{"title":"Histomonosis in German turkey flocks: possible ways of pathogen introduction.","authors":"J Lüning, D Wunderl, S Rautenschlein, A Campe","doi":"10.1080/03079457.2023.2191833","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Histomonosis has become an important disease of turkeys since the ban of effective feed additives and therapeutics. Some critical risk factors for pathogen introduction into a farm have already been identified but open questions remain. Therefore, a retrospective case-control-study was used to identify the most significant risk factors for <i>Histomonas (H.) meleagridis-</i>introduction into a turkey farm. A total of 113 questionnaires were collected from 73 control-farms and 40 <i>Histomonas</i>-positive case-farms in Germany between 20 April 2021 and 31 January 2022. The data were analysed for possible risk factors by descriptive and univariate, single- and multi-factorial analysis. The presence of earthworms, snails and beetles, as vectors of <i>H. meleagridis</i>, as well as the proximity to other poultry-keeping farms in addition to a frequent observation of wild birds nearby the turkey farm, showed the highest risk potential for histomonosis outbreaks. Furthermore, poor biosecurity measures seem to have increased the probability for an outbreak. Insufficient climate management, straw as litter material and an inadequate litter refill frequency might have promoted a favourable humidity for vector- or pathogen survival providing important areas for improved disease control measures in the future.<b>RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS</b>A retrospective case-control-study was conducted to identify impactful risk factors for a <i>H. meleagridis</i> introduction.The probability of a histomonosis outbreak was increased by the presence of vectors and reservoirs nearby a farm.Impactful risk factors concerning biosecurity measures, climate and litter management were identified.</p>","PeriodicalId":8788,"journal":{"name":"Avian Pathology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.5000,"publicationDate":"2023-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"1","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Avian Pathology","FirstCategoryId":"97","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03079457.2023.2191833","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"VETERINARY SCIENCES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 1
Abstract
Histomonosis has become an important disease of turkeys since the ban of effective feed additives and therapeutics. Some critical risk factors for pathogen introduction into a farm have already been identified but open questions remain. Therefore, a retrospective case-control-study was used to identify the most significant risk factors for Histomonas (H.) meleagridis-introduction into a turkey farm. A total of 113 questionnaires were collected from 73 control-farms and 40 Histomonas-positive case-farms in Germany between 20 April 2021 and 31 January 2022. The data were analysed for possible risk factors by descriptive and univariate, single- and multi-factorial analysis. The presence of earthworms, snails and beetles, as vectors of H. meleagridis, as well as the proximity to other poultry-keeping farms in addition to a frequent observation of wild birds nearby the turkey farm, showed the highest risk potential for histomonosis outbreaks. Furthermore, poor biosecurity measures seem to have increased the probability for an outbreak. Insufficient climate management, straw as litter material and an inadequate litter refill frequency might have promoted a favourable humidity for vector- or pathogen survival providing important areas for improved disease control measures in the future.RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTSA retrospective case-control-study was conducted to identify impactful risk factors for a H. meleagridis introduction.The probability of a histomonosis outbreak was increased by the presence of vectors and reservoirs nearby a farm.Impactful risk factors concerning biosecurity measures, climate and litter management were identified.
期刊介绍:
Avian Pathology is the official journal of the World Veterinary Poultry Association and, since its first publication in 1972, has been a leading international journal for poultry disease scientists. It publishes material relevant to the entire field of infectious and non-infectious diseases of poultry and other birds. Accepted manuscripts will contribute novel data of interest to an international readership and will add significantly to knowledge and understanding of diseases, old or new. Subject areas include pathology, diagnosis, detection and characterisation of pathogens, infections of possible zoonotic importance, epidemiology, innate and immune responses, vaccines, gene sequences, genetics in relation to disease and physiological and biochemical changes in response to disease. First and subsequent reports of well-recognized diseases within a country are not acceptable unless they also include substantial new information about the disease or pathogen. Manuscripts on wild or pet birds should describe disease or pathogens in a significant number of birds, recognizing/suggesting serious potential impact on that species or that the disease or pathogen is of demonstrable relevance to poultry. Manuscripts on food-borne microorganisms acquired during or after processing, and those that catalogue the occurrence or properties of microorganisms, are unlikely to be considered for publication in the absence of data linking them to avian disease.