Is Mycoplasma synoviae outrunning Mycoplasma gallisepticum? A viewpoint from the Netherlands.

Mycoplasma gallisepticum and M. synoviae are the most relevant mycoplasma species for commercial poultry from the clinical and economic point of view. Although the importance of M.

Suitability of differently formulated dry powder Newcastle disease vaccines for mass vaccination of poultry.

Dry powders containing a live-attenuated Newcastle disease vaccine (LZ58 strain) and intended for mass vaccination of poultry were prepared by spray drying using mannitol in combination with trehalose or inositol, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and/or bovine serum albumin (BSA) as stabilizers. These powders were evaluated for vaccine stabilizing capacity during production and storage (at 6 °C and 25 °C), moisture content, hygroscopicity and dry powder dispersibility. A mixture design, varying the ratio of mannitol, inositol and BSA, was used to select the stabilizer combination which resulted in the desired powder properties (i.

High seroprevalence of Histomonas meleagridis in Dutch layer chickens.

Histomona meleagridis is a protozoan parasite that may cause outbreaks of histomonosis with high mortality, especially in turkey flocks. Chickens are less susceptible to the disease than are turkeys, but are considered to act as an important reservoir. To determine the seroprevalence of H.

Assessment of the antihistomonal effect of paromomycin and tiamulin.

Histomonosis, a parasitic disease of galliformes and sporadically of other birds caused by Histomonas meleagridis, can result in very high mortality, especially in turkeys. The ban on the last antihistomonal drug prompted an urgent search for alternative prevention and treatment strategies. As both paromomycin and tiamulin have been reported to have antihistomonal activity, these antibiotics were investigated in vitro by adding two-fold serial dilutions ranging from 12.

Development of a blocking-ELISA for the detection of antibodies against Histomonas meleagridis in chickens and turkeys.

Histomonosis is an infectious disease of mainly galliform birds that can cause high mortality, especially in commercial turkey flocks. Several diagnostic tools were available to detect its causative agent, the flagellated protozoan Histomonas meleagridis. However, serological tools were largely lacking.

Molecular identification and phylogenetic relationships of trichomonad isolates of galliform birds inferred from nuclear small subunit rRNA gene sequences.

Histomonas meleagridis is the etiological agent of histomonosis or blackhead disease. Recently, genotyping, based on polymerase chain reaction and sequencing of internal transcribed spacer-1 sequences was applied to various isolates originating from fowl. Three genotypes were described: types I and II isolates were associated with clinical disease and probably derived from H.

Seroprevalence of Mycoplasma synoviae in Dutch commercial poultry farms.

Before the year 2000, Mycoplasma synoviae was associated mainly with subclinical respiratory infections in broilers in the Netherlands and was considered to have low clinical and economic impact. The subsequent occurrence of M. synoviae arthritis and amyloid arthropathy, and of eggshell apex abnormalities, has resulted in an increasing demand for M.

Progression of lesions in the respiratory tract of broilers after single infection with Escherichia coli compared to superinfection with E. coli after infection with infectious bronchitis virus.

The progression of Escherichia coli lesions was studied in the respiratory tract of 4-week-old commercial broilers. Lesions were induced after a single intratracheal E. coli infection, and after an infection with E.

In vitro effect of herbal products against Histomonas meleagridis.

The ban on chemotherapeutics against Histomonas meleagridis in the European Union has left turkey producers without an effective treatment against histomonosis. It has encouraged the development of alternative control methods amongst which are a number of herbal products. In the present study the in vitro effect of four herbal products against H.

Improved culture of Histomonas meleagridis in a modification of Dwyer medium.

Dwyer medium is the most frequently employed culture medium for Histomonas meleagridis. Both for subculturing and for resuscitation of H. meleagridis from storage in liquid nitrogen, modified Dwyer medium with an increased rice powder concentration (0.

In vivo effect of herbal products against Histomonas meleagridis in turkeys.

Histomoniasis is a serious disease in poultry. All chemotherapeutics with known efficacy against its causative agent, Histomonas meleagridis, have been banned from use as prophylactic or therapeutic use in production animals. In a search for possible alternatives, the in vivo effects of the herbal products Enteroguard and Protophyt were examined.

Identification of Brachyspira hyodysenteriae and other pathogenic Brachyspira species in chickens from laying flocks with diarrhea or reduced production or both.

Cecal samples from laying chickens from 25 farms with a history of decreased egg production, diarrhea, and/or increased feed conversion ratios were examined for anaerobic intestinal spirochetes of the genus Brachyspira. Seventy-three samples positive in an immunofluorescence assay for Brachyspira species were further examined using selective anaerobic culture, followed by phenotypic analysis, species-specific PCRs (for Brachyspira hyodysenteriae, B. intermedia, and B.

Detection and quantification of classical swine fever virus in air samples originating from infected pigs and experimentally produced aerosols.

During epidemics of classical swine fever (CSF), neighbourhood infections occurred where none of the 'traditional' routes of transmission like direct animal contact, swill feeding, transport contact or transmission by people could be identified. A hypothesized route of virus introduction for these herds was airborne transmission. In order to better understand this possible transmission route, we developed a method to detect and quantify classical swine fever virus (CSFV) in air samples using gelatine filters.

Detection of egg yolk antibodies reflecting Salmonella enteritidis infections using a surface plasmon resonance biosensor.

A surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor assay was developed on the basis of a lipopolysaccharide antigen of Salmonella enterica serovar enteritidis (S. enterica serovar enteritidis) to detect egg yolk antibodies against S. enterica serovar enteritidis.

Genotyping of Histomonas meleagridis isolates based on Internal Transcribed Spacer-1 sequences.

C-profiling is a novel genotyping method for protozoan pathogens, based on polymerase chain reaction and sequencing of AT-rich Internal Transcribed Spacer-1 sequences. It was applied to various Histomonas meleagridis isolates originating from outbreaks of histomoniasis in six Dutch turkey and chicken flocks. Three different H.

High yield of parasites and prolonged in vitro culture of Histomonas meleagridis.

Dwyer's medium is a frequently employed culture medium for Histomonas meleagridis with rice powder as an essential ingredient. The effect of adding larger quantities of rice powder to the culture medium and the influence of the size of the rice particles on the growth of H. meleagridis was examined.

Serum amyloid A production by chicken fibroblast-like synoviocytes.

In brown chicken with chronic inflammatory processes of the joints amyloid arthropathy easily develops. The amyloid has been shown to be of the AA type which is derived from serum amyloid A (SAA). The aim of the present study was to investigate whether fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) originating from brown chicken and other chicken breeds express SAA mRNA and produce SAA protein.

Activated vitronectin as a target for anticancer therapy with human antibodies.

The formation of a provisional extracellular matrix represents an important step during tumor growth and angiogenesis. Proteins that participate in this process become activated and undergo conformational changes that expose biologically active cryptic sites. Activated matrix proteins express epitopes not found on their native counterparts.

Immunological basis of differences in disease resistance in the chicken.

Genetic resistance to diseases is a multigenic trait governed mainly by the immune system and its interactions with many physiologic and environmental factors. In the adaptive immunity, T cell and B cell responses, the specific recognition of antigens and interactions between antigen presenting cells, T cells and B cells are crucial. It occurs through a network of mediator proteins such as the molecules of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), T cell receptors, immunoglobulins and secreted proteins such as the cytokines and antibodies.