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Stick-tight fleas, Echidnophaga gallinacea (Westwood), are major ectoparasites of domesticated chickens and can cause serious diseases and even death if left untreated. In the present study the flea samples were collected from three traditional chicken-raising farms in the Al-Baha region. The samples were examined under a stereomicroscope and identified using classification keys. After extracting DNA from the insects, the polymerase chain reaction technique was used to identify the hereditary gene, cytochrome oxidase, present in the insect biopics. The gene was purified, its nucleotide sequence was obtained, and the accession number (OR161051) has been assigned in GenBank. After determining its nucleotide sequence, it was compared with other insects in GenBank, where it was found to be identical (99.82%) to the E. gallinacea isolate from Thailand recorded in GenBank [OQ291364 and MW492259 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nucleotide/MW492259.1?report=genbank&log$=nucltop&blast%5frank=1&RID=VJR9ZAEE013)]. The match was 94.33% with Echidnophaga iberica from Spain (KF479239) and 93.97% with Echidnophaga oschanini from China (KU880666). The phylogenetic tree also showed similarities between the Saudi Arabian isolates and other isolates. This genetic study of sticktight fleas is the first of its kind in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, therefore will be valuable for assessing the prevalence and geographical distribution of this parasite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impacts of cumulative Chlorella vulgaris intake (proportion of microalga in the diet multiplied by the total feed consumed by each bird) on broiler carcass traits, meat quality and oxidative stability were reviewed to identify the optimal intake levels for maximising benefits. Our findings indicate that a cumulative intake of 8.73 g/bird significantly enhances thigh yield, while levels ranging from 8.73 to 401 g/bird optimise carcass weight and overall meat quality. However, higher cumulative levels may reduce carcass dressing percentage due to metabolic inefficiencies. Furthermore, C. vulgaris intake improves the oxidative stability of broiler meat by increasing antioxidant levels and balancing pro- and antioxidants. Including C. vulgaris in broiler diets boosts total carotenoid content, and antioxidant assays confirm that it enhances meat oxidative stability, with low to moderate cumulative intake levels (8.73 to 401 g/bird) providing the best balance of benefits. Optimal oxidative stability and antioxidant properties were observed at a cumulative intake level of 401 g/bird, showing significant improvements in meat antioxidant capacity. Higher levels may lead to diminishing returns or potential negative effects due to the digestibility issues of the microalga. Future research should refine intake models, understand the bioavailability of C. vulgaris nutrients and explore cost-effective methods to enhance its digestibility, to ensure its viability and sustainability as a feed additive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salmonella Mbandaka is one of the most globally widespread serovars, occurring in many sources and included among twenty serovars that contribute to human salmonellosis in Europe. In Poland, it has been noted in non-human sources since 1996, being found firstly in feeds and later in waterfowl and chicken. Over the years, it gained epidemiological importance, being isolated from a wide range of animal species, including livestock. Generally, it is characterized by sensitivity to most antimicrobials and the ability to form biofilms. The occurrence of cephalosporin-resistant Salmonella in non-human sources is an extremely rare phenomenon in Poland. In this report, we characterized the full genome of the ESBL-producing S. Mbandaka strain isolated from a broiler farm environment (boot swab sample) in Poland in 2022. The isolate was serotyped as S. Mbandaka according to the White–Kaufmann–Le Minor scheme. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing performed with the microbroth dilution method showed its resistance to ampicillin, cefotaxime, ceftazidime, ciprofloxacin, and nalidixic acid. The whole-genome sequence was reconstructed using short and long reads and assembled into the complete chromosome and three plasmids: IncI1 pST113 (89,439 bp), Col(pHAD28) (2699 bp), and Col440 (2495 bp). The strain belonged to sequence type ST413. Plasmid analysis showed blaCTX-M-8 mobilization on IncI1(alpha) surrounded with insertion sequences. The analyzed genome content draws attention to the possibility of the horizontal spread of the resistance genes. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of blaCTX-M-8-positive Salmonella in Poland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Real-time automatic detection of microcracks in eggs is crucial for ensuring egg quality and safety, yet rapid detection of micron-scale cracks remains challenging. This study introduces a real-time ConvNext-Based U-Net model with Feature Infusion (CBU-FI Net) for egg microcrack detection. Leveraging edge features and spatial continuity of cracks, we incorporate an edge feature infusion module in the encoder and design a multi-scale feature aggregation strategy in the decoder to enhance the extraction of both local details and global semantic information. By introducing large convolution kernels and depth-wise separable convolution from ConvNext, the model significantly reduces network parameters compared to the original U-Net. Additionally, a composite loss function is devised to address class imbalance issues. Experimental results on a dataset comprising over 3400 graded egg microcrack image patches demonstrate that CBU-FI Net achieves a reduction in parameters to one-third the amount in the original U-Net, with an inference speed of 21 ms per image (1 million pixels). The model achieves a Crack-IoU of 65.51% for microcracks smaller than 20 μ m and a Crack-IoU and MIoU of 60.76% and 80.22%, respectively, for even smaller cracks (less than 5 μ m), achieving high-precision, real-time detection of egg microcracks. Furthermore, on the publicly benchmarked CrackSeg9k dataset, CBU-FI Net achieves an inference speed of 4 ms for 400 × 400 resolution images, with an MIoU of 81.38%, proving the proposed method's robustness and generalization capability across various cracks and complex backgrounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The substantial waste generated from the poultry sector is a serious concern and it is very crucial to find a sustainable solution for its management. The present study aimed to utilize waste generated from poultry operations and convert into economically viable and sustainable products. The substrate used was the waste generated at hatcheries, poultry farms, and slaughterhouses, on considering kitchen waste as a control. The black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) (BSFL) to utilize the waste was explored as a biological tool to facilitate the waste management. The study's key findings revealed that waste from various poultry operations proved to be the suitable substrate for BSFL rearing, resulting in effective material reduction of 52.36%, higher (P < 0.05) bio-conversion efficiency of 31.84%, and a lower (P < 0.05) feed conversion ratio (FCR) of 1.25 compared to control group. Moreover, the process yielded a significant (P < 0.05) amount of pre-pupae biomass with higher protein level, reduced waste and recycling time to just 24 days, and produced residue with a high manure value and a C/N ratio of 37.5 in poultry waste. Further, the larval growth and performance were found to be dependent on the moisture and nutritional profile of the substrate which is higher in poultry waste. The microbial safety analysis demonstrated that there was a clearance of Salmonella load in the residue which indicate the microbial safety of residue. Hence to conclude, the novel method of salvaging waste using BSFL was efficient in converting the poultry waste into byproducts of high commercial value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: The positive effects of Lactobacillus farciminis and Lactobacillus rhamnosus on growth and feed consumption indicators have been described; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to determine whether the addition of L. farciminis CNCM-I-3699 (2.1010 GU/g) and L. rhamnosus CNCM-I-3698 (2.1010 GU/g) to the feed of Ross 308 specific-pathogen-free (SPF) broiler chickens (at a dose of 4 g/10 kg feed) affects live weight gain, the feed conversion ratio (FCR), and duodenal development in SPF broiler chickens. Materials and Methods: In total, 780 SPF broiler chicks were randomly divided into two groups (three replicates per group) immediately after hatching: The control group (n = 390) and the probiotic group (n = 390). Live body weight (g) and FCR were measured on days 1, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35 of the study. Histological examinations (hematoxylin and eosin staining) of the duodenum were performed, and the villus height (VH), villus width, crypt depth (CD), muscle layer thickness, and VH: CD ratio were measured. In addition, immunohistochemical examinations were performed to determine the number of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)-positive cells. Results: Feeding a probiotic mixture containing L. farciminis and L. rhamnosus to SPF broiler chickens for 35 days increased the duodenal absorption area and muscle layer thickness. In addition, it accelerated the histological development of the duodenum, as evidenced by the significantly higher number of PCNA-positive cells within the crypts. Although SPF broiler chickens in the ProL group exhibited greater live weight gain and lower FCR throughout the study, these differences were not statistically significant. Conclusion: These results suggest that L. farciminis and L. rhamnosus can serve as additives to SPF broiler chicken feed to promote growth and development.

Abstract By 2050, the need for poultry products is predicted to quadruple globally, mostly as a result of rising living standards. In the meantime, the quality of feed crops and forage, availability of water, poultry diseases, and poultry reproduction are all threatened by climate change, which poses a challenge to poultry production. This analysis assesses the effects of climate change on poultry production globally, the role that poultry production plays in climate change, and the particular tactics used by the poultry industry to adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change. Climate variability will limit poultry production because it will raise the amount of water that chickens consume by a factor of three, increase the demand for agricultural lands due to the significant rise in production, and raise concerns about food security. After all, approximately one-third of the world's cereal harvest is used to feed animals, including poultry. In the meantime, 8% of the livestock sector’s emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) come from the poultry industry, which accelerates climate change. As a result, the poultry industry will play a significant role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing global food security. Therefore, assessments of the application of adaptation and mitigation measures specific to the region and poultry production system in use, as well as policies that encourage and facilitate the implementation of these measures, are necessary for converting to sustainable poultry production.

This review examined the potential of hemp components as functional feed and food ingredients, focusing on their impact on the quality and nutritional value of animal products. Following hemp legalization, there was growing interest in its potential to enhance animal diets and processed animal products due to its rich nutritional profile, including high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), essential amino acids, and fibre. Incorporating hemp components into feed for monogastric animals, particularly poultry, improved lipid stability, sensory attributes, and the fatty acid composition of meat and eggs. Hemp supplementation for ruminants, especially in goats, increased PUFA and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) content in milk, improved meat tenderness, and enhanced oxidative stability. However, research on hemp supplementation for pigs and beef remained limited, indicating the need for further exploration of these species. Hemp cake, rich in protein, fibre, and essential fatty acids, was the most widely used hemp component due to its economic viability, nutritional benefits, and sustainability, contributing to improved meat and milk quality. Regulatory concerns about the transfer of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) residues in the produced animal products restricted the use of hemp biomass. In processed animal products, hemp components were studied for their potential to enhance nutritional value, replace animal fats, and serve as natural preservatives. Although they improved the fatty acid profile and antioxidant properties of meat products, challenges such as textural changes and increased lipid oxidation needed to be addressed for optimal use. Limited studies on dairy products indicated promising nutritional enhancements, but textural issues could impact consumer acceptance. In conclusion, hemp components show significant potential for improving the quality and nutritional value of animal products. Further research is necessary to address regulatory, sensory, and formulation challenges and to expand their application across different animal species and processed animal products.

Abstract Background This paper reports the first pathological and molecular characterization of the novel variant of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) D181 in poultry flocks in Morocco and Africa. Methods The study includes six poultry farms, involving three flocks of layers aged between 28 and 67 weeks and three broiler flocks aged 27, 39 and 42 days from different regions of Morocco. In all affected layer flocks, a severe drop in egg production with poor eggshell quality was reported. Necropsy of dead birds was carried out, and samples of trachea, lungs, oviduct, ovaries, and kidneys were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin for histopathologic examinations, while other portions were stored at -20 °C for molecular analysis. Real time RT-qPCR for IBV gene group was performed, and IBV variants were identified. Partial S1 gene sequences were amplified by conventional RT-PCR, sequenced, and aligned for phylogenetic and amino acid similarity analysis. Results Necropsy of dead birds revealed misshapen and hemorrhagic ovarian follicles with an edematous oviduct and severe reaction in the cecal tonsils. A caseous material accumulation in the sinus was noted in few birds. In contrast, the broiler flocks exhibited respiratory clinical signs such as difficulty in breathing, sneezing, tracheal rales, watery eyes and lethargy, associated with a decrease in feed consumption. Mortality in broiler ranged from 2 to 15%. Histopathological analysis of samples showed a lympho-plasmocytic inflammation in the oviduct, trachea, and lungs. Individual necrosis of epithelial cells, with sloughing of the bronchial epithelium and accumulation of desquamated cells with mucus in the airways, was observed in some birds. Partial S1 gene sequencing and phylogenetic analyses showed that the Moroccan strains were very closely related to D181 strains isolated in Dutch layers and breeders in 2018. Nucleotide sequence identities reached 90.9–95% with the Dutch isolates (strain CK/NL/D181/2018). Conclusion Our sequencing results demonstrate for the first time that the D181 IBV genotype is circulating in Moroccan poultry. These findings justify permanent monitoring of circulating strains in order to appropriately adjust vaccination strategies to align with the evolving field situation.

Abstract Coccidiosis poses a significant threat to the poultry industry, with synthetic antibiotics and disinfectants being the primary tools for control. This study investigated the potential of Piper betle L essential oil (PBEO) as a natural alternative against Eimeria tenella, one of the most pathogenic Eimeria species affecting poultry. Our findings revealed that PBEO exhibits significant anticoccidial effects through two primary mechanisms: (i) oocysticidal activity by disintegrating oocyst walls and (ii) inhibition of the sporulation process. PBEO demonstrated oocysticidal activities ranging from 8.67 to 95.33% across concentrations from 0.04 to 40%. Notably, at 72 h post-incubation, a 0.04% PBEO concentration significantly reduced the number of sporulated oocysts (P ≤ 0.05) to 71.67%, showing effects comparable to those of formalin. PBEO reduced 50% of oocyst sporulation (IC50) in the concentration of 1.31% at 72 h. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) identified the primary constituents of PBEO, including eugenol, beta-caryophyllene, and other key compounds, collectively constituting 96% of the oil. This research underscores the potential of PBEO as a natural anticoccidial agent and lays the groundwork for further studies aimed at identifying, isolating, and developing active compounds that may specifically target the sporogony process in coccidian parasites.

Abstract Water microbial contamination is a serious issue that poses a risk to both animal and human health. One hundred and twenty water were samples collected from main water source and drinkers from a poultry farm. Different bacterial pathogens were isolated from water sources. Escherichia (E.) coli, Pseudomonas (P.) aureoginosa, (Salmonella) Salmonella (s). Typhimurim, Aeromonas (A.) hydrophila at different percentages. Variable degree of bacterial resistance to some commercial disinfectants commonly used to disinfect water system (iodine, terminator and H2O2). Nanoparticles were used to control bacteria in water. About the safety investigation for the prepared nanomaterials, the work results demonstrated that zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) exhibit the highest safety profile among the manufactured materials. The median fatal dose (LD50) for ZnO NPs was determined to be 3709 mg/kg body weight. In comparison, the LD50 values for zeolites and nanocomposites were 3251 mg/kg and 2658 mg/kg, respectively. Therapeutic dosages were estimated based on the LD50. Zeolite NPs, ZnO NPs and ZnO/zeolite NPs showing promising results in control of those bacteria. It was concluded that the escalating resistance of bacteria to disinfectants have led to a need to find alternative such as nanoparticles that proved promising results in control of pathogens, particularly it showed a safe effect on laboratory animals.

Campylobacteriosis and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are global public health concerns. Africa is estimated to have the world’s highest incidence of campylobacteriosis and a relatively high prevalence of AMR in Campylobacter spp. from humans and animals. Few studies have compared Campylobacter spp. isolated from humans and poultry in Africa using whole-genome sequencing and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. We explored the population structure and AMR of 178 Campylobacter isolates from East Africa, 81 from patients with diarrhea in Kenya and 97 from 56 poultry samples in Tanzania, collected during 2006–2017. Sequence type diversity was high in both poultry and human isolates, with some sequence types in common. The estimated prevalence of multidrug resistance, defined as resistance to >3 antimicrobial classes, was higher in poultry isolates (40.9%, 95% credible interval 23.6%–59.4%) than in human isolates (2.5%, 95% credible interval 0.3%–6.8%), underlining the importance of antimicrobial stewardship in livestock systems.

The present experiment studied the effects of egg composition (egg yolk content; Y) of two different chicken genotypes (selected by computed tomography; CT) on hatched chick growth performance, slaughter traits, and meat quality. Three thousand five hundred eggs per genotype were scanned by CT. Then, for each genotype, eggs were selected according to their Y content: low (21.0 ± 0.88 - 350 eggs), medium (24.5 ± 0.15- 350 eggs) and high (28.3 ± 0.98 - 350 eggs). The remaining eggs were excluded from the study. At 11 weeks of age, 15 chickens per group were slaughtered, carcasses were dissected and breast and legs were excised and dedicated to meat quality evaluations. Many parameters were influenced in the meat-type (EE) chickens, including slaughter, breast and leg weights, and abdominal fat content, whereas only the breast incidence on slaughter weight was affected in Tetra-H hybrid. In neither genotype were the meat traits affected by Y content. Two exceptions were represented by leg thawing loss, higher in low Y group compared to medium and high Y group, and by tibia length, longer in high Y content group than in the medium one, both for EE chickens. Similar findings were observed for the meat fatty acid (FA) profile, as only some single FA were influenced by Y content, however, apparently without a specific physiological meaning. The present work demonstrated that the Y content, measured by CT, allowed to select high-quality meat-type animals characterised by the best productive performances in terms of growth rate, live weight, slaughter weight, breast and thigh weights, and with lower abdominal fat content. These findings would bring positive advantages to hatcheries in terms of chick quality and also to farmers in terms of economic revenues: They would rear robust animals that would guarantee a higher probability of survival in the first rearing period and would be characterised by a high slaughter weight at the end of the productive cycle.

Colibacillosis outbreaks are a global issue affecting the poultry industry. There is no cross-immunity among the strains of APEC. If a vaccine induces cross-immunity, it will play a key role in preventing colibacillosis. Herein, a sonicated trivalent colibacillosis vaccine containing O78:K80, O2:K1, and O1:K1 serotypes, with Alum as an adjuvant, was used to assess cross-immunity against E. coli O26. Ninety-six broiler chickens were randomly assigned to four groups: Group A was vaccinated and exposed to O78; Group B was unvaccinated but exposed to O78; Group C was vaccinated and exposed to O26; Group D was unvaccinated but exposed to O26. At 14 days old, chickens in groups A and C received a single dose of the vaccine, while groups B and D received normal saline subcutaneously. At 35 days old, all groups were challenged with O78 and O26 as described above. Clinical signs and lesions, isolation of the bacterium, weight gain, food intake, FCR, and antibody titers against the O antigens of the vaccine strains and O26 were recorded. The results indicated that 2 weeks post-vaccination, titers to the O antigens of the vaccine strains were significantly higher in the vaccinated groups than in the unvaccinated groups (p ≤ 0.05). Following the challenge, no significant difference was observed in food intake and FCR between the groups (p > 0.05); however, the growth rate in group A was significantly higher than in group B (p ≤ 0.05). At 42-49 days old, the vaccinated groups had the highest growth rate, which was statistically significant compared to the unvaccinated groups; and FCR in group A was significantly better than in group B (p ≤ 0.05). In conclusion, it appears that in addition to homologous immunity, the vaccine also induces cross-immunity against O26.

The livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) strains are prevalent in the poultry farming environment and are a common component of the bacterial microbiota on the skin and mucous membranes of healthy animals. The origin and spread of LA-MRSA are attributed to the use of antibiotics in animals, and close contact between people and different animal species increases the risk of animal exposure to humans. The epidemiology of LA-MRSA in poultry significantly changed when ST398 and ST9 were found in food-producing animals. The significance of LA-MRSA and zoonotic risk associated with handling and processing foods of avian origin is highlighted by the LA-MRSA strain's ability to infect chickens. People who work with poultry are more prone to contract LA-MRSA than the general population. There is scientific consensus that individuals who have close contact with chickens can become colonized and subsequently infected with LA-MRSA; these individuals could include breeders, medical professionals, or personnel at chicken slaughterhouses. The prevention of LA-MRSA infections and diseases of poultry origin requires taking precautions against contamination across the entire chicken production chain. [Open Vet J 2024; 14(9.000): 2116-2128]

Background: The increase in the intensity of agricultural production is associated with the action of various stress factors on the organism of birds, which can lead to negative consequences. Prevention of the development of stress conditions in farm birds, particularly broiler chickens, in industrial production is the most important task facing scientists and practitioners. Aim: The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of a combined probiotic preparation and zinc glycinate on the indicators of the immunity, biochemical parameters and antioxidant status. Methods: The study was conducted on broilers of Arbor Acres cross: the birds in the negative control group received a balanced feed mixture, a mineral and vitamin premix without zinc; the positive control group treated with an injection of cyclophosphamide and received the balanced feed with the mineral and vitamin premix without zinc; in experimental group I, broilers was treated with the injection of cyclophosphamide and received balanced feed, probiotic and zinc glycinate; in experimental group II, broilers received balanced feed, probiotic and zinc glycinate. At the end of the experiment, some blood from the wing vein was collected for evaluation of hematological and biochemical blood parameters using automatic morphological and biochemical analyzers, evaluation of immune status by enzyme immunoassay and antioxidant status by colorimetric method. Results: It was found that the developed strategy nutrition leveled the effects of immunosuppression - there was an increase in the level of lymphocytes, interleukin-4 and interleukin-10; level of cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose and total protein tended to the control values; there was a significant increase in serum interleukin-2 and interferon gamma; increase in total protein on the background of triglycerides decrease in broilers of experimental group II. An increase in the activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase against the background of a decrease in the level of malonic dialdehyde was revealed in the experimental groups. Conclusion: The developed strategy of broiler chicken nutrition can be used for successful protection of birds from immunodeficiency states, improvement of antioxidant status and maintenance of complete protein and lipid metabolism. [Open Vet J 2024; 14(9.000): 2181-2191]

Chicken, particularly chicken gizzard, is part of the most consumed foods in the world. However, inappropriate use of antibiotics in the farms may induce a transfer of antimicrobial resistance Campylobacter to gizzard consumers. This study aimed to assess the gizzard quality and consumer exposure to antimicrobial resistance Campylobacter spp. A cross-sectional study was conducted from March to June 2023 to assess the level of contamination of chicken gizzard sold on the informal settings in Korhogo (North Cote d’Ivoire) with Campylobacter spp. Thus, one hundred forty-four samples of fresh (n=91), frozen (n=27) and grilled (n=26) chicken gizzards from chicken markets, informal fish shops and informal restaurants were collected. Additionally, the antibiotic resistance profile of Campylobacter spp. was determined and a household survey was conducted with a structured questionnaire in 384 households of the town of Korhogo to assess risk exposure associated with chicken gizzard consumption. Findings consistently showed that frozen gizzards (100%) are more contaminated by Campylobacter spp. compared to fresh gizzards (98.9%) and the fried gizzards (88.5%). Moreover, all the 42 isolates of Campylobacter spp. from gizzards were sensitive to Gentamicin and resistant to Penicillin and Ampicillin. About half of the consumers (46.6%) of fried gizzard present a potential risk to have campylobacteriosis because 88.5% of fried gizzards samples are contaminated by Campylobacter spp. Frozen, fresh and fried gizzards sold in informal settings in Korhogo are highly contaminated by Campylobacter spp. resistant to Beta-lactams. Fried gizzards consumers in Korhogo households are a potential risk to have Campylobacteriosis.

The study examined awareness level of Internet of Things (IoT)-driven strategies in mitigating impacts of increased ambient heat load in poultry pens by poultry farmers in a smart city like Enugu, Nigeria. With the rising challenges of climate change, increased ambient heat load within poultry pens poses a significant threat to poultry production. Understanding farmers’ perception of impact of increased ambient heat load and their awareness of IoT-driven strategies for its mitigation is crucial for sustainable poultry system management in smart cities. Multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 240 poultry farmers from the three Local Government Areas that make up Enugu City. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the respondents. Descriptive statistics and Likert rating scale were used to analyze the data. The study identified socio-demographic factors influencing farmers’ perception of impact of increased heat load and awareness/ adoption of IoT-driven mitigation strategies. Education level (45% secondary education), access to information (29.2%) and financial resources (22.9%) were key determinants. The findings revealed varying levels of awareness among poultry farmers regarding IoT-driven strategies while the constraints faced by farmers in implementing sustainable IoT-driven mitigation strategies included lack of awareness, lack of funding/high initial investment, limited access to technology, inadequate training, poor extension contact, water availability and climate variability. The study concluded that majority of poultry farmers shared similar perceptions about the impact of increased ambient heat load on poultry species but however were not aware of many of the IoT-driven strategies to mitigate the impact and were limited by a number of constraints or challenges to adopting IoT-driven mitigation strategies which altogether could improve poultry production system and help to achieve animal protein security in a smart city like Enugu, Nigeria. The study further recommended enlightenment of poultry farmers on the impact of increased ambient heat load on poultry species and available/sustainable/harmonized IoT-enabled guidelines or solutions to mitigate heat load in smart cities’ poultry production system.

Contract farming (CF) is a sort of vertical integration in agricultural commodity chains that provides a business with strong control over several operational processes, including the production process, the features of the items, quantity, quality, and timeliness of project execution. Birds were first domesticated by humans as farm animals, and as a result, many years ago, the contemporary practice of raising birds began with the harvesting of their eggs and young from their natural habitat. The Nigerian poultry industry falls into three main categories: small-, medium-, and large-scale, which are also referred to as backyard, semi-commercial, and commercial respectively. Contract farming emerged as an alternative to traditional or spot marketbased agricultural production and was introduced into Nigeria under a variety of business names, including CHI, AMO, ANIMAL CARE, and ZARTECH, among others. Nigeria consumes 192.69 MT of poultry meat and egg products annually, resulting in enormous environmental impacts that have not been adequately addressed because of the growing use of contract farming. Contract farming has always received a lot of attention from academics and policymakers. Even though contract farming acknowledges the transfer of technology, prospects for increased revenue, and improved access to inputs, a great deal of research has focused on the risks that smallholder farmers face. In recent years, debate has erupted regarding the benefits and dangers of factory poultry production considering rising awareness of the challenges it poses to public health and the environment. This review reveals that backyard flocks of chickens can thrive independently of large-scale poultry operations. Survival traits including tiny size, hardiness, sluggish growth, low mature body weight, tolerance, or resistance to common local disease organisms and parasites define local chickens.

Chicken coccidiosis causes annual losses exceeding GBP 10 billion globally. The most pathogenic species for domestic fowls including Eimeria tenella, E. acervulina, and E. maxima, can lead to gastrointestinal issues ranging from mild to fatal. In this study, stages of E. tenella and freshly isolated chicken heterophils were co-cultured for 180 min. These interactions were analyzed using live 3D holotomographic and confocal microscopy. We observed that E. tenella stages were entrapped by heterophils and heterophil extracellular traps (HETs). Notably, different HET phenotypes, specifically sprHETs and aggHETs, were induced regardless of the stage. Furthermore, the quantification of extracellular DNA release from co-cultures of heterophils and sporozoites (ratio 1:1) for 180 min demonstrated a significantly higher release (p = 0.04) compared to negative controls. In conclusion, research on the chicken innate immune system, particularly fowl-derived HETs, remains limited. More detailed investigations are needed, such as exploring the time-dependent triggering of HETs, to establish a standard incubation time for this pathogen defense mechanism. This will enhance our understanding of its role in parasite survival or death during HET confrontation.

Abstract Background The present study aimed to investigate the impact of the light-emitting diode (LED) green light alone or in combination with melatonin on pecking-related hormone regulation during incubation under normal and under hormonal stress conditions in breeder eggs. This study was divided into 2 experiments: In the first experiment effect of LED green light incubation on pecking-related hormones under normal conditions, on Hy-line brown (low pecking phenotype) and Roman pink (high pecking phenotype) eggs were tested. The 296 eggs of each strain were divided into two groups: LED green light incubation and dark incubation (control), each containing four replicates (37 eggs/replicate). The second experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of LED green light incubation alone or in combination with melatonin under hormonal stress conditions on Roman pink eggs. A total of 704 Roman pink eggs were taken and divided into four groups, each consisting of 176 eggs. Each group was further divided into 2 subgroups, LED green light-regulated incubation and dark incubation with 88 eggs per subgroup, having 4 replicates of 22 eggs each. The groups were as follows: corticosterone solution injection (CI), corticosterone + melatonin mixed solution injection (CMI), Phosphate buffer solution injection (PI), and no injection (UI). Results Results of the first experiment revealed a higher level of serotonin hormone and lower corticosterone hormone in Hy-Line brown embryos compared to Roman pink embryos during dark incubation. The LED green light incubation significantly (P

Extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) are β-lactamase enzymes produced by Gram-negative bacterial pathogens that harbor the ESBL genes. In addition, most ESBL genes are plasmid-mediated and usually encode a broader spectrum of antimicrobial resistance, especially to penicillins, first-generation, second-generation, and third-generation cephalosporins, as well as monobactam, such as aztreonam. Escherichia coli has become an opportunistic pathogen, especially in poultry, and has been implicated in zoonotic diseases that can be transmitted to humans, resulting in public health problems. Poultry can act as carriers of ESBL-producing E. coli (ESBL-EC) bacteria to humans through poultry meat that is contaminated by waste products, feces, and excretions. The ESBL gene CTX-M type was identified as the main cause of infection in humans and was detected in poultry as a cause of infection accompanied by clinical symptoms. Several studies have also shown a link between E. coli and ESBL gene transfer from birds to humans. Controlling the spread of ESBL-EC involves maintaining the cleanliness of poultry products, especially meat, and eliminating contaminant sources from poultry. Likewise, maintaining the environmental cleanliness of poultry slaughterhouses and poultry farms must be taken as a precautionary measure to curtail the increasing spread of ESBL-EC into the environment. This review aimed to explain the spread of ESBL-producing E. coli in poultry.

Abstract Background Livestock and aquaculture feed rely heavily on cereals, fish meal, and plant proteins, but these ingredients are not fully utilized by animals, and alternative protein sources are needed due to rising demand, unstable resources, and high prices. However, plant-based materials contain phytic acid or phytate, making phosphorus less available to monogastric animals. Bacterial phytases can effectively release phosphorus from phytate in the digestive system, making them cost-effective and a potential alternative to traditional sources of phosphorus. Probiotics are helpful bacteria that have long been employed in food production and health-related products. Bioengineered probiotics are utilized to express and transmit native or recombinant molecules to the digestive tract's mucosal surface, thereby improving feed efficiency and health. Therefore, this study aimed to use a biologically engineered probiotic supplement containing phytase enzyme-producing lactic acid bacteria as a feed additive for livestock, poultry, and fish to address this issue. Results The study involved multiple steps to engineer Lactobacillus lactis to produce the PHY protein for animal feed. These steps include identifying and designing primers for the phy gene, and phy gene was extracted from the pMNA1 plasmid by colony PCR and cloned in L. lactis, confirming the presence of the PHY protein through SDS-PAGE, and harvesting the product in granular form. The phy gene identified and isolated using PCR and inserted it into L. lactis, confirming the presence of the PHY protein through SDS-PAGE. The resulting product was harvested and used as animal feed for livestock, poultry, and fish. Conclusions The development of biologically engineered probiotic supplements containing phytase enzyme can enhance the nutritional value and sustainability of animal production. More research and development in this field can lead to more effective and sustainable animal production practices, benefiting both producers and consumers of animal products.

Objectives: Colistin is known as the last resort antibiotic to treat the infections caused by multidrug resistant foodborne pathogens. The emergence and widespread dissemination of plasmid-mediated colistin resistance gene mcr-1 in the Escherichia coli (E. coli) incurs potential threat to public health. Here, we investigated the epidemiology, transmission dynamics, and genetic characterization of mcr-1 harbouring E. coli isolates from poultry originated in Hebei Province, China. Methods: A total of 297 faecal samples were collected from the two large poultry farms in Hebei Province, China. The samples were processed for E. coli identification by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry and 16S rDNA sequencing. Then, the mcr-1 gene harbouring E. coli strains were identified by polymerase chain reaction and subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing by broth microdilution assay. The genomic characterization of the isolates was done by whole genome sequencing using the various bioinformatics tools, and multi-locus sequence typing was done by sequence analysis of the seven housekeeping genes. The conjugation experiment was done to check the transferability of mcr-1 along with the plasmid stability testing. Results: A total of six mcr-1 E. coli isolates with minimum inhibitory concentration of 4 μg/mL were identified from 297 samples (2.02%). The mcr-1 harbouring E. coli were identified as multidrug resistant and belonged to ST101 (n = 4) and ST410 (n = 2). The genetic environment of mcr-1 presented its position on IncHI2 plasmid in 4 isolates and p0111 in 2 isolates, which is a rarely reported plasmid type for mcr-1. Moreover, both type of plasmids was transferable to recipient J53, and mcr-1 was flanked by 3 mobile elements ISApl1, Tn3, and IS26 forming a novel backbone Tn3–IS26-mcr-1– pap2-ISApl1 on the p0111 plasmid. The phylogenetic analysis shared a common lineage with mcr-1 harbouring isolates from the environment, humans, and animals, which indicate its horizontal spread among the diverse sources, species, and hosts. Conclusion: This study recommends the one health approach for future surveillance across multiple sources and bacterial species to adopt relevant measures and reduce global resistance crises.

Herein, we report the complete genome for an avian infectious bronchitis virus isolated from cecal tonsils of California layers in 2021. This whole-genome sequence belongings to genotype GVIII, previously classified as a unique variant.

This report describes the genome sequence of the Staphylococcus gallinarum BAU_KME002 strain isolated in Bangladesh in 2021 from a chicken egg surface. Our assembled genome had 50 contigs, an estimated genome length of 2,866,882 bp (with coverage of 90.0×), 36 predicted antibiotic resistance genes, and 28 predicted virulence factor genes.

The poultry industry stands as a cornerstone in securing global food stability, both in the present and foreseeable future. To continue to uphold this critical role, the exploration of innovative, low-input feed sources is imperative. Hemp emerges as a promising candidate, offering locally sourced ingredients that not only reduce feed costs but also maintain high nutritional standards for livestock. This study delved into the utilisation of whole hemp seeds in the diet of 100 Naked-neck Kabir chicks that were divided randomly into two dietary groups, one fed a control diet (CTRL) and one fed a diet deprived of soybean meal with 10% inclusion of Carmagnola hemp seeds (HEMP). Birds were slaughtered at 81 days of age. Physicochemical characteristics of breast, thigh, and liver, besides the antioxidant content and the lipid oxidative status, were investigated. The HEMP birds exhibited higher daily weight gain and final live weight compared to the CTRL group. Results revealed improvements in the fatty acid profiles and antioxidant content in the HEMP group, leading to good levels of key nutrients such as α-tocopherol, retinol, and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. These findings underscore the potential of hemp seeds as a feed ingredient, standing poised as a sustainable ally in fortifying the poultry productive chain.

Previous studies on probiotics in chickens have shown varying efficacy, and the use of phage as a supplement for improving chicken performance and health has gained interest. However, the combination of these supplements has not been thoroughly investigated. This study aimed to assess the effects of an Escherichia coli phage cocktail, both alone and in combination with probiotics, on specific gut populations, lipid profiles, heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, serum immunoglobulins, villus height to crypt depth ratio, and relative organ weights in chickens at day 21 and 35. The experiment followed a completely randomised design with factorial arrangements, consisting of three levels of phage cocktail dosage (0 g/kg, 1 g/kg, and 2 g/kg) and two levels of probiotics dosage (0 g/kg and 1 g/kg), with a total of 288 one-day-old male Cobb 500 broilers. Our study demonstrated that supplementing chicken diets with 1 g/kg phage cocktail and 1 g/kg probiotics resulted in significant (p

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of arginine/lysine ratio (Arg/Lys) on the productive and reproductive performance, egg quality, immune and physiological parameters of hens reared under cyclic heat stress condition (CHS). A total of 140 females, and 20 males of 32 weeks of age, were randomly assigned to 4 treatment groups. The first group (positive control, PC) fed the basal corn-soybean meal diet with an Arg/Lys ratio of 1.25 and was kept at 22–24°C and 45–55% relative humidity. The other 3 treatments fed basal diet in which the Arg/Lys was set at 1.25, 1.37 and 1.50, respectively and were submitted to cyclic heat stress conditions (CHS, 38 °C ± 1, 55–65% RH) for three successive days a week from 10:00 am until 14:00. The results showed a reduction h-day egg production (EP), feed conversion ratio (FCR), shell weight, fertility and hatchability, hemoglobulin (Hgb), hydrogen power (pH) and plasma calcium and phosphorus concentrations for the negative control (NC) group compared to the positive control group. However, changing Arginine (Arg)/lysine (Lys) ratio in the basal diets for the groups under CHS from 1.25 to 1.37 and 1.50 improved EP, egg weight, egg mass and FCR when compared to NC group. Total lipid, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, and malondialdehyde activity for the NC group significantly increased, while increasing the ratio of Arg/Lys to 1.37 and 1.50 improved the mentioned traits as to PC group. Our findings indicated that diets with an Arg/Lys ratio of 1.37 administered to laying hens farmed under cyclic heat stress conditions, are able to improve the laying performance, egg quality, fertility, hatchability, blood hematological and biochemical constituents, antioxidants, and immunity indices in comparison to the other groups, including the PC one. Thus, diets with an Arg/Lys ratio of 1.37 can be used to recover the adverse effect of CHS.

AbstractAs COVID-19 has shown, pandemics and outbreaks of emerging infections such as Zika, Nipah, monkeypox and antimicrobial-resistant pathogens, especially emerging zoonotic diseases, continue to occur and may even be increasing in Southeast Asia. In addition, these infections often result from environmental changes and human behaviour. Overall, public health surveillance to identify gaps in the literature and early warning signs are essential in this region. A systematic review investigated the prevalence of emerging zoonotic diseases over 11 years from 2011 to 2022 in Southeast Asia to understand the status of emerging zoonotic diseases, as well as to provide necessary actions for disease control and prevention in the region. During the 2011–2022 period, studies on pigs, poultry, ruminants, companion animals and wildlife in Southeast Asia were reviewed thoroughly to assess the quality of reporting items for inclusion in the systematic review. The review was performed on 26 studies of pigs, 6 studies of poultry, 21 studies of ruminants, 28 studies of companion animals and 25 studies of wildlife in Southeast Asia, which provide a snapshot of the prevalence of the emerging zoonotic disease across the country. The findings from the review showed that emerging zoonotic diseases were prevalent across the region and identified a few zoonotic diseases associated with poultry, mainly stemming from Cambodia and Vietnam, as high priority in Southeast Asia.Clinical relevance: Appropriate prevention and control measures should be taken to mitigate the emerging zoonotic diseases in Southeast Asia.

A wide range of insects are being considered as potential candidate sources of dietary protein; however, it was only recently that the European Union, with Regulation (EU) 2017/893 of May 24, first allowed the use of the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens), the common housefly (Musca domestica), the yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor), the lesser mealworm (Alphitobius diaperinus), the house cricket (Acheta domesticus), the banded cricket (Gryllodes sigillatus) and the field cricket (Gryllus assimilis) as feed in aquaculture. With Regulation (EU) 2021/1372 of August 17, their use was extended to poultry and pig feed. Most of the studies on the use of insects in poultry feeding have focused on the benefits of insect meals. However, live insects are part of the natural diet of poultry, so more effort should be directed at evaluating their use further, not only in relation to their effect on poultry performance and product quality, but also from the perspective of bird welfare. No adverse effects have been observed with the dietary inclusion of live larvae at up to 10% of the daily feed intake. However, further research is needed to establish the inclusion levels that are most advantageous for the bird’s health, economically sustainable for the breeder and without the unnecessary waste of resources. Live larvae provide fresh, unaltered nutrients and they stimulate birds to express innate behaviours which may improve the birds’ welfare. The production and distribution of live larvae may be laborious and expensive, especially for large-scale production systems. Dehydrated larvae are easier to handle, and no complex protocols need to be implemented prior to offering to the bird. By contrast, dehydrated larvae are potentially less attractive to birds.

Summary: Staphylococcus aureus can cause food poisoning and human infections and CC5 and CC398 are relevant lineages in the animal‐human interface. The objective was to determine the S. aureus prevalence in chicken‐derived food, and to study the diversity of lineages, and their antimicrobial resistance and virulence genotypes. Sixty poultry‐food samples were processed, and the S. aureus isolates obtained were characterised. Antibiotic susceptibility was performed and the presence of resistance/virulence genes, and avian mobile genetic elements (MGEs) was studied. Forty‐four non‐repetitive S. aureus isolates were obtained of 28/60 samples (46.7%), and 43 methicillin‐susceptible (MSSA) and one methicillin‐resistant S. aureus (MRSA) isolates were detected. Five S. aureus isolates were multidrug‐resistant and 50% of isolates showed susceptibility to all tested antibiotics. Eighteen spa‐types, 11 sequence‐types and 8 clonal‐complexes were identified in the S. aureus collection. Three CC398 isolates (2 MSSA/1 MRSA) of spa‐type‐t1451 were detected, and MSSA‐CC398 isolates harboured the scn‐gene (absent in MRSA‐CC398). CC5 was the most frequent lineage identified (56.8%), all MSSA, and 56.7% of them contained avian‐MGEs. A high prevalence of avian‐adapted MSSA‐CC5 isolates was detected. Poultry meat has been shown to be a vehicle for CC398‐t1451 isolates, both MRSA and MSSA, showing characteristics of the animal and human clades, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the challenges and opportunities for wastewater monitoring of influenza viruses during the outbreak of Avian influenza A (H5NA1) virus in dairy cattle and poultry. Topics include wastewater testing, challenges with wastewater testing, and lessons learned from the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) virus in dairy cattle, poultry, and other animals.

Purpose: To improve sustainability, adjustments to current diets are necessary. Therefore, limited planetary resources are considered within the healthy reference diet proposed by the EAT-Lancet Commission. The agreement with nationwide food intake was evaluated with two indices which reflect this reference and German food intake recommendations. Methods: A healthy eating index (HEI-MON) reflecting the dietary guidelines of the German nutrition society and a planetary healthy eating index (PHEI-MON) reflecting the healthy reference diet were developed, with scores from 0 to 100. Both indices were applied to data from a nationally representative sample of the German population aged 18–79 years for which data from a 53-item food frequency questionnaire are available. Results: Mean scores for the indices were 53 for HEI-MON and 39 for PHEI-MON. A better adherence to either guideline could be found among women, persons of older age as well as persons with higher education level. The sub-scores for HEI-MON showed high agreement with the recommendations for side dishes, fruit/nuts, (processed) meat and cereals, but low agreement with the recommendations for free sugar and vegetables/legumes. PHEI-MON sub-scores were highest for poultry, fruits and potatoes, and lowest for nuts, red meat and legumes. High scores in one index do not necessarily correspond to high scores in the other index. Individuals with more plantbased diets had higher scores in both indices, while high sugar and meat consumption led to lower scores. Conclusions: More plant-based diets are crucial for individual and planetary health. Both indices reflect such diets which consider already health and sustainability aspects. At an individual level, the scores for both indices may differ considerably, but overall there is a huge potential in the population to adapt to a diet more in line with both guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poultry products are an important source of foodborne Salmonella infections in humans. Amongst these, the prevalence of S. Infantis is rising. In this study, the protection efficacy of an authorized live-attenuated S. Typhimurium vaccine against S. Infantis, was examined using a seeder-bird model in broilers. Vaccinated birds displayed a significantly lower colonization of S. Infantis bacteria in the caeca compared to the non-vaccinated counterparts (P = 0.017), with no significant differences observed in the spleen among the groups, three days post-infection. Thirty-two days post-infection, the disparity in average S. Infantis concentration between all-vaccinated and non-vaccinated birds was significant in both caeca (P = 0.0003) and spleen (P = 0.0002). Interestingly, a third group, consisting of seeder birds that were not vaccinated but housed with vaccinated penmates, exhibited significantly lower S. Infantis levels in both caeca (P = 0.0014) and spleen (P < 0.0001) compared to the non-vaccinated group. These findings underscore the potential of a live-attenuated S. Typhimurium vaccine administered to 2-day-old chicks in conferring protection against S. Infantis in broilers up to slaughter age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beside biosecurity, vaccination is important for Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) control as it has been shown to contribute to the reduction of economic impact and, experimentally, also lessens horizontal transmission. In this study, the effect of MS live vaccination on horizontal transmission was quantified under field conditions by analysing 4-year MS monitoring data from non-MS-vaccinated broiler and layer breeders and MS-vaccinated broiler breeders with good biosecurity in single-age housing systems. Flocks were monitored at 20 and 30 weeks of age and every 12 weeks thereafter. At every sampling, 60 blood samples or 24 tracheal swabs were tested using rapid plate agglutination test and ELISA serially or MS DIVA PCR, respectively. The MS incidence rate was calculated and the association with vaccination was analysed by logistic regression. The average MS incidence rate per 1000 weeks was 11.6 cases for non-MS-vaccinated broiler breeders and decreased from 29.6 to 5.6 cases with successive vaccinated production cycles. In non-MS-vaccinated layer breeders it was 3.6. A significant negative association with MS incidence was found after vaccinating four to six successive production cycles compared to non-MS-vaccinated or only one production cycle vaccinated breeders (odds ratio (OR) = 0.23, P = 0.05 & OR = 0.12, P = 0.01, respectively). A significant negative association with MS in non-MS-vaccinated layer breeders (OR = 0.29, P = 0.00) was observed compared to non-MS-vaccinated broiler breeders, possibly due to more controlled contact structures within the layer breeder industry. The results suggest that vaccination and control of contacts contribute to the reduction of between-farm MS transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Normal follicular development is the basis for ovulation in poultry. Our previous sequencing analysis revealed a high expression of miR-24-3p in chicken follicles from degenerated ovaries, suggesting that miR-24-3p may modulate follicular development. Hence, this study investigated the specific mechanisms of miR-24-3p in regulating chicken follicular development. The results revealed that the proliferation, lipid synthesis, and progesterone secretion were significantly inhibited after miR-24-3p overexpression in chicken granulosa cells, vice versa by miR-24-3p knockdown. Dual-specificity phosphatase 16 ( DUSP16 ) and thousand and one amino acid kinase 1 ( TAOK1 ) were identified as potential target genes of miR-24-3p. Further validation revealed that knockdown of DUSP16 and TAOK1 suppressed proliferation, lipid synthesis, and progesterone secretion in chicken granulosa cells. Moreover, we observed that miR-24-3p, along with knockdown of DUSP16 and TAOK1 , increased the phosphorylation levels of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2). Our previous study proved that activation of ERK1/2 inhibited lipid synthesis and progesterone secretion of chicken granulosa cells. In summary, we demonstrated that miR-24-3p targeting DUSP16 and TAOK1 disrupts lipid synthesis and progesterone secretion via ERK1/2 signaling pathway in chicken granulosa cells in vitro. These results may provide a new theoretical basis for resolving miRNAs regulation on reproductive performance of chickens. • miR-24-3p disrupts proliferation, lipid synthesis, and progesterone secretion in chicken granulosa cells. • DUSP16 and TAOK1 promote proliferation, lipid synthesis, and progesterone secretion in chicken granulosa cells. • miR-24-3p mediates chicken granulosa cell functions via ERK1/2 signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose of Review: Highly pathogenic avian flu viruses (HPAIVs) are considered one of the main candidates for the next pandemic due to its current trend to improve infectivity towards mammal species. The ongoing influenza A H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b outbreak affecting the Americas has spread from North America to South America since 2022 and have recently reached Antarctica. Besides an unprecedented impact in poultry industry, it has also spread through migratory bird to aquatic mammals causing massive death events in South America rising concern about a potential mammal-to-mammal transmission. Moreover, H5N1 human cases in Ecuador and Chile, and outbreaks in dairy cattle in the USA with cattle-to-human transmission cases made the Pan America Health Organization to declare an epidemiological alert for H5N1 in the Americas in June 2024. Recent Findings: We reviewed the current situation of H5N1 epidemic in Ecuador where farm and backyard poultry outbreaks, a human case and several events of infection in wild bird species have been notified to the World Health Organization and the World Organization for Animal Health from 2022 to 2024. A detailed description of the H5N1 epidemiological scenario is provided and a phylogenetic analysis for the eight H5N1 sequences available for Ecuador is done where multiple entries of H5N1 strains are described. Summary: HPAIVs sentinel surveillance assisted by genome surveillance is fundamental for a successful avian flu control and prevention program. We found some potential gaps in H5N1 surveillance in Ecuador considering that poultry outbreaks are geographically segregated from wild bird outbreaks; this fact points out the need of a more intense sentinel surveillance including poultry, wildlife and humans under a One Health approach. Moreover, H5N1 genomic surveillance must be improved as only 8 genome sequences have been uploaded to public repositories in almost two years of avian flu epidemic. HPAIVs genomic surveillance is crucial to follow up the dynamics and evolution of those viruses to assist an effective avian flu control and prevention program in Ecuador. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poultry meat is an integral part of human diet due to its high protein content, amino acids, low cholesterol, unique flavor, and affordable price. The production of chicken carried out all over the world. In Pakistan, the poultry industry is a notable and dynamic part of agricultural industry. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of chicken consumption in people attending University of Okara. The questionnaire was designed to collect the data of about 500 people. It was found that 34% males and 66% females contributed. People consuming desi and poultry chicken shows significant difference and (166.67 ± 119.30) while the frequency of chicken consumption was (125±92.1710). People consumed chicken showed their interest by buying through different sites (125±127.72). People feel energy changes after consumption and those who felt no change shows nonsignificance. Chicken consumption relation with social bonding and impact on habits show significant differences. The Biochemical analysis including Endocrinology test, Lipids profile, and Liver function of people show variation in both groups. To conclude, mostly people consume poultry chicken rather than desi due to availability. Chicken consumers show positive response according to effect on behavior, but reduced chicken consumption due to increased prices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to explore the association between meat consumption and gastrointestinal/colorectal cancer (CRC) risk and to estimate the Israeli population attributable fraction (PAF), we conducted a collaborative historical cohort study using the individual participant data of seven nutritional studies from the past 6 decades. We included healthy adult men and women who underwent a nutritional interview. Dietary assessment data, using food‐frequency or 24‐h recall questionnaires, were harmonized. The study file was linked to the National Cancer and death registries. Among 27,754 participants, 1216 (4.4%) were diagnosed with gastrointestinal cancers and 839 (3.0%) with CRC by the end of 2016. Using meta‐analysis methods applied to Cox proportional hazard models (adjusted for daily energy intake, sex, age, ethnic origin, education and smoking),100 g/day increments in beef, red meat and poultry consumption, and 50 g/day increment in processed meat consumption were associated with hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals of 1.46 (1.06–2.02), 1.15 (0.87–1.52), 1.06 (0.89–1.26), and 0.93 (0.76–1.12), respectively, for CRC. Similar results were obtained for gastrointestinal cancer, although red meat consumption reached statistical significance (HR = 1.27; 95%CI: 1.02–1.58). The PAFs associated with a reduction to a maximum of 50 g/day in the consumption of red meat were 2.7% (95%CI: −1.9 to 12.0) and 5.2% (0.3–13.9) for CRC and gastrointestinal cancers, respectively. Reduction of beef consumption to a maximum of 50 g/day will result in a CRC PAF reduction of 7.5% (0.7%–24.3%). While beef consumption was associated with gastrointestinal/CRC excess risk, poultry consumption was not. A substantial part of processed meat consumption in Israel is processed poultry, perhaps explaining the lack of association with CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastroenteritis caused by Campylobacter represents the most common reported foodborne bacterial illness worldwide, followed by salmonellosis. Both diseases are often caused by the consumption of contaminated, insufficiently heated poultry meat. This can result from contamination of the meat during the slaughtering processes. Food contact surfaces like stainless steel or plucking fingers contribute significantly to cross-contamination of poultry carcasses. Modification of these surfaces could lead to a reduction of the bacterial burden, as already proven by successful application in various food industry sectors, such as packaging.In this study, nanoscale silica-coated and uncoated stainless-steel surfaces and plucking fingers were compared on a pilot scale regarding attachment and detachment of Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella Enteritidis and Escherichia coli.The bacteria did not adhere less to the coated plucking fingers or stainless-steel sections than to the uncoated ones. The coating also did not lead to a significant difference in detachment of Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella Enteritidis and Escherichia coli from the investigated surfaces compared to the uncoated ones.Our study did not reveal any differences between the coated and uncoated surfaces with regard to the investigated bacteria. In order to achieve a better adaptation of the coating to slaughterhouse conditions, future studies should focus on its further development based on the investigation of specific coating parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Campylobacteriosis is a foodborne illness that is contracted by eating contaminated food, particularly animal products like meat from diseased animals or corpses tainted with harmful germs. The epidemiology of campylobacteriosis varies significantly between low-, middle-, and high-income countries. Campylobacter has a complicated and poorly known survival strategy for getting past host barriers and causing sickness in humans. The adaptability of Campylobacter to unfavorable environments and the host's immune system seems to be one of the most crucial elements of intestinal colonization. A Campylobacter infection may result in fever, nausea, vomiting, and mild to severe bloody diarrhea in humans. Effective and rapid diagnosis of Campylobacter species infections in animal hosts is essential for both individual treatment and disease management at the farm level. According to the most recent meta-analysis research, the main risk factor for campylobacteriosis is travel, which is followed by eating undercooked chicken, being exposed to the environment, and coming into close contact with livestock. Campylobacter jejuni, and occasionally Campylobacter coli, are the primary causes of Campylobacter gastroenteritis, the most significant Campylobacter infection in humans for public health. The best antibiotic medications for eradicating and decreasing Campylobacter in feces are erythromycin, clarithromycin, or azithromycin. The best strategy to reduce the number of human infections caused by Campylobacter is to restrict the amount of contamination of the poultry flock and its products, even if the majority of infections are contracted through handling or ingestion of chicken. [Open Vet J 2024; 14(8.000): 1733-1750]

Abstract In intensive poultry production, particularly in developing countries like Nigeria, addressing the issues of agricultural waste and feed costs for farmers is crucial. This study explores a solution by incorporating cassava waste into broiler chicken diets. The research examines its effects on economic factors, growth performance, carcass yield, and agricultural waste utilization over 8 weeks. Three hundred broiler chickens were divided into three groups: a control group without cassava waste and two treatment groups with 10% and 15% cassava waste inclusion. Results showed that a 10% inclusion improved key performance indicators such as weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, and carcass weight, while a 15% inclusion was less efficient than the control. Economically, diets with 10% and 15% cassava tuber waste were more cost‐effective than the control, emphasizing the economic benefits of cassava‐based diets for broiler chickens, and offering a sustainable, cost‐efficient feeding option for poultry farmers.

Infectious diseases caused by ubiquitous bacteria with variability of virulence factors and multiple antibiotic resistance reliably often represent the structure of the general pathology of poultry. The aim of the study was to analyze dynamics of morph functional parameters of immune system of chickens in experimental pseudomonas infection. The initiation, development, and outcome of the experimental infectious process were considered using bacteriological and immunological methods with vital dye. Dissemination ofP. aeruginosabacteria revealed significant increase in extravasation of lung blood vessels, signs of hemodynamic disorders, and development of dystrophic and compensatory-adaptive processes. Pathogenic mechanisms are mediated by the dynamics of changes in reticuloendothelial and lymph epithelial systems: accidental transformation of thymus, atrophy of bursa of Fabricius, hyperplasia of esophageal and cecum lymphoid follicles, Meckels diverticulum, and spleen.

Abstract Background Preventing pathogens from entering the broiler premises is the main biosecurity measure at farm level. In conventional broiler production, chickens are kept indoors during the entire production period. Pathogens can enter the broiler-producing unit from sources such as water, equipment, personnel, insects, and rodents. The possible routes must be controlled, and corrective measures applied when necessary. The objective of this study was to (1) develop a hygiene protocol and test the scheme on 30 farms, and (2) compare the results to their Campylobacter-colonised status. A Hygiene Performance Rating protocol at farm level (HPR-F) was developed to systematically review the production to identify risk areas to biosecurity. The HPR-F consists of 13 categories with related questions. For each question, a score was given from 1 to 3, where 1 meant “acceptable”, 2 was “potential for improvements”, and 3 was “not acceptable”. Scores for each question were multiplied with weight factors for hygienic impact and economic consequences describing whether the necessary improvement depends on a significant investment or is a cheap quick-fix and calculated into a percentage where 100% is perfect hygiene. The 30 farms in the study were selected from one county in Norway. The Campylobacter-results for each of the 30 farms in 2019–2021 were given according to rules in the Norwegian Action Plan against Campylobacter faecal sampling on-farm 3–6 days prior to slaughter. Results The overall results from the HPR-F showed that the general hygiene level was high in all farms. The mean total hygiene score was 82% and varied from 70 to 92%. The category Handling dead chicken had the highest hygiene score (93%), and Ventilation had the lowest score (55%). The HPR-F results were compared to the Campylobacter-status for the 30 farms: Campylobacter-negative flocks had slightly higher total scores than Campylobacter-positive flocks (P = 0.19). Among others, the category Outdoor area (vegetation close to the premises’ walls) was identified as the most stable factor in relation to be colonised with Campylobacter. Conclusions The HPR-F tested in this research trial provides a tool for veterinarians, advisors, and poultry farmers to improve biosecurity at farm level and enhance the preventive animal health initiatives.

This study examines the effects of the 2023 cash crunch on the poultry egg industry in Ogun State, Nigeria. Data from 64 poultry egg farmers were collected and analyzed via structured e-questionnaires. Results show 83% of respondents were small-medium scale farmers and 73% used commercial feeds. Total egg production before (12,210 crates) and during the cash crunch (12,391 crates) did not significantly differ. Average feed cost per bag was ₦7,097 before and ₦7,151 during the crunch. However, average sales of 2,213,867 crates before and 199,437 crates during the cash crunch differed. A 36% cumulative decrease in egg price from ₦2,472 (December 2022) to ₦1,587 (March 2023) led to an 83% drop in daily farm revenue. The price fall did not boost egg demand. Coping strategies included increased delivery to customers (18%), gifting eggs (56%), and selling poultry birds (25%). The study recommends government grants and review of loan tenure for farmers while encouraging collaborative egg processing efforts. Additionally, it underscores the need for animal science research to explore methods for temporarily halting egg laying during economic challenges.