rural regions. Due to the natural rearing conditions, chickens are exposed a wide range of microbes and ectoparasites. Currently, little is known about the variety of ectoparasites infesting free-range chickens in Algeria. The present study was conducted over a two year period on 169 backyard chicken, with the aim of identifying and estimating the prevalence of ectoparasites on different body parts of the chickens, and their immediate environments in northeast Algeria. In total, 9943 ectoparasites were identified, and the seven most dominant species were: Menopon gallinae (82.84%), Goniodes dissimilis (15.97%), Menacanthus stramineus (13.60%), Goniocotes gallinae (6.50%), Lipeurus caponis (5.23%), Argas persicus (9.46%) and Dermanyssus gallinae (1.18%). Menopon gallinae was the most frequent isolated ectoparasite throughout the year. Soft ticks Argas persicus were isolated during spring and summer, mainly from crevices and cracks, while the chicken red mite Dermanyssus gallinae was detected in autumn with a low load on bird body parts and a high abundance in nests. These results list the most abundant ectoparasites in backyard chickens, which could facilitate the improvement of rearing management.

Epidemiological surveillance of H9N2 avian influenza virus infection among chickens in farms and backyards in Egypt 2015-2016

Background and Aim: LPAI H9N2 infection among the poultry population in Egypt constitutes an additional risk factor in the poultry industry. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of H9N2 avian influenza virus (AIV) in commercial and backyard chickens in Egypt. A 2-year survey of H9N2 AIV in chickens in farms and backyards was carried out in 2015 and 2016. Materials and Methods: Direct detection of H9N2 AIV was performed by detecting the virus in tracheal and cloacal swabs using real-time polymerase chain reaction assays. A total of 20,421 samples were collected from chickens in farms and backyards in 26 Egyptian governorates. Results: In 2015, cases positive for H9N2 AIV numbered 388 (3.9%) out of 10,016 examined cases. However, in 2016, the total positive cases numbered 447 (4.3%) out of 10,405 examined cases. The prevalence of H9N2 AIV among chickens on commercial farms was 4.6% out of the 16,666 chickens examined. The rates of positive cases in 2015 and 2016 were 4.4% (349/7884) and 4.7% (417/8782), respectively. The prevalence of H9N2 AIV in backyard chickens was 1.8% (69/3755). The rates of positive cases in backyard chickens were 1.8% (39/2132) in 2015 and again 1.8% (30/1623) in 2016. The highest positivity rate of H9N2 in chicken farms was in Beni-Suef (61.5%) (8/13), whereas the highest positivity rate in backyard chickens was in Fayoum (8.2%) (8/97). Conclusion: The analysis of H9N2 infections among chicken farms and in backyard chickens in the different governorates of Egypt over 2 years indicated widespread infection throughout the country. Thus, continuous surveillance and implementation of control programs are warranted.

Probiotic Bacilli Inhibit Salmonella Biofilm Formation Without Killing Planktonic Cells

Salmonellosis is a foodborne infection caused by Salmonella. Domestic poultry species are one of the main reservoirs of Salmonella, which causes the foodborne infection salmonellosis, and are responsible for many cases of animal-to-human transmission. Keeping backyard chickens is now a growing trend, increasing the frequency of direct contact with the flock and, by consequence, the incidence of Salmonella infections. Bacillus subtilis KATMIRA1933 and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens B-1895 are probiotic bacilli that produce the bacteriocins subtilosin A and subtilin, respectively. The antimicrobial activity of the two strains was determined against the reference strain Micrococcus luteus ATCC 10420. The cell-free supernatant of B. subtilis KATMIRA1933 inhibited biofilm formation by Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Hadar, Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Enteritidis phage type 4, and Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Thompson by 51.1, 48.3, and 56.9%, respectively. The cell-free supernatant of B. amyloliquefaciens B-1895 inhibited the biofilm formation of these Salmonella strains by 30.4, 28.6, and 35.5%, respectively. These findings suggest that the bacillus strains may have the potential to be used as probiotics and antibiotic alternatives for the control of Salmonella in poultry. The number of planktonic cells was unaffected by treatment with the cell-free supernatant. A co-culture of the Salmonella strains with either bacilli showed no signs of growth inhibition, suggesting that it might have been quorum sensing that is affected by the two Bacillus strains.

Thymoma in an aged backyard Leghorn chicken, with reviews of a database and literature

A 7-y-old backyard Leghorn chicken ( Gallus domesticus) was submitted to the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System (CAHFS)–Turlock branch for postmortem examination, with a history of unexpected death. At postmortem examination, a hemorrhagic soft tissue mass was observed in the cervical region. Microscopically, a densely cellular neoplasm of polygonal epithelial cells and small lymphocytes was observed. The microscopic features of the neoplasm in combination with positive immunohistochemistry for pancytokeratin and CD3 were used to classify the lesion as a thymoma. Thymoma was diagnosed in only 5 birds submitted to CAHFS from 1990 to 2019. Thymoma has been described only rarely in birds, and is an unusual diagnosis in backyard chickens.