Questionnaire study suggests grave consequences of infectious laryngotracheitis, infectious coryza and mycoplasmosis in small chicken flocks
Abstract Background A growing number of people in western countries keep small chicken flocks. In Sweden, respiratory disease is a common necropsy finding in chickens from such flocks. A respiratory real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) panel was applied to detect infectious laryngotracheitis vi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13028-023-00703-z |
| _version_ | 1797557517224509440 |
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| author | Pernille Engelsen Etterlin Arianna Comin Helena Eriksson Elisabeth Bagge Tomas Jinnerot Liv Jonare Désirée S. Jansson |
| author_facet | Pernille Engelsen Etterlin Arianna Comin Helena Eriksson Elisabeth Bagge Tomas Jinnerot Liv Jonare Désirée S. Jansson |
| author_sort | Pernille Engelsen Etterlin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background A growing number of people in western countries keep small chicken flocks. In Sweden, respiratory disease is a common necropsy finding in chickens from such flocks. A respiratory real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) panel was applied to detect infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV), Avibacterium paragallinarum (A. paragallinarum) and Mycoplasma gallisepticum (M. gallisepticum) in chickens from small flocks which underwent necropsy in 2017–2019 and had respiratory lesions. Owners (N = 100) of PCR-positive flocks were invited to reply to a web-based questionnaire about husbandry, outbreak characteristics and management. Results Response rate was 61.0%. The flocks were from 18 out of Sweden’s 21 counties indicating that respiratory infections in small chicken flocks are geographically widespread in Sweden. Among participating flocks, 77.0% were coinfected by 2–3 pathogens; 91.8% tested positive for A. paragallinarum, 57.4% for M. gallisepticum and 50.8% for ILTV. Larger flock size and mixed-species flock structure were associated with PCR detection of M. gallisepticum (P = 0.00 and P = 0.02, respectively). Up to 50% mortality was reported by 63.9% of respondents. Euthanasia of some chickens was carried out in 86.9% of the flocks as a result of the outbreaks. Full clinical recovery was reported by 39.3% of owners suggesting chronic infection is a major challenge in infected flocks. Live birds had been introduced in many flocks prior to outbreaks, which suggested these as an important source of infection. Following the outbreaks, 36.1% replaced their flocks with new birds and 9.8% ceased keeping chickens. Conclusions This study highlights the severity of respiratory outbreaks in small non-commercial chicken flocks and points to the need for more research and veterinary assistance to prevent and manage respiratory infections in small chicken flocks. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:18:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2ac9f3b27d6c42ce93e541cc4f13e584 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1751-0147 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:18:03Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica |
| spelling | doaj.art-2ac9f3b27d6c42ce93e541cc4f13e5842023-11-20T10:25:34ZengBMCActa Veterinaria Scandinavica1751-01472023-09-0165111010.1186/s13028-023-00703-zQuestionnaire study suggests grave consequences of infectious laryngotracheitis, infectious coryza and mycoplasmosis in small chicken flocksPernille Engelsen Etterlin0Arianna Comin1Helena Eriksson2Elisabeth Bagge3Tomas Jinnerot4Liv Jonare5Désirée S. Jansson6Department of Animal Health and Antimicrobial Strategies, National Veterinary InstituteDepartment of Disease Control and Epidemiology, National Veterinary InstituteDepartment of Animal Health and Antimicrobial Strategies, National Veterinary InstituteDepartment of Animal Health and Antimicrobial Strategies, National Veterinary InstituteDepartment of Microbiology, National Veterinary InstituteDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural SciencesDepartment of Animal Health and Antimicrobial Strategies, National Veterinary InstituteAbstract Background A growing number of people in western countries keep small chicken flocks. In Sweden, respiratory disease is a common necropsy finding in chickens from such flocks. A respiratory real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) panel was applied to detect infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV), Avibacterium paragallinarum (A. paragallinarum) and Mycoplasma gallisepticum (M. gallisepticum) in chickens from small flocks which underwent necropsy in 2017–2019 and had respiratory lesions. Owners (N = 100) of PCR-positive flocks were invited to reply to a web-based questionnaire about husbandry, outbreak characteristics and management. Results Response rate was 61.0%. The flocks were from 18 out of Sweden’s 21 counties indicating that respiratory infections in small chicken flocks are geographically widespread in Sweden. Among participating flocks, 77.0% were coinfected by 2–3 pathogens; 91.8% tested positive for A. paragallinarum, 57.4% for M. gallisepticum and 50.8% for ILTV. Larger flock size and mixed-species flock structure were associated with PCR detection of M. gallisepticum (P = 0.00 and P = 0.02, respectively). Up to 50% mortality was reported by 63.9% of respondents. Euthanasia of some chickens was carried out in 86.9% of the flocks as a result of the outbreaks. Full clinical recovery was reported by 39.3% of owners suggesting chronic infection is a major challenge in infected flocks. Live birds had been introduced in many flocks prior to outbreaks, which suggested these as an important source of infection. Following the outbreaks, 36.1% replaced their flocks with new birds and 9.8% ceased keeping chickens. Conclusions This study highlights the severity of respiratory outbreaks in small non-commercial chicken flocks and points to the need for more research and veterinary assistance to prevent and manage respiratory infections in small chicken flocks.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13028-023-00703-zBackyard poultryHobby flocksInfectious coryzaInfectious laryngotracheitisMolecular diagnosticsMycoplasmosis |
| spellingShingle | Pernille Engelsen Etterlin Arianna Comin Helena Eriksson Elisabeth Bagge Tomas Jinnerot Liv Jonare Désirée S. Jansson Questionnaire study suggests grave consequences of infectious laryngotracheitis, infectious coryza and mycoplasmosis in small chicken flocks Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica Backyard poultry Hobby flocks Infectious coryza Infectious laryngotracheitis Molecular diagnostics Mycoplasmosis |
| title | Questionnaire study suggests grave consequences of infectious laryngotracheitis, infectious coryza and mycoplasmosis in small chicken flocks |
| title_full | Questionnaire study suggests grave consequences of infectious laryngotracheitis, infectious coryza and mycoplasmosis in small chicken flocks |
| title_fullStr | Questionnaire study suggests grave consequences of infectious laryngotracheitis, infectious coryza and mycoplasmosis in small chicken flocks |
| title_full_unstemmed | Questionnaire study suggests grave consequences of infectious laryngotracheitis, infectious coryza and mycoplasmosis in small chicken flocks |
| title_short | Questionnaire study suggests grave consequences of infectious laryngotracheitis, infectious coryza and mycoplasmosis in small chicken flocks |
| title_sort | questionnaire study suggests grave consequences of infectious laryngotracheitis infectious coryza and mycoplasmosis in small chicken flocks |
| topic | Backyard poultry Hobby flocks Infectious coryza Infectious laryngotracheitis Molecular diagnostics Mycoplasmosis |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13028-023-00703-z |
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