Daniele Gallazzi

Avian mycobacteriosis in companion birds: 20-year survey.

The causative agents of avian mycobacteriosis in pet birds are rarely identified. The aim of this study is to add information about the etiology of avian mycobacteriosis. The identification of mycobacterium species in 27 cases of avian mycobacteriosis in pet birds was investigated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing of a rRNA hypervariable region. Avian mycobacteriosis appeared to be an infrequent diagnosis. Interestingly, a few cases of avian mycobacteriosis were recorded in very young birds. The most commonly affected species were the canary (Serinus canarius), the Eurasian goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) and the red siskin (Spinus cucullatus). All but one bird were infected with Mycobacterium genavense. Mycobacterium avium was identified only in one case.

Adenoviral gizzard erosions in Italian chicken flocks

TYPE 1 avian adenoviruses belong to the genus Aviadenovirus within the adenovirus family. Five species of fowl adenovirus (fAdV) (designated by the letters A to E) are recognised within the Aviadenovirus genus based largely on molecular criteria, in particular restriction enzyme fragmentation

Epornitic of avian pox in common buzzards (Buteo buteo): virus isolation and molecular biological characterization

Six common buzzards from a bird rescue centre showed wart-like lesions on their toes. The lesions consisted of multiple crusty and proliferative nodules surrounded by skin swelling. Histologically, epithelial cell hypertrophy and hyperplasia with ballooning degeneration and large intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies consistent with avipoxvirus infection were seen. The virus was isolated in embryonated chicken eggs. Positive chorioallantoic membranes and samples of skin lesions were submitted for polymerase chain reaction. Molecular characterization based on the 4b core protein indicates a 100% homology of the isolated poxvirus with avian poxviruses belonging to subclade A2. However, analysis of fpv139 locus does not reveal similarities of the isolate with other avian poxviruses.

Effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus D2/CSL on laying hen performance

Abstract In order to evaluate the effects of dietary addition of probiotic strain Lactobacillus acidophilus D2/CSL on hen performance and egg quality, 160 commercial Hy-Line Brown pullets, 17 weeks old, were divided in control group (C) (N=80) and treated group (T) (N=80), with 4 alternate replicates of 20 animals each per group. C was fed with a “standard diet”, whereas the T group received the same diet with an inclusion of 1x109 CFU kg-1 of Lactobacillus acidophilus D2/CSL (freeze dried cells). The experimental trial lasted 39 weeks after one week of acclimatization. Hen performance and egg quality (egg production, FCR, egg specific gravity, shell thickness, Haugh Units) were recorded. The results show a higher overall egg production (P<0.01) and better FCR (Kg feed intake/Kg saleable eggs) (P<0.05) in the T birds, but no statistically significant differences were observed in egg weight. The eggs from the T birds were characterized by a higher specific gravity (ESG) (P<0.01) and albumen viscosity (Haugh Units) (P<0.05). No significant differences in egg shell thickness were recorded. In conclusion, Lactobacillus acidophilus D2/CSL improved some important parameters in laying hen performance and egg quality.

Pathogenicity markers of Clostridium spp. in commercial turkeys

Abstract Since growth promoters ban in Europe, enteritis of different aetiologies (virus, bacteria and protozoa) are increasingly becoming the main cause of economic loss in commercial turkeys production. This study is focused on typing of Clostridium spp. isolated from samples of jejunum and ileum of 82 birds out of 17 turkeys flocks. The birds were 6-day to 104-day old, both male and female, with enteric disorders. The presence of toxin NetB was investigated. Multiplex PCR to detect cpa, cpb1, cpetx, cp1, cpb2 and cpe toxin genes were used for Clostridium typing. No lesions of necrotic enteritis were observed. Clostridium perfringens type A was isolated from 25 enteric samples, Clostridium difficile was found in 4 cases and Clostridium sordelli in one case. Clostridium perfringens was present from 6 to 104 days of age indicating its possible role in the enteric disorders of commercial turkeys. NetB toxin was found in no sample. 3 out of 4 isolates of Clostridium difficile were characterized by the presence of toxin genes.

Microbiological and serological monitoring in hooded crow (Corvus corone cornix) in the Region Lombardia, Italy

Abstract The health status of 276 hooded crows (Corvus corone cornix) from various provinces of Lombardy was monitored for three years. Bacteriological examination detected E. coli (76%), Campylobacter jejuni (17%), Salmonella typhimurium (11.6%), Yersinia spp. (6.5%), Clamydophila abortus and C. psittaci (2.6%); from six birds showing severe prostration Pasteurella multocida was isolated. Virological and serological tests were negative for Avian Influenza virus (AIV), West Nile virus (WNV) and only three samples were positive for Newcastle disease virus (NDV) but only at serology (titre 1:16).

Egg quality and productive performance of laying hens fed different levels of skimmed milk powder added to a diet containing Lactobacillus acidophilus

The current trial was carried out on a commercial poultry farm to study the effect of skim milk powder (SMP) added to a diet containing Lactobacillus acidophilus on performance and egg quality of laying hens from 20 to 49 wk of age. A total of 2,400 Hy-Line W-36 laying hens were housed in 600 unenriched cages (4 hens each) located over 4 tier levels. Animals were assigned to 1 of 3 experimental treatments (0, 3, and 4). The laying hens assigned to treatments 3 and 4 received a diet enriched respectively with 3 and 4% SMP, whereas the animals in treatment 0 were fed a diet without SMP. All diets, moreover, were supplemented with L. acidophilus D2/CSL. Hen performance was determined throughout the experimental period and egg quality was measured on 30 eggs per treatment every week. Results showed that productive performance in terms of egg production, egg weight, and feed conversion ratio was not influenced by SMP at 3 or 4% of the diet. Egg quality was significantly affected by SMP included at 3 or 4% of the diet. Eggs from treatments 3 and 4, in fact, displayed higher shell thickness than those from treatment 0 (P < 0.0001). Likewise, specific gravity, Haugh unit, and shell percentage were significantly affected by the addition of SMP. In conclusion, in our study, SMP added to a diet containing L. acidophilus had no significant effects on the productive parameters of hens during the laying period, whereas significant improvements were found in certain egg quality characteristics.

Efficacy in the field of two anticoccidial vaccines for broilers

Abstract We compared two attenuated anticoccidial vaccines, administered to broilers by spray into the incubator (88,000 males and 210,100 females). Vaccine A container five species of Eimeria and vaccine B three. Zootechnical performance was similar in the two groups, with mean lesion scores no higher than 1; vaccine A caused only duodenal lesions, while vaccine B also caused typhlitis. Maximum oocyst count was 23,000/g feces at age 28 days with vaccine A and 38,000 at 21 days with vaccine B. Broilers vaccinated with vaccine B had more frequent enteric symptoms, and C. perfringens isolation.

Preliminary researches to standardize a method of quantitative analysis on Lactobacillus acidophilus in poultry feed

Abstract The study focuses on the method and the problems about quantitative analyses in the research on Lactobacillus acidophilus after its addition to commercial poultry-feed, whose rough grinding is not suitable for the “IDF Standard quantitative method for lactic acid bacteria count at 37°C” employed in dairy products. Poultry-feed was prepared every month. A sample was collected before and after adding Lactobacillus acidophilus, while analyses were carried out respectively at T 0, 15 and 28 days after the food storage at 4-6°C. The best outcomes (more 30% of recovered cells compared to the standard method) resulted from samples subjected to the homogenization and the addition of Skim Milk Powder.