Prevalence Patterns for Enteric Parasites of Chickens Managed in Open Environments of the Western United States

Low levels of chicken body louse (Menacanthus stramineus) infestations affect chicken welfare in a cage-free housing system

BACKGROUND

The chicken body louse is an obligate ectoparasite of domestic chickens. Chicken body lice feed on feathers, and infestation with this louse is linked to decreases in egg production, hen weight, and feed conversion efficiency. However, it is unknown how chicken body lice impact egg-laying chickens in cage-free environments. Welfare and behavior metrics were collected from flocks of egg-laying chickens either infested with chicken body lice or left uninfested.

METHODS

In two trials, two flocks of cage-free commercial egg-laying chickens were infested with chicken body lice or maintained as uninfested controls. At three timepoints, behavior and welfare of all chickens was measured. On-animal sensors were used to quantify pecking, preening, and dustbathing behavior. Other animal-based welfare metrics included recording comb wounds and skin lesions.

RESULTS

Birds infested with chicken body lice exhibited significantly more preening behaviors than uninfested birds, even at low louse levels. Moderate or severe skin lesions were detected on birds that were moderately infested with chicken body lice while skin lesions were never detected on uninfested birds.

CONCLUSIONS

The welfare of chickens was impacted by the chicken body louse, a chewing louse that primarily feather feeds. Evidence of skin lesions on infested birds suggests that lice may cause more damage to birds than previously thought, and further evaluation of louse economic damage is necessary.

Nutritional Strategies to Improve Meat Quality and Composition in the Challenging Conditions of Broiler Production: A Review

Poultry meat is becoming one of the most important animal protein sources for human beings in terms of health benefits, cost, and production efficiency. Effective genetic selection and nutritional programs have dramatically increased meat yield and broiler production efficiency. However, modern practices in broiler production result in unfavorable meat quality and body composition due to a diverse range of challenging conditions, including bacterial and parasitic infection, heat stress, and the consumption of mycotoxin and oxidized oils. Numerous studies have demonstrated that appropriate nutritional interventions have improved the meat quality and body composition of broiler chickens. Modulating nutritional composition [e.g., energy and crude protein (CP) levels] and amino acids (AA) levels has altered the meat quality and body composition of broiler chickens. The supplementation of bioactive compounds, such as vitamins, probiotics, prebiotics, exogenous enzymes, plant polyphenol compounds, and organic acids, has improved meat quality and changed the body composition of broiler chickens.

Molecular Investigation of Eimeria Species in Broiler Farms in the Province of Vojvodina, Serbia

Coccidiosis is a significant poultry disease caused by the Eimeria species. This study aims to determine the prevalence of Eimeria spp. on broiler farms in Vojvodina, along with the identification of parasite species, and assess the implemented biosecurity measures. The study was conducted on 100 broiler chicken farms (28 small-sized; 34 medium-sized; 38 large-sized farms) from June 2018 to December 2021. One pooled sample of faeces was collected from three to six-week-old chickens from each farm, and assessment of biosecurity measures was carried out using a questionnaire. Using the PCR method, DNA of Eimeria was found in 59 samples (59%), while 41 samples (41%) were negative. Four species of Eimeria were identified, and their prevalence was the following: E. acervulina (37%), E. maxima (17%), E. mitis (25%) and E. tenella (48%). A significant difference (p < 0.05) was established in the number of oocysts in flocks from small-sized farms compared to medium-sized farms. It was found that regular implementation of disinfection, disinsection and deratisation measures, as well as all the biosecurity measures, can significantly reduce the occurrence of coccidiosis. These results will help to develop better strategies for the control and prevention of coccidiosis on farms.

Wind Speed and Landscape Context Mediate Campylobacter Risk among Poultry Reared in Open Environments

Foodborne pathogens cause over 9 million illnesses in the United States each year, and Campylobacter from chickens is the largest contributor. Rearing poultry outdoors without the use of antibiotics is becoming an increasingly popular style of farming; however, little is understood about how environmental factors and farm management alter pathogen prevalence. Our survey of 27 farms in California, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, USA, revealed a diversity of management practices used to rear poultry in the open environment. Here, we assess environmental and management factors that impact Campylobacter spp. prevalence in 962 individual chicken fecal samples from 62 flocks over a three-year period. We detected Campylobacter spp. in 250/962 (26.0%) of fecal samples screened, in 69.4% (43/62) of flocks, and on 85.2% (23/27) of farms. We found that Campylobacter spp. prevalence was predicted to increase in poultry on farms with higher average wind speeds in the seven days preceding sampling; on farms embedded in more agricultural landscapes; and in flocks typified by younger birds, more rotations, higher flock densities, and the production of broilers. Collectively, our results suggest that farms in areas with higher wind speeds and more surrounding agriculture face greater risk of Campylobacter spp. introduction into their flocks.

Diversity and Prevalence of Ectoparasites on Poultry from Open Environment Farms in the Western-United States of Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and California

Open-environment poultry farms that allow chickens to forage outdoors are becoming increasingly common throughout the United States and Europe; however, there is little information regarding the diversity and prevalence of ectoparasites in these farming systems. Eight to 25 birds were captured and surveyed for ectoparasites on each of 17 farms across the states of Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and California. Among the farms sampled, six louse species (Phthiraptera: Ischnocera & Amblycera) and two parasitic mite species (Acari: Mesostigmata) were collected and identified: Goniodes gigas (Taschenberg, 1879; Phthiraptera: Menoponidae) on one farm, Menacathus cornutus (Schömmer, 1913; Phthiraptera: Menoponidae) on one farm, Menopon gallinae (Linnaeus, 1758; Phthiraptera: Menoponidae) on six farms, Lipeurus caponis (Linnaeus, 1758; Phthiraptera: Philopteridae) on five farms, Menacanthus stramineus (Nitzsch, 1818; Phthiraptera: Menoponidae) on nine farms, Goniocotes gallinae De Geer (Phthiraptera: Philopteridae) on 11 farms, Dermanyssus gallinae (De Geer, 1778; Mesostigmata: Dermanyssidae) on two farms, and Ornithonyssus sylviarum (Canestrini & Fanzago, 1877; Mesostigmata: Macronyssidae) on one farm. The diversity of ectoparasites on these open environment poultry farms highlights a need for additional research on ectoparasite prevalence and intensity in these poultry farming systems.