Detection of Bartonella schoenbuchensis (sub)species DNA in different louse fly species in Saxony, Germany: The proof of multiple PCR analysis necessity in case of ruminant-associated bartonellae determination.

Background: Hippoboscid flies are bloodsucking arthropods that can transmit pathogenic microorganisms and are therefore potential vectors for pathogens such as Bartonella spp. These Gram-negative bacteria can cause mild-to-severe clinical signs in humans and animals; therefore, monitoring Bartonella spp. prevalence in louse fly populations appears to be a useful prerequisite for zoonotic risk assessment.

Avian leukosis virus (ALV) is highly prevalent in fancy-chicken flocks in Saxony.

The current prevalence of avian leukosis virus (ALV) in fancy chickens in Germany is unknown. Therefore, 537 cloacal swabs from 50 purebred fancy-chicken flocks in Saxony were tested for the presence of the ALV p27 protein using a commercial antigen-capture ELISA. The detection rate was 28.

Relation between Feed Particle Size Distribution and Plumage Condition in Laying Hens on Commercial Farms.

In this cross-sectional study, 103 complete feed samples from laying hen herds affected by plumage damage as an indirect measure for severe feather pecking (affected herds; AH, = 37) and control herds without plumage damage (control herd; CH, = 66) of commercial German farms were examined by dry sieve and nutrient analysis. AH showed higher percentages of particles >2.50 mm (mean ± SD, CH: 11.

Edible Environmental Enrichments in Littered Housing Systems: Do Their Effects on Integument Condition Differ Between Commercial Laying Hen Strains?

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of additional enrichment materials (EMs; pecking stones and alfalfa bales) on the occurrence of plumage damage, skin injuries, and toe injuries, with an emphasis on the possible differences between commercial hybrid strains of laying hens. During rearing (weeks 1-18, 16 compartments, 4000 pullets) and laying periods (weeks 21-72, 24 compartments, 2808 hens) in a littered housing system, EMs were permanently provided to the study groups (EXP), while control groups (CON) did not receive additional EM. In a two-factorial study design (two groups with four strains) with 351 hens per variant, the brown egg-laying Lohmann Brown classic (LB) and Bovans Brown (BB) strains as well as the white egg-laying Lohmann Selected Leghorn classic (LSL) and Dekalb White (DW) strains were investigated.