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In the present study the occurrence of turkey carcass alterations such as breast skin lesions, liver lesions, and swelling of the hock joint in turkeys reared in organic farms was investigated at slaughterhouses in Germany. The examinations included 1,860 turkey carcasses of 2 turkey lines Kelly Broad Breasted Bronze(BBB) (540 toms and 540 hens) and British United Turkeys (Big 6 and The Test Product 7) (780 hens). The results showed that breast skin lesions were rare (1.7%). On the other hand, liver lesions were a common finding in both hens and toms. Nearly half of all investigated turkeys were affected (49.3%). Swelling of the hock joint was detected in 17.3% of all investigated turkeys; the occurrence in Kelly BBB toms was significantly higher than in hens (toms: 28.7%; hens: 16.9%). In general, there were significant differences between the investigated flocks. Carcass lesions are a major animal welfare concern, which affect conventional and organic reared turkeys. Investigating the occurrence of carcass lesions provides the necessary precondition to establish a benchmarking system to evaluate and compare turkey farms. The aim is to reduce and/or eliminate these alterations in the long term in order to improve animal welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the prevalence of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) in turkeys in the southwest of Germany was investigated. For this purpose, 200 cloacal swab samples and 5 environmental dust samples (tested as a pooled sample) of each of the 20 flocks (10 female and 10 male flocks) included in this study were examined. The VRE could be isolated by means of a procedure combining bacterial cultivation in an enrichment broth and on a selective solid media. Enterococci were identified biochemically and subsequently tested on the presence of the vancomycin resistance genes vanA, vanB (B1/B2/B3), and vanC (CI/ C2/C3) using real-time PCR assays. In 54 (27%) turkeys originating from 11 (55%) flocks and in 14 (70%) of the dust samples, exclusively vanA and vanCl genes could be detected. Of the turkeys examined, 46 were colonized with VRE bearing the resistance gene vanCl and 8 vanA, originating from 9 and 2 flocks, respectively. None of the birds carried vanB, vanC2, or vanCS positive VRE. The results obtained from the birds are largely confirmed by the dust samples originating from 4 vanA and 10 vanCl positive flocks. However, one flock housing animals colonized with vanCl positive VRE could not be confirmed by the dust samples that revealed vanA bearing VRE. However, in one case vanA and in 3 cases vanCl carrying VRE could be detected in dust samples of the turkey houses, but not in the turkeys of the associated flock. In 5 flocks the turkeys as well as the dust samples were free of VRE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study shows the prevalence and severity of foot pad dermatitis (FPD) in turkeys reared in organic production systems assessed at slaughterhouses in Germany. The investigations of altogether 1,860 turkeys of the strains Kelly Broad Breasted Bronze (Kelly BBB; 540 toms, 540 hens) and British United Turkeys (B.U.T.) 6 and the Test Product 7 (TP 7; 780 hens) showed that 97.7% of the examined turkeys were diagnosed with different degrees of FPD. Only 4.6% of the toms and 1.3% of the hens had feet without lesions. Most frequent were necrotic lesions measuring up to 2 cm in diameter (64.3% of all turkeys). Extensive necrotic lesions of the foot pads (toms: 29.8%; hens: 12.4%) and necrosis of superficial scales (toms: 11.3%; hens: 7.6%) were less frequent. Plantar abscesses were rare findings (1.9%). In general, the feet of the Kelly BBB hens were more affected by foot pad lesions than those of the Kelly BBB toms. There were significant differences between the investigated flocks concerning the occurrence of foot pad lesions. The aim in rearing turkeys must be the reduction of FPD., (© 2018 Poultry Science Association Inc.)

Between 2010 and 2011, 145 Enterococcus isolates (Enterococcus faecalis, n = 127; Enterococcus faecium, n = 18) were collected during routine bacteriologic diagnostics from broilers, layers, and fattening turkeys in Germany showing various clinical signs. The susceptibility to 24 antimicrobial agents was investigated by broth microdilution test to determine minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). All E. faecalis isolates (n = 127) were susceptible to the beta-lactam antibiotics ampicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, and penicillin. Corresponding MIC with 50% inhibition (MIC50) and MIC with 90% inhibition (MIC90) values of these antimicrobial agents were at the lower end of the test range (≤ 4 μg/ml). In addition, no vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) were found. High resistance rates were identified in both Enterococcus species for lincomycin (72%-99%) and tetracycline (67%-82%). Half or more than half of Enterococcus isolates were resistant to gentamicin (54%-72%) and the macrolide antibiotics erythromycin (44%-61%) and tylosin-tartate (44%-56%). Enterococcus faecalis isolated from fattening turkeys showed the highest prevalence of antimicrobial resistance compared to other poultry production systems. Eighty-nine out of 145 Enterococcus isolates were resistant to three or more antimicrobial classes. Again, turkeys stood out with 42 (8 1%) multiresistant isolates. The most-frequent resistance patterns of E. faecalis were gentamicin, lincomycin, and tetracycline in all poultry production systems.

This report describes outbreaks of histomonosis, a severe disease caused by the protozoan parasite Histomonas meleagridis, which occurred over a period of 3 yr on an organic farm in southern Germany. Among other species, the farm houses layers, broilers, and turkeys. In August 2005 one group of turkeys was naturally infected with H. meleagridis. The strain causing infection was typed by C-profiling as genotype B. A second outbreak occurred 3 yr later. Again, a group of turkeys was naturally infected. The strain causing the infection belonged to genotype A. Two months later one group of broilers became infected with H. meleagridis type B and a group of turkeys with H. meleagridis type A. Four weeks later two further groups of broilers showed symptoms. DNA of H. meleagridis was detected but genotyping was not possible. In conclusion, genotyping of the histomonal strains causing the disease showed that at least two different histomonal strains caused the outbreaks and that the strains circulated on the farm at the same time.

Mycoplasmas are well-known avian pathogens of poultry and some passerines. Although reported in birds of prey, their role as pathogens is still unclear. Healthy, free-ranging raptor nestlings sampled during a routine ringing (banding) program, and birds of prey from rehabilitation centers, tested positive for Mycoplasma spp. by culture and a genus-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Given the lack of clinical signs and disease, we suggest that mycoplasmas in raptors may be commensal rather than pathogenic. Using immunobinding assay and species-specific PCR tests, Mycoplasma buteonis, M. falconis, and M. gypis were identified; M. falconis was only detected in falcons. Additionally, some isolates could not be identified. This is the first report of Mycoplasma spp. isolations from Western Marsh Harriers (Circus aeroginosus), a Eurasian Hobby (Falco subbuteo), and a Barn Owl (Tyto alba).

In accordance with NCCLS guideline M31-A2, the DVG working group "antimicrobial resistance" developed a standard operating procedure (SOP) for the determination of the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of antimicrobial agents by broth microdilution. This SOP was evaluated for its fitness for use in a national interlaboratory test. A total of 32 participating laboratories tested five strains (including two internationally accepted reference strains and three field strains representing in total three different bacterial species) three times at a one week interval each, using uniform microtitre plates. In 31 of the 32 laboratories more than 80% of MIC determinations performed yielded values in the expected range. In total 94.0% of the results were reproducible, with a lesser deviation of 4.0% from the expected values for laboratories performing MIC determination as a matter of routine (46.9%), compared to 7.9% for laboratories without such routine (53.1%). Comparing the consistency of results on the basis of the tested strains, a higher reproducibility of the results was observed for reference strains (96.1%) than for field strains (92.6%). In particular results obtained for the Streptococcus uberis field strain were afflicted with a higher error ratio (98 deviations from the expected values). Among the tested antimicrobial agents, a higher variability of results was recorded only for gentamicin with 16.7% divergent MIC determinations (mean value 6.0%). The high reproducibility of the results confirmed by this interlaboratory study underlines the robustness of the developed SOP as well as broth microdilutions as the method of choice for MIC determina tion.

Two layouts for microtitre plates, which should serve for in-vitro susceptibility testing in routine diagnostics, have been set up by the working group "Antibiotic resistance" of the German Society for Veterinary Medicine. One of these layouts was designed for the testing of bacteria from cases of mastitis and the other for bacteria from infections in large food-producing animals. The choice of the antimicrobial agents and their concentrations to be included in these layouts were based on (1) the bacteria frequently associated with the respective diseases/animals, (2) the antimicrobial agents licensed for therapeutic use in these diseases/animals, (3) the currently available breakpoints, and (4) cross-resistances between the antimicrobial agerts so far known to occur in the respective bacteria.

Four meat turkey and one turkey breeding flocks were surveyed for antibodies against reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV) at different intervals using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. In addition, serum samples collected from 18 flocks at different ages were also tested for antibodies against REV. No antibodies were detected in any of the four meat turkey flocks that were surveyed. In the breeder flock, 20%) of tested samples from 1-day-old poults were positive. Between the fourth and 12th weeks all samples that were tested yielded negative results. At 16 weeks of age 15% of samples yielded a positive reaction, but antibodies could not be detected 4 weeks later. Examination of serum samples from 18 different flocks at various ages revealed that antibodies could be detected in five flocks. The percentage of positive sera per flock ranged between 10 and 40%.

Three isolates of avian pneumovirus (APV) were isolated in Germany during 1987 and 1988 from turkeys with clinical signs of turkey rhinotracheitis and one was isolated during 1990 from a broiler breeder flock with typical signs of swollen head syndrome. The isolates were typed using type-specific reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reactions. The three isolates from turkeys were identified as type A, while the isolate from the broiler breeders was type B. During the late 1980s no APV live-virus vaccine was used in poultry flocks in Germany, which is indicative of the presence of both types at that time. Previous isolates detected from elsewhere in Europe during the 1980s had been only of type B.

The rapid expansion and improvement in poultry production began during the mid-1930s. These enhanced by innovation in technology, science and management on different levels such as on artificial incubation, genetics, breeding, rearing, nutrition, disease control and processing technology. During the past 30 years the total egg production as well as poultry meat production has increased tremendously. The modern poultry industry oriented for high production and better quality at low cost, together with increasing claim of consumers for poultry meat and products, demand continuous efficient and goal oriented veterinary care. For this purpose, in many countries poultry health services supervised by veterinarians in co-operation with a central veterinary diagnostic laboratory, are established. Today the main duties of the poultry veterinarians have changed from therapeutic to prevention objectives. The tasks of the modern veterinary poultry specialists are described.

The present investigation was carried out to compare the antigenic relationship between TRT virus isolates from different countries. The obtained results showed that all virus isolates shared similar physiochemical properties. In virus neutralisation tests marked two way cross reactions between BUT 1 = 8544 (England), STG 761/88 and STG 854/88 (Germany) could be detected. On the other hand VCO 3 isolate (France) showed only partial reaction. Also the SDS-poly acrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) profiles of three TRT viruses (one from England and two from Germany) were very similar, while the VCO 3 strain from France showed some variation.