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Veterinary Sciences
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Trends in Poultry Diseases
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Trends in Poultry Diseases

A special issue of Veterinary Sciences (ISSN 2306-7381).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2022) | Viewed by 37681

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Giovanni Franzo

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Guest Editor
Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health (MAPS), University of Padua, 35020 Legnaro, Italy
Interests: avian viruses; molecular epidemiology; phylogenetics; phylodynamics; statistics; molecular diagnosis; vaccination
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Mattia Cecchinato

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health (MAPS), University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy
Interests: infectious bronchitis; avian metapneumovirus; avian influenza; infectious bursal disease; viral molecular diagnosis; control strategies; molecular epidemiology
Dr. Konstantinos Koutoulis

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Poultry Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, Greece
Interests: infectious bronchitis; infectious bursal disease; colibacillosis; salmonellosis; campylobacteriosis; probiotics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Vasilios Tsiouris

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Guest Editor
Unit of Avian Medicine, Clinic of Farm Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54627 Thessaloniki, Greece
Interests: broiler; layer; breeder; health; welfare; feed technology; management technology; poultry pathogens
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

It is widely recognized that the demand for poultry meat and eggs has been increasing substantially in recent years due to the changes in food consumption patterns. The poultry industry has reacted to this increased demand by an expansion of broiler and layer production systems, which in turn has allowed ‘new’ and ‘old’ diseases to emerge and spread. Poultry infectious diseases, technopathy, and even those whose etiology is unknown have increased. Therefore, scientists continuously put in an effort to expand their research and hinder these diseases, limiting the associated vast financial losses to the poultry industry. Modern biotechnological tools are helping poultry production, allowing a faster and precise diagnosis, investigation of pathogenic mechanisms, reconstruction of disease spread and improvement of prevention, and control strategies such as the development of new vaccines, alternative to AGP feed additives, and techniques that are able to overcome the limits of the existing ones.

This Special Issue on “Trends in Poultry Diseases” intends to gather and disseminate the latest data and knowledge on different poultry diseases caused by various microorganisms, managerial practices, and technopathy, taking into account several aspects related to their epidemiology, diagnosis, and control.

Dr. Giovanni Franzo
Dr. Mattia Cecchinato
Dr. Konstantinos Koutoulis
Dr. Vasilios Tsiouris
Guest Editors

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2100 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • poultry diseases
  • infectious diseases
  • vaccines
  • epidemiology
  • diagnosis
  • nutrition
  • technopathy

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 3978 KiB  
Article
Pathology and Molecular Epidemiology of Fowl Adenovirus Serotype 4 Outbreaks in Broiler Chicken in Abu Dhabi Emirate, UAE
by Hassan Zackaria Ali Ishag, Abdelnasir Mohammed Adam Terab, El Tigani Ahmed El Tigani-Asil, Oum Keltoum Bensalah, Nasereldien Altaib Hussein Khalil, Abdelmalik Ibrahim Khalafalla, Zulaikha Mohamed Abdel Hameed Al Hammadi, Asma Abdi Mohamed Shah and Salama Suhail Mohammed Al Muhairi
Vet. Sci. 2022, 9(4), 154; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci9040154 - 23 Mar 2022
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4345
Abstract
Background: Fowl adenovirus serotype 4 (FAdV-4), causing inclusion body hepatitis (IBH) and hydropericardium hepatitis syndrome (HPS), is responsible for the significant economic losses in poultry industry worldwide. This study describes FAdV disease and molecular characteristics of the virus as the first report in [...] Read more.
Background: Fowl adenovirus serotype 4 (FAdV-4), causing inclusion body hepatitis (IBH) and hydropericardium hepatitis syndrome (HPS), is responsible for the significant economic losses in poultry industry worldwide. This study describes FAdV disease and molecular characteristics of the virus as the first report in UAE. Methodology: Clinical, necropsy, histopathology, qPCR and phylogenetic analysis of hexon gene were used to diagnose and characterize the virus. Results: The age of the infected broiler chicken was 2–4 weeks. The morbidity and mortality rates ranged between 50 and 100% and 44 and 100%, respectively. Clinically, sudden onset, diarrhea, anemia and general weakness were recorded. At necropsy, acute necrotic hepatitis, with swollen, yellowish discoloration, enlarged and friable liver; hydropericarditis with hydropericardium effusions; and enlarged mottled spleen were observed. Histopathology examination revealed degeneration and necrosis, lymphocytic infiltration and inclusion bodies. The qPCR analysis detected the virus in all samples tested. Hexon gene sequence analysis identified FAdV serotype 4, species C as the major cause of FAdV infections in UAE in 2020, and this strain was closely related to FAdV-4 circulating in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Nepal and China. Conclusion: The serotype 4, species C, was the common FAdV strain causing IBH and HPS episodes in the region. This result may help design effective vaccination programs that rely on field serotypes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends in Poultry Diseases)
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12 pages, 1309 KiB  
Article
Absorption of N-acetylcysteine in Healthy and Mycoplasma gallisepticum-Infected Chickens
by Tsvetelina Petkova and Aneliya Milanova
Vet. Sci. 2021, 8(11), 244; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci8110244 - 20 Oct 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3237
Abstract
N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is widely used as a mucolytic agent in cases with inflammation of the lungs. NAC is applied in poultry with aflatoxin B1 intoxication as an antioxidant, but its pharmacokinetics are not known. The present study was conducted to characterize the population [...] Read more.
N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is widely used as a mucolytic agent in cases with inflammation of the lungs. NAC is applied in poultry with aflatoxin B1 intoxication as an antioxidant, but its pharmacokinetics are not known. The present study was conducted to characterize the population pharmacokinetics of orally administered NAC in broilers. It included 32 chickens, divided into four groups, treated with NAC at a dose rate of 100 mg/kg/day mixed with the feed: healthy broilers (n = 6); chickens infected with Mycoplasma gallisepticum (n = 10); healthy broilers (n = 6); and diseased chickens (n = 10) treated with NAC and doxycycline (via drinking water, 20 mg/kg body weight (b.w.)). Plasma concentrations were analyzed by Liquid Chromatography –Mass Spectrometry (MS)/MS. NAC was absorbed after oral administration in all four groups of chickens. In healthy chickens treated solely with NAC, maximum plasma concentrations of 2.26 ± 0.91 µg mL−1 were achieved at 2.47 ± 0.45 h after dosing. The value of absorption half-life was 1.04 ± 0.53 h. The population pharmacokinetic analysis showed that dose adjustment of NAC is not required in M. gallisepticum-infected broilers or when it is combined with doxycycline. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends in Poultry Diseases)
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13 pages, 1148 KiB  
Article
Antimicrobial Resistance, FlaA Sequencing, and Phylogenetic Analysis of Campylobacter Isolates from Broiler Chicken Flocks in Greece
by George Natsos, Niki K. Mouttotou, Emmanouil Magiorkinis, Anastasios Ioannidis, Maria Magana, Stylianos Chatzipanagiotou and Konstantinos C. Koutoulis
Vet. Sci. 2021, 8(5), 68; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci8050068 - 21 Apr 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4855
Abstract
Human campylobacteriosis caused by thermophilic Campylobacter species is the most commonly reported foodborne zoonosis. Consumption of contaminated poultry meat is regarded as the main source of human infection. This study was undertaken to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility and the molecular epidemiology of 205 [...] Read more.
Human campylobacteriosis caused by thermophilic Campylobacter species is the most commonly reported foodborne zoonosis. Consumption of contaminated poultry meat is regarded as the main source of human infection. This study was undertaken to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility and the molecular epidemiology of 205 Campylobacter isolates derived from Greek flocks slaughtered in three different slaughterhouses over a 14-month period. A total of 98.5% of the isolates were resistant to at least one antimicrobial agent. In terms of multidrug resistance, 11.7% of isolates were resistant to three or more groups of antimicrobials. Extremely high resistance to fluoroquinolones (89%), very high resistance to tetracycline (69%), and low resistance to macrolides (7%) were detected. FlaA sequencing was performed for the subtyping of 64 C. jejuni and 58 C. coli isolates. No prevalence of a specific flaA type was observed, indicating the genetic diversity of the isolates, while some flaA types were found to share similar antimicrobial resistance patterns. Phylogenetic trees were constructed using the neighbor-joining method. Seven clusters of the C. jejuni phylogenetic tree and three clusters of the C. coli tree were considered significant with bootstrap values >75%. Some isolates clustered together were originated from the same or adjacent farms, indicating transmission via personnel or shared equipment. These results are important and help further the understanding of the molecular epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance of Campylobacter spp. derived from poultry in Greece. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends in Poultry Diseases)
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Review

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20 pages, 827 KiB  
Review
Infectious Bronchitis Virus Evolution, Diagnosis and Control
by Matteo Legnardi, Claudia Maria Tucciarone, Giovanni Franzo and Mattia Cecchinato
Vet. Sci. 2020, 7(2), 79; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci7020079 - 22 Jun 2020
Cited by 63 | Viewed by 10751
Abstract
RNA viruses are characterized by high mutation and recombination rates, which allow a rapid adaptation to new environments. Most of the emerging diseases and host jumps are therefore sustained by these viruses. Rapid evolution may also hinder the understanding of molecular epidemiology, affect [...] Read more.
RNA viruses are characterized by high mutation and recombination rates, which allow a rapid adaptation to new environments. Most of the emerging diseases and host jumps are therefore sustained by these viruses. Rapid evolution may also hinder the understanding of molecular epidemiology, affect the sensitivity of diagnostic assays, limit the vaccine efficacy and favor episodes of immune escape, thus significantly complicating the control of even well-known pathogens. The history of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) fits well with the above-mentioned scenario. Despite being known since the 1930s, it still represents one of the main causes of disease and economic losses for the poultry industry. A plethora of strategies have been developed and applied over time, with variable success, to limit its impact. However, they have rarely been evaluated objectively and on an adequate scale. Therefore, the actual advantages and disadvantages of IBV detection and control strategies, as well as their implementation, still largely depend on individual sensibility. The present manuscript aims to review the main features of IBV biology and evolution, focusing on their relevance and potential applications in terms of diagnosis and control. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends in Poultry Diseases)
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Other

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18 pages, 134876 KiB  
Case Report
First Detection and Identification of FAdV-8b as the Causative Agent of an Outbreak of Inclusion Body Hepatitis in a Commercial Broiler Farm in Greece
by Vasileios Tsiouris, Tilemachos Mantzios, Konstantinos Kiskinis, Jean-Luc Guérin, Guillaume Croville, Georgia D. Brellou, Emmanouela P. Apostolopoulou, Evanthia J. Petridou and Ioanna Georgopoulou
Vet. Sci. 2022, 9(4), 160; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci9040160 - 25 Mar 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4619
Abstract
Inclusion body hepatitis (IBH) is an economically important disease of chickens, with a worldwide distribution, caused by Fowl Aviadenoviruses (FAdVs). Currently, the increased number of cases, the virulence of the isolate strains, as well as the lack of cross-species protection highlight that detailed [...] Read more.
Inclusion body hepatitis (IBH) is an economically important disease of chickens, with a worldwide distribution, caused by Fowl Aviadenoviruses (FAdVs). Currently, the increased number of cases, the virulence of the isolate strains, as well as the lack of cross-species protection highlight that detailed in-field data are fundamental for the development of successful control strategies. This case report provides a detailed clinicopathological investigation of an unusual IBH outbreak in a commercial broiler farm in the region of Macedonia, Greece. The farm consisted of 64,000 birds, originated from the same breeder stock and placed in three different houses (Flock A–C). At 20 days of age, a sudden increase in daily mortality was recorded in Flock A. It is worth mentioning that, although all flocks were serologically (indirect ELISA) and molecularly (RT-PCR) positive for FAdV, the mortality rate, attributed to IBH, was much higher in Flock A compared to others. The clinical manifestation included non-specific symptoms such as depression, inappetence, yellowish mucoid diarrhea, and lack of uniformity. At necropsy, typically, enlarged, pale, and friable livers were dominant, while sporadically lesions were recorded in the pancreas, kidneys, skeletal muscles, and lymphoid organs. The histopathological examination of liver samples showed multifocal inflammation, necrosis, and the presence of basophilic/ eosinophilic inclusion bodies in hepatocytes. In addition, the loss of the architecture of pancreatic lobules and the presence of fibrosis and foci of mononuclear cell aggregates were suggestive of chronic pancreatic inflammation. PCR analysis confirmed the presence of FAdV, belonging to species E, serotype FAdV-8b. Performance and financial calculations revealed that IBH increased Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR), feed cost/chick as well as feed cost/kg live weight, whereas the Livability (%) and the European Production Efficiency Factor (EPEF) were decreased in the most severely affected flocks (Flock A). This study is the first report of the detection and identification of FAdV serotypes associated with IBH in commercial broiler flocks in Greece. However, there is still a lack of information about the circulating FAdV serotypes in the country, and therefore epidemiological studies are needed to establish control strategies for IBH. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends in Poultry Diseases)
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11 pages, 34821 KiB  
Case Report
A Case of Infectious Laryngotracheitis in an Organic Broiler Chicken Farm in Greece
by Vasileios Tsiouris, Natalia Mavromati, Konstantinos Kiskinis, Tilemachos Mantzios, Zalan G. Homonnay, Tamas Mato, Mihaly Albert, Istvan Kiss and Ioanna Georgopoulou
Vet. Sci. 2021, 8(4), 64; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci8040064 - 16 Apr 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 6734
Abstract
Infectious laryngotracheitis is an economically significant viral disease of chickens, that mainly affects the upper respiratory tract, and is present worldwide. This case reports the first outbreak of infectious laryngotracheitis in a four-week-old organic broiler farm and surrounding flocks in Greece, with typical [...] Read more.
Infectious laryngotracheitis is an economically significant viral disease of chickens, that mainly affects the upper respiratory tract, and is present worldwide. This case reports the first outbreak of infectious laryngotracheitis in a four-week-old organic broiler farm and surrounding flocks in Greece, with typical clinical symptoms and lesions, allegedly provoked by a wild strain of infectious laryngotracheitis virus. Our findings contradict the general perception indicating that the disease appears mainly in older birds and that vaccine strains are the primary cause of infectious laryngotracheitis outbreaks in most continents. A recombinant vectored vaccine was administered, supplementary to biosecurity measures, containing the viral spread. The responsible strain was potentially circulating in the area; therefore, an industry-wide holistic approach was applied, including the vaccination of neighboring broilers and breeders with the same vaccine, the rapid molecular diagnosis of the disease, and strict biosecurity protocols. The results of this holistic effort were effective because, following the application of vaccine and management protocols, manifestations of the disease in regional flocks dropped significantly, and there was no recurrence to date. These findings suggest that vaccination protocols should be modified, especially for organic broilers, to include vaccination against infectious laryngotracheitis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends in Poultry Diseases)
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