Search

Infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK) commonly known as pinkeye is a contagious non-fatal bacterial infection of the eye that has tremendous economic impact on the dairy industry. Nevertheless, it is a much-neglected dairy issue in Pakistan. The current study was aimed to find out the prevalence and risk factors associated with pinkeye infection in commercial dairy herds in Pakistan. This study recruited 10,573 cows in 20 commercial dairy herds holding ≥25 cows per herd. The cows were assessed based on eye lesions using a scale from 1 to 4, with 4 being the most severe of all. Culture of subconjunctival swab samples was also undertaken. The overall prevalence of pinkeye was 6.86% with Holstein-Friesian breed being the most affected (7.25%) followed by crossbred (6.89%) cattle. Cow hygiene and farm hygiene scores were indirectly related to the prevalence of pinkeye. Prevalence was also significantly (P<0.05) associated with seasons of the year, being highest in humid summer months while lowest in winter. The prevalence of pinkeye was significantly higher (<0.0001) in cows exposed to sunlight than unexposed ones. Cows on farms performing farm disinfection occasionally had 1.52 times higher odds of being diseased than cows on farms with once-a-week disinfection. Likewise, cows on farms using no fly control program had 2.8 times higher likelihood of pinkeye than those on farms having fly control program. In addition, prevalence of pinkeye was significantly higher (P<0.05) in cows with low body condition scores. It was concluded that Pinkeye is a significant health concern in commercial dairy herds in Pakistan and the risk factors influencing the prevalence of this disease may include cow hygiene, farm management practices, and the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Poultry meat production and consumption continue to grow worldwide; therefore, the safety of poultry products is a priority for consumers, producers, and governing authorities. Thus, it is essential to find an effective solution to maintain proper hygiene in poultry production. One such tool is a water-based slow-release biocidal paint that contains insecticidal and antimicrobial compounds. In this study it was assumed that biocidal paint could be useful in controlling insect pests such as Alphitobius diaperinus and reducing microbiological contamination of air and litter and have a beneficial effect on microclimate in poultry houses. The results suggest that the tested biocidal paint could be an effective alternative to other insecticides and disinfectants. Additionally, the research is of a practical nature and may be very useful for poultry producers in controlling A. diaperinus populations and maintaining proper hygiene in poultry houses. Effective disinfection and disinsection are the keys to successful operation of modern poultry farms and the safety of poultry products. The cleaning and disinfection of poultry houses are important aspects of farm hygiene management. The correct execution of all steps of cleaning, disinfection, and disinsection procedures and the use of appropriate products are crucial for the prevention and control of zoonotic and animal diseases. In this study it was assumed that a water-based slow-release biocidal paint could be useful in controlling insect pests such as Alphitobius diaperinus and reducing microbiological contamination of air and litter in poultry houses and have a beneficial effect on microclimate in poultry houses. Therefore, the locations of A. diaperinus in the poultry houses, the microbiological contamination of air and litter, as well as the microclimatic conditions in the houses and the physicochemical parameters of the litter were evaluated. The results suggest that the tested biocidal paint could be an effective alternative to other insecticides and disinfectants. Additionally, the research is of a practical nature and may be very useful for poultry producers in controlling A. diaperinus populations and maintaining proper hygiene in poultry houses. Further research is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spreading of pathogenic fungi and toxigenic fungi in the poultry farms could lead to adverse health effects to exposed workers and chickens. Soil and air (indoor and outdoor) samples from two poultry farms in Songkhla Province, Thailand, were studied for the presence of fungal contaminants. The results demonstrated a mean value of 4445 CFU/g and 1908 CFU/m3 from soil and air samples, respectively. Statistical analysis revealed no influence of seasonal variation on the concentration of fungi. A total of 28 species belonging to 16 genera, including nonsporulating fungi, were recovered from soil and air samples in both poultry farms. Sixteen fungal genera were obtained in soil samples and Penicillium was the most frequently encountered genus (34.1%), followed by Aspergillus (33.4%) and Cladosporium (11.7%). Ten genera (Aspergillus, Penicillium, Cladosporium, Fusarium, Curvularia, Trichoderma, Acremonium, Mucor, Rhizopus, and Scopulariopsis) were identified in the air samples. Characteristics of the poultry farms and surrounding environment were described and the biosecurity level of the farms was evaluated. The results revealed a low biosecurity level and high vulnerability to fungal contamination of the farms. The present study showed that poultry farms were potential reservoirs of substantial loads of fungal contaminants and fungal pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In our previous in vitro research and also in laying hen production, attempts were made to minimise ammonia emissions in poultry houses with the use of Deodoric® biopreparation. The objective of the present research was to evaluate the influence of the Deodoric® on ammonia (NH3) emission and turkey growth performance in a semi-industrial production system. Significant differences in NH3 emission (p-value < 0.001), body weight (p-value < 0.001) and relative humidity (p-value < 0.001) were observed between the control group (C) and the experimental group (E) where Deodoric® was applied. In group C, an increase in ammonia concentration in air could have contributed to a decrease in the body weight of turkeys, but the above correlation was not observed in group E. In the control group, a relatively strong correlation between NH3 emission and temperature (p-value = 0.0009; r = 0.74) and moderate correlations between NH3 emission vs. relative humidity (p-value = 0.01; r = 0.59), air speed (p-value = 0.015; r = 0.60) and cooling (p-value = 0.005; r = 0.66) were noted. Studied correlations were not observed in group E. The preparation did not affect microbial levels in manure or body samples. Throughout the experiment, significant differences in the number of mesophilic bacteria (for the model: F = 46.14, p-value = 0.09; for mesophilic microorganisms: F = 3.29, p-value = 0.045) and Campylobacter spp. (for the model: F = 24.96, p-value = 0.008; for Campylobacter spp.: F = 0.25, p-value = 0.64) were not observed between group C and group E. The administration of Deodoric® to manure decreased NH3 concentration in the air and increased weight gains in the experimental group of turkeys relative to group C. Preparation may be applied in poultry farms to improve poultry farming conditions.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the biopreparation Deodoric® on ammonia (NH3) concentration, performance, and hygiene standards in laying hen (ROSS-308) production. Statistically significant differences in NH3 concentration and the body weight of laying hens were observed between the control group (C) and the experimental group (E) where Deodoric® was applied at the set dose. In the control group, an increase in NH3 concentration could have contributed to the decrease in the body weight of laying hens, egg production, and % hen day egg production, whereas no such correlations were observed in the experimental group. A moderate linear correlation between NH3 concentration vs. humidity (r = 0.68), air flow (r = 0.48) and weakly linear correlation between NH3 concentration and age of birds (r = 0.27) was noted in group C. In group E, NH3 concentration vs. temperature (r = 0.27) and humidity (r = 0.14) were weakly correlated. Statistical analysis of changes in the microbial counts isolated from manure revealed a significant decrease of mesophilic microorganisms on day 28 decrease of Campylobacter spp. days 14 and 84 in group E. However, for the entire experimental model no statistically significant changes in the number of Campylobacter spp. and mesophilic bacteria were found. The tested preparation did not cause changes in the microbial composition of tissue swabs. Deodoric® contributes to animal welfare by reducing the ammonia concentrations in poultry houses. It is also recommended for use in poultry farms to improve animal health and performance and to generate benefits for producers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]