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Poultry farming has spread widely across the country. Despite their rustic characteristics, these birds are susceptible to serious diseases such as salmonellosis and avian coccidiosis. The objective was to investigate the infectious agents of these diseases in free-range chickens destined for school feeding in the city of São Luís, MA. A clinical examination of 198 birds was carried out, which consisted of observing the appearance of the plumage, beak, ridges, cloaca region and body condition. The samples were analyzed for Salmonella spp. following the methodology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply . Of the 99 samples of cloaca (group of two birds), collected for investigation of Salmonella spp., 10 (10.1%) samples were suspected of the bacterium in biochemical tests, however all were negative (0%) due to antigenic serotyping. The survey and enumeration of Eimeria spp. The centrifugal flotation method was used in a sucrose solution. In the count of Eimeria spp. Oocysts, Of the 124 samples collected from the intestine during evisceration, 92 (74.19%) presented oocysts of the parasite, with counts ranging from 100 to 18,800 oocysts. The results were considered expected since, in a free-range chicken breeding system, where cocciostatic drugs are not used, the prevalence of Eimeria spp. it is often high. Therefore, it can be concluded that free-range chickens destined for slaughter in the municipality of São Luís did not present isolation for Salmonella spp., But did have a high incidence of infection by Eimeria spp. La avicultura se ha extendido ampliamente por todo el país. A pesar de sus características rústicas, estas aves son susceptibles a enfermedades graves como la salmonelosis y la coccidiosis aviar. El objetivo fue investigar los agentes infecciosos de estas enfermedades en pollos de corral destinados a alimentación escolar en la ciudad de São Luís, MA. Se realizó un examen clínico de 198 aves, que consistió en observar la apariencia del plumaje, pico, crestas, región cloaca y condición corporal. Las muestras fueron analizadas para Salmonella spp. siguiendo la metodología del Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganadería y Abastecimiento. De las 99 muestras de cloaca (grupo de dos aves), recolectadas para la investigación de Salmonella spp., 10 (10.1%) muestras fueron sospechosas de la bacteria en pruebas bioquímicas, sin embargo todas fueron negativas (0%) debido a serotipificación antigénica. La prospección y enumeración de Eimeria spp. Se utilizó el método de flotación centrífuga en una solución de sacarosa. En el recuento de oocistos de Eimeria spp., De las 124 muestras recolectadas del intestino durante la evisceración, 92 (74,19%) presentaron ooquistes del parásito, con recuentos que variaron de 100 a 18.800 ooquistes. Los resultados se consideraron esperados ya que, en un sistema de cría de pollos de corral, donde no se utilizan fármacos cocciostáticos, la prevalencia de Eimeria spp. a menudo es alto. Por lo tanto, se puede concluir que los pollos de corral destinados al sacrificio en el municipio de São Luís no presentaron aislamiento para Salmonella spp., Pero sí tuvieron una alta incidencia de infección por Eimeria spp. A avicultura de frango tipo caipira difundiu-se de forma ampla em todo país. Apesar das características de rusticidade, essas aves são suscetíveis a doenças graves como as salmoneloses e a coccidiose aviária. Objetivou-se pesquisar os agentes infecciosos dessas doenças em frangos caipiras destinados a alimentação escolar no município de São Luís, MA. Procedeu-se o exame clínico de 198 aves, que consistiu na observação da aparência da plumagem, bico, cristas, região da cloaca e condição corporal. As amostras foram analisadas para pesquisa de Salmonella spp. seguindo a metodologia do Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento. Das 99 amostras de cloaca (pool de duas aves), coletadas para pesquisa de Salmonella spp., 10 (10,1%) amostras foram suspeitas para a bactéria nas provas bioquímicas, porém todas foram negativas (0%) por sorotipificação antigênica. Na pesquisa e contagem de oocistos de Eimeria spp. foi utilizado o método de centrífugo–flutuação em solução de sacarose. Na contagem de oocistos de Eimeria spp., das 124 amostras coletadas de intestino durante a evisceração, 92 (74,19%) amostras apresentaram oocistos do parasita, com contagens variando de 100 a 18.800 oocistos. Os resultados foram considerados esperados visto que em sistema de criação de frangos caipiras, onde não se utiliza drogas cocciostáticas, a prevalência de Eimeria spp. é frequentemente elevada. Portanto, pode-se concluir que os frangos de corte tipo caipira destinados ao abatedouro no município de São Luís não apresentaram isolamento para Salmonella spp., porém tiveram alta ocorrência de infecção por oocisto de Eimeria spp.

Devido ao uso de antibióticos para o tratamento e prevenção de infecções bacterianas durante a produção de matrizes pesadas, torna-se importante estudar o perfil de resistência e a prevalência de bactérias gram-negativas produtoras de ESBL. Dentre as várias classes de antimicrobianos disponíveis, destacam-se os agentes beta-lactâmicos, categoria antimicrobiana amplamente utilizada em clínica médica humana e veterinária. Assim, este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o perfil de resistência e caracterizar as cepas produtoras de beta-lactamases de espectro estendido (ESBL) isoladas de matrizes de corte por meio da coleta de 87 swabs cloacais. As bactérias Gram-negativas foram isoladas em meios seletivos, identificadas por métodos bioquímicos convencionais e MALDI-TOF® e estudadas quanto à resistência antimicrobiana, incluindo ESBL. Das 87 amostras, foram isoladas 52 bactérias gram-negativas. Houve alta resistência bacteriana às principais classes de antimicrobianos utilizados em aves: penicilinas, cefalosporinas e quinolonas. Também foi encontrado fenótipo sugestivo de produção de ESBL em 42,31% dos isolados, demonstrando resistência aos antimicrobianos beta-lactâmicos testados. Os resultados demonstram a necessidade de orientação dos profissionais que trabalham com matrizes de corte, a fim de se reduzir a presença de bactérias resistentes e produtoras de ESBL e evitar sua disseminação para o meio ambiente, ovos férteis e frangos de corte e, consequentemente, carne de frango e humanos.

The 3D8 single-chain variable fragment (scFv) is a mini-antibody sequence with independent nuclease activity that shows antiviral effects against all types of viruses in chickens and mice. In this study, chickens were treated daily with an oral dose of 109 CFU Lactobacillus paracasei (L. paracasei) expressing either a secreted or anchored 3D8 scFv for three weeks. After L. paracasei administration, the chickens were challenged with avian influenza virus (AIV). From each experimental group, three chickens were directly infected with 100 µL of 107.5 EID50/mL H9N2 AIV and seven chickens were indirectly challenged through contact transmission. oropharyngeal and cloacal swab samples were collected at 3, 5, 7, and 9 days post-inoculation (dpi) from AIV-challenged chickens, AIV Shedding titres were measured by quantitative real-time PCR. Contact transmission in the chickens that were fed 3D8 scFv-secreting L. paracasei showed a significant reduction in viral shedding when compared with other groups. These results suggest that L. paracasei secreting 3D8 provides a basis for the development of ingestible antiviral probiotics with activity against AIV.

Background Antimicrobial resistance is a worldwide problem causing serious health threats. Escherichia coli is one of the most important bacteria that causes resistance problem. These bacteria produce an enzyme called extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) that allows it to become resistant to a wide variety of penicillins and cephalosporins. Currently, no information or published studies on ESBL-producing E.coli in broilers are available in the Philippines. This cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence and distribution of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-encoding genes, bla CTX-M, bla SHV, and bla TEM , among E. coli isolates from broiler farms in Luzon, Philippines. Results Results showed a farm prevalence of 66. 67%. A total of 69 (44.23%) ESBL-producing E. coli were isolated from boot swabs and cloacal swab samples from broiler farms. All major bla CTX-M groups except bla CTX-M-25 group were identified in the isolates. The most prevalent group was bla CTX-M-1, 72.46% (CI: 60.38–82.54%), followed by bla CTX-M-2, bla CTX-M-9 group and bla CTX-M-8. The bla TEM and bla SHV genes were identified in 57.97 and 27.54% of isolates, respectively. The bla CTX-M and bla TEM were the most common gene combinations (33.33%). Coexistence of bla CTX-M types was observed in 50 (73.53%) isolates. Conclusion This study shows the high prevalence, diversity of patterns and coexistence of ESBL genes in the E. coli isolates from cloacal and boot swabs from broiler farms which pose risks of possible transmission to the environment, other animals and human.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and the risk factors of H9N2 avian influenza among backyard birds in Iran between October and November 2015. Methods: In this study, a total of 15 500 blood samples and 2 884 cloacal swab samples of backyard birds were collected in villages of Iran between October and November 2015. Then, serum samples were examined with the hemagluttination inhibition test and cloacal swab samples were pooled together and examined by RT-PCR. The samples that had serological titer ≥ 4 (log2) and villages that had at least one seropositive sample were considered positive. Results: Out of 559 villages, 526 (94.10%) were seropositive for the infection. Among 15 500 serum samples, 7 468 (48.18%) samples were seropositive for the infection. The seroprevalence according to species was 54.02% among chickens, 17.59 % among ducks, 18.73% among turkeys, 84.21% among pigeons and 12.15% among ostriches, partridges and pheasants. Based on molecular test, 3.04% villages were positive. The seroprevalence in hot and humid area was less than that in cold and humid area (P

Airborne pathogens causing infectious diseases are often highly transmittable between humans. Therefore, an airborne pathogen-monitoring system capable of on-site detection and identification would aid tremendously in preventing and controlling the early stages of pathogen spread. Here, we describe an integrated sampling/monitoring platform for on-site and real-time detection of airborne viruses. We used MS2 bacteriophage and avian influenza virus (AIV) H1N1 to evaluate bioaerosol sampling and detection performance of the platform. Our results show that, within 20 min, aerosolized viruses can be detected using the signal of near-infrared (NIR)-to-NIR nanoprobes. The pretreatment of the sampling pad improved the transfer efficiency of MS2 viruses to the detection zone, compared to an untreated pad. Our platform could detect concentrations as low as 104.294 50% egg infectious dose (EID50)/m3 AIVs collected from a cloacal swab sample (104.838 EID50/mL). These results indicate that our sampling/monitoring platform could be applied for the early detection of biological hazards in various fields.

Wibisono FJ, Sumiarto B, Untari T, Effendi MH, Permatasari DA, Witaningrum AM. 2020. Short Communication: The presence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing Escherichia coli on layer chicken farms in Blitar Area, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 21: 2667-2671. This study was aimed to determine the incidence of Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL) producing Escherichia coli on layer chicken in Blitar area. This was a cross-sectional study with a total of 205 cloacal swabs of layer chicken taken randomly. The sample was in isolation identification on MacConkey media and ESBL confirmation test produced by Escherichia coli was then carried out by the Double Disc Synergy Test (DDST) method and the VITEK® 2 Compact Automated System method. This study showed that 185 (90.24%) isolates of positive Escherichia coli from a total of 205 samples of cloacal swabs of the layer chicken. The incidence of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli in cloacal swabs on layer chicken with the Double Disc Synergy Test (DDST) method and the VITEK® 2 compact automatic method was 13 (7.03%). Results in this study indicated that layer chicken has potential as reservoir for spreading ESBL to public health and needs strict hygienic measures to prevent their transmission to humans.

Background: A non-destructive method such as a cloacal swab is very important to the poultry industry because it allows the breeder companies to determine if Salmonella is present in the valuable breeder chicks without the necessity of sacrificing any birds.Objective: To evaluate a nondestructive procedure to detect the presence of Salmonella in valuable breeder chicks.Methodology: Day-of-age broiler chicks from a commercial hatchery were orally gavaged with a marker strain of Salmonella Typhimurium (ST), and then placed in isolation units with drinkers, mesh flooring and feeders. At 7 and 14 days, 10 birds were cloacally swabbed (shallow and deep). Swabs were inserted 1 cm (shallow) into the cloaca and 2 cm deep (into the colon). Each swab was immersed in 5.0 ml of buffered peptone water (BPW), then streaked onto brilliant green sulfa agar plates with 200 ppm nalidixic acid (BGSN). Tubes and plates were incubated 24 h at 370C. When plates were negative, the pre-enriched tubes were vortexed and once again plated onto BGSN. The procedure for the frozen swabs was the same, except that 15% glycerol was added to the BPW and then frozen at -20C for 14 days. They were then thawed and analyzed as above. After swabbing, the chicks were sacrificed. The ceca was removed, placed in a stomacher bag, and macerated with a rubber mallet. Enumeration of the marker strain followed.Results: When the level of the marker ST was greater than 106 CFU/g of ceca and cecal contents, detection with either shallow or deep swab was the same 94% (47/50). When the level of ST was less than 106 CFU/g, detection with either method fell to 63.3% (38/60). After 14 days freezing the swabs at -20C, the shallow method detected 50% (32/64), and the deep swab detected 64% (41/64).Conclusion: Regardless of the level of ST in the ceca, there was no difference in the detection rate between the shallow or the deep swab. Even when using low inoculum levels, a high rate of ST colonization in the ceca was reached, allowing both the shallow and deep swabs to almost all be positive at 7 days of age. Since the poultry companies may not be able to analyze the swab results on the same day as collection, we decided to evaluate if freezing the swabs for as long as 14 days would have any adverse effect on the recovery of ST. Freezing did not seem to make a difference in sensitivity. For frozen swabs the deep colonal swab yielded better results than the shallow swab. So you can freeze if you must, but doing the analysis the same day as the swabbing (unfrozen) techniques seems to be slightly more reliable.

Acinetobacter baumannii is a worldwide occurring nosocomial pathogen, the natural habitats of which remain to be defined. Recently, white stork nestlings have been described as a recurring source of A. baumannii. Here, we challenged the hypothesis of a general preference of A. baumannii for avian hosts. Taking advantage of campaigns to ring free-living birds, we collected cloacal swab samples from 741 black-headed gulls (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) in Poland, tracheal and cloacal swabs from 285 songbirds in Poland as well as tracheal swabs from 25 songbirds in Slovenia and screened those for the growth of A. baumannii on CHROMagarTM Acinetobacter. Of the 1,051 samples collected only two yielded A. baumannii isolates. Each carried one variant of the bla OXA-51-like gene, i.e. OXA-71 and OXA-208, which have been described previously in clinical isolates of A. baumannii. In conclusion, our data do not support a general preference of A. baumannii for avian hosts.Acinetobacter baumannii is a worldwide occurring nosocomial pathogen, the natural habitats of which remain to be defined. Recently, white stork nestlings have been described as a recurring source of A. baumannii. Here, we challenged the hypothesis of a general preference of A. baumannii for avian hosts. Taking advantage of campaigns to ring free-living birds, we collected cloacal swab samples from 741 black-headed gulls (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) in Poland, tracheal and cloacal swabs from 285 songbirds in Poland as well as tracheal swabs from 25 songbirds in Slovenia and screened those for the growth of A. baumannii on CHROMagarTM Acinetobacter. Of the 1,051 samples collected only two yielded A. baumannii isolates. Each carried one variant of the bla OXA-51-like gene, i.e. OXA-71 and OXA-208, which have been described previously in clinical isolates of A. baumannii. In conclusion, our data do not support a general preference of A. baumannii for avian hosts.

Simple Summary This paper describes an easy-to-build box for the noninvasive collection of feces from wild birds or small wild animals (up to 1 kg), including a plastic storage box, a plastic tray, and a vinyl-coated hardware cloth. This method could minimize potential contamination and allow for cross-study comparisons on gut microbiomes for wildlife medicine, conservation, ecology, and evolutionary biology. Abstract Gut microbial communities play important roles in host health, modulating development, nutrient acquisition, immune and metabolic regulation, behavior and diseases. Wildlife microbiome studies and host–microbe interaction and exploration might be an important goal for evolutionary biology, conservation, and ecology. Therefore, collection and sampling methods must be considered before choosing a microbiome-based research plan. Since the fecal microbial community reflects the true gut community better than that of cloacal swab samples and only few nondestructive methods have been described, we propose an easy-to-build box for a noninvasive fecal collection method. The main components of the collection box include a plastic storage box, a plastic tray, a vinyl-coated hardware cloth, and a 10% bleach solution. In the plastic box, the tray is positioned under the raised grate, where the bird is placed, to reduce the risk of contamination of the fecal samples. This procedure could simplify handling and processing phases in wild birds or other animals. It might represent a cheap and useful method for research studies, wildlife rescue center activities, veterinary practices, and conservation practitioners.

El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar la presencia del virus de influenza aviar (IA) en patos domésticos de crianza familiar en las provincias de Huaral y Huaura (Lima, Perú). Se colectaron 600 muestras de hisopado cloacal de patos domésticos de traspatio, que fueron analizadas mediante aislamiento viral en huevos embrionados de pollo libres de patógenos específicos (SPF). La presencia del virus de IA fue determinada por la actividad hemaglutinante del fluido alantoideo y confirmada mediante un kit comercial que utiliza anticuerpos monoclonales. Todas las muestras analizadas fueron negativas al virus de IA. El riego de infección fue evaluado mediante la simulación de Monte Carlo (programa @risk) determinando que el virus de IA mostraría una prevalencia estocástica máxima de 0.33% con un intervalo de confianza de 95% en caso de presentarse la enfermedad. Se concluye que las aves incluidas en el presente estudio no se encontraban infectadas con el virus de IA., The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of avian influenza (AI) virus in backyard domestic ducks in the provinces of Huaral and Huaura (Lima, Peru). Six-hundred cloacal swab specimens were collected and analyzed by virus isolation in chick embryo eggs free from specific pathogens (SPF). The presence of the AI virus was determined by the hemagglutinating activity of the allantoic fluid and confirmed by a commercial kit using monoclonal antibodies. All samples analyzed were negative to the AI virus. The risk of the disease was evaluated using the Monte Carlo simulation (@risk program) which determined that the AI virus would show a maximum stochastic prevalence of 0.33% with a 95% confidence interval in the event of the disease. It was concluded that the birds included in the present study were not infected with the AI virus.

Influenza virus infections in humans and animals are major public health concerns. In the current study, a set of universal influenza enrichment probes was developed to increase the sensitivity of sequence-based virus detection and characterization for all influenza viruses. This universal influenza enrichment probe set contains 46,953 120nt RNA biotin-labeled probes designed based on all available influenza viral sequences and it can be used to enrich for influenza sequences without prior knowledge of type or subtype. Marked enrichment was demonstrated in influenza A/H1N1, influenza B, and H1-to-H16 hemagglutinin plasmids spiked into human DNA and in cultured influenza A/H2N1 virus. Furthermore, enrichment effects and mixed influenza A virus infections were revealed in wild bird cloacal swab samples. Therefore, this universal influenza virus enrichment probe system can capture and enrich influenza viral sequences selectively and effectively in different samples, especially ones with degraded RNA or containing low amount of influenza RNA.

SUMMARY It is important to determine whether valuable broiler-breeder chicks are contaminated with Campylobacter. It is important to have a non-destructive method to determine whether microorganisms such as Campylobacter are present without sacrificing the animal. The objective of this study was to evaluate the reliability of cloacal swabs to detect Campylobacter in young chicks. Day-old chicks (n = 25) were gavaged with 101–3 or 106Campylobacter coli (C. coli) gentamicin-resistant marker strain. Batches of chicks were placed in separate isolation units, and 7, 10, 14, or 21 d post challenge, 10 birds per group were cloacally swabbed shallow (9 mm) and deep (24 mm). Swabs were placed into 5 mL of Tecra® broth, vortexed, and streaked for isolation onto Campy Cefex agar plus 200 ppm of gentamicin. After swabbing, birds were sacrificed and one cecum was quantitatively analyzed for C. coli from the control group; both ceca from all challenged birds were analyzed for C. coli. At 14 d post challenge, 95% of the shallow and 90% of the deep swabs were positive. Even with a low inoculum of 103, C. coli achieved a high degree of cecal colonization, and the cloacal swab (either shallow or deep) proved reliable for detecting C. coli. Birds challenged with >102, after 7 and 14 d were colonized with >106 cells. After 7 d, all shallow and deep swabs were positive for C. coli, regardless of challenge dose. Since it might not be practical in industry to process the swabs the d of collection, we looked at the reliability of cloacal swabs after freezing for up to 21 days. When the level in the ceca was high, recovery of C. coli was excellent, but when the level was low (± 102 inoculum level), recovery was very unreliable. If the levels of Campylobacter are relatively high (log ≥ 6.0) in the ceca, both the shallow and deep swabs, unfrozen or frozen, are reliable, nondestructive methods to detect this microorganism.

A avicultura de frango tipo caipira difundiu-se de forma ampla em todo país. Apesar das características de rusticidade, essas aves são suscetíveis a doenças graves como as salmoneloses e a coccidiose aviária. Objetivou-se pesquisar os agentes infecciosos dessas doenças em frangos caipiras destinados a alimentação escolar no município de São Luís, MA. Procedeu-se o exame clínico de 198 aves, que consistiu na observação da aparência da plumagem, bico, cristas, região da cloaca e condição corporal. As amostras foram analisadas para pesquisa de Salmonella spp. seguindo a metodologia do Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento. Das 99 amostras de cloaca (pool de duas aves), coletadas para pesquisa de Salmonella spp., 10 (10,1%) amostras foram suspeitas para a bactéria nas provas bioquímicas, porém todas foram negativas (0%) por sorotipificação antigênica. Na pesquisa e contagem de oocistos de Eimeria spp. foi utilizado o método de centrífugo–flutuação em solução de sacarose. Na contagem de oocistos de Eimeria spp., das 124 amostras coletadas de intestino durante a evisceração, 92 (74,19%) amostras apresentaram oocistos do parasita, com contagens variando de 100 a 18.800 oocistos. Os resultados foram considerados esperados visto que em sistema de criação de frangos caipiras, onde não se utiliza drogas cocciostáticas, a prevalência de Eimeria spp. é frequentemente elevada. Portanto, pode-se concluir que os frangos de corte tipo caipira destinados ao abatedouro no município de São Luís não apresentaram isolamento para Salmonella spp., porém tiveram alta ocorrência de infecção por oocisto de Eimeria spp.

Objective To standardize an ELISA protocol to quantify total immunoglobulin A (IgA) from different biological samples. Methods Two independent experiments were conducted. In Experiment 1, total IgA levels were quantified from the lachrymal fluid, tracheal swab, and cloacal swab at various time points from Days 30 to 89 in white Leghorn chickens. Experiment 2 was conducted to evaluate the effect of 50 or 500 ppb of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) on total IgA quantified in samples from the lachrymal fluid, tracheal swab, gut content and cloacal swab in broiler chickens at 21 days of age. Results Lachrymal fluid contained the highest level of IgA; however, the sampling procedure was time consuming and stressful to the bird, and the sample volume depends largely on the size of the chicken. Cloacal swabs also contained a high concentration of IgA; this sampling procedure was faster than lachrymal fluid sampling and was not affected by the age of the bird. Tracheal sampling was more difficult than cloacal sampling; the age of the bird limited the sampling, and the IgA concentration was the lowest detected at all sampling ages. 500 ppb of AFB1 significantly reduced total IgA concentration in the gut content compared with control or 50 ppb of AFB1 treated groups. Interestingly, a significant reduction in total IgA was also observed in those chickens that received 50 ppb of AFB1 in gut rinse when compared with cloacal swabs. Conclusions The results of this study suggest that cloacal swab is an easy and reliable way to evaluate mucosal IgA concentration in both Leghorn and broiler chickens.

Avian leukosis virus (ALV) is one of causing agents for neoplastic syndrome in commercial chicken farms. There are six sub groups of ALV in chicken including A, B, C, D and E. However, the sub group J (ALV-J) is the most alarmed and anticipated because of its severe economic repercussion. The objective of this study was to identify the presence of ALV-J in the commercial chicken farms in Tangerang District. Two identification methods were utilized including antigen capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ac-ELISA) technique and nested reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (nRT-PCR) test. As results, the ac-ELISA test detected that most of 150 serum samples from 5 commercial layer farms were positive for ALV in about 86,67%. On the other hand, none of the 60 cloacal swab and 60 albumen samples was positive for presence ALV. Subsequently, testing of 45 serum samples from 5 farms using nRT-PCR showed that in about 20% of these samples were positive of ALV-J. These evidences indicated the circulation of ALV-J with other sub groups in thecommercial layer farms in Tangerang District.

During a 3-month period from April to July, 1983, three Campylobacter jejuni survey studies were done at four chicken ranches in Northern California. In Survey 1, 29 of 200 (14.5%) total cloacal swab and dropping samples collected from the 20 occupied houses on the four ranches were positive for C. jejuni . Positive samples were from two of the four ranches. On one of these ranches, both occupied houses were positive. However, on the other ranch, only one of six houses was positive. Follow- up feed, water, litter and dropping samples were collected from three houses on this latter ranch during Survey 2. Again, positive samples were from only one house with 26 of 30 (86.7%) droppings positive for C. jejuni and 3 of 20 (15%) water samples positive. No feed or litter samples were positive. During Survey 3, cloacal swabs or bird dropping samples were collected from two houses on each of three ranches at approximately weekly intervals from the time of arrival of new flocks of chickens. All six houses ultimately became positive. The first positive samples were collected from one house when chickens in that house were 12 d old. This house had contained C. jejuni -positive chickens during Survey 1, had old litter, and had not been very thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. First positive samples in each of the other five houses were collected when chickens were between 40 and 46 d old. Two of these houses had previously been positive for C. jejuni but had old litter replaced with new and had been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. The three other houses had been negative for C. jejuni during Survey 1. Two of these houses had new litter and had been well cleaned. The other house contained old litter and had not been well cleaned. When each house became positive, virtually all samples from that house were positive within a week indicating that C. jejuni likely spreads rapidly among birds in the house.

Salmonella Pullorum is a pathogen that infects several species of birds, mainly offspring, and among them, quails. Therefore, this study was performed in order to evaluate the S. Pullorum shedding in experimentally infected Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix) and egg contamination ability. S. Pullorum ATCC lyophilized was inoculated in all birds (60 quails at 160 days). Before the inoculation, rapid slide agglutination test was performed in all birds and individual cloacal swabs were collected randomly. Birds from group A and group B received 0.5mL of inoculum containing 1.5x102 CFU and 7.5 x 108 CFU of S. Pullorum, respectively, directly in the crop. The cloacal swab samples were collected on 3, 6, 9, 16 and 23 days post-inoculation (dpi) and all eggs were collected. Positive cloacal swab samples were initiated at the 3rd dpi. A total of 30 pool of eggs was analyzed, of which 73% positive for S. Pullorum until the 16th dpi. In conclusion, adult Japanese quails are possibly more resistant to the infection by S. Pullorum, but they can shed this pathogen in the environment as well.

Ashy storm-petrels (order Procellariiformes) are seabirds that are found along the coast of California to Baja Mexico. A novel gyrovirus was identified from a cloacal swab of an ashy storm-petrel, which is the second gyrovirus to be identified in sea birds, the first being found in the related northern fulmar.