[Evaluation of the timing of the Escherichia coli co-infection on pathogenecity of H9N2 avian influenza virus in broiler chickens]

Bacterial co-infections can probably influence the pathogenicity of H9N2 low pathogenic avian influenza virus [AIV]. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of exposure time to Escherichia coli [O:2] on the pathogenicity of H9N2 AIV in broiler chickens. Three hundred and sixty broiler chickens were randomly allocated to six equal groups. At the age of 26 days, all chicks except groups 5 and 6 were inoculated intra-nasally with H9N2 virus. At the same time, the birds in groups 1 and 5 were infected with E. coli via spray route. Birds in groups 3 and 2 were infected with E. coli three days prior to and three days post AI challenge, respectively. Mortality rates, clinical signs, gross and microscopic lesions, excretion and duration of virus shedding in faecal and tracheal samples and seroconversion to H9N2 virus were assessed in the challenged groups. The highest mortality rate was observed in chickens inoculated with H9N2 followed by E. coli. The most severe clinical signs, gross lesions, mortality rate and virus detection were observed at day 6 post challenge [PC] in birds of group 2, while the duration of virus shedding was longer in group 3 [E. coli followed by H9N2] than other groups. In conclusion, E. coli infection prior to, after or concurrently with H9N2 virus infection could exacerbate the adverse effects of the virus. Our results indicate that E. coli and H9N2 together can mutually exacerbate the condition of either disease in broiler chicks as compared to single infected birds

The effect of the extracts of Echinacea purpurea and Sambucus nigra [black elderberry] on virus shedding in H9N2 avian influenza infected chickens

Previous studies have shown antiviral effect of Echinaceaandelderberry preparations against human influenza viruses in vitro. To investigate the in vivo antiviral effect of these herbs on avian H9N2 influenza virus, amantadine and two st and ardized commercial extracts of Echinacea purpurea [EF] and Sambucus nigra [SAM] were used in broiler chickens infected with H9N2 strain of the virus. EF, SAM and amantadine were added to drinking water of chickens in different groups for 7 days starting 8 h after intranasal inoculation of the challenged virus and in prophylaxis group of EF for 10 days starting 5 days before the challenge time. During post infection [PI] days, titer of the virus in tracheal mucosaandfaeces were quantified using quantitative real-time PCR. The untreated challenged group showed the highest faecal and tracheal titer of the virus on day 3 PI. The virus was not detected in negative control group during the course of the experiment. Prophylaxis administration of EF considerably reduced the faecal titer of the virus in all days PI. Although overall titer of the virus in the tracheal samples was low, treatment with amantadine and SAM apparently reduced quantity of tracheal positive samples in comparison to untreated and EF-treated groups. This study indicates that using Echinaceaandelderberry extracts in chicken can reduce H9N2 virus shedding from tracheaandfaeces. Key words: Echinacea purpurea, Sambucus nigra, H9N2 avian influenza virus, Chicken, quantitative real-time PCR

[Effects of addition of berberis vulgaris root powder to the arbor acers chicks ration as arowth promoter]

Barberry [Berberis vulgaris L. family Berberidaceae] is well known in Iran, and various parts of this plant including its root, bark, leaf and fruit have been used in folk medicine. There are evidences that this plant contains several antibacterial agents and has been used as a food additive. This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of Berberis vulgaris root powder in the diets of broiler chickens on growth performance. One hundred thirty Arbor Acers day old chicks from both sexes [mean of Body weight: 40 g] were divided into two equal groups in a completely randomized design. Dried roots of Berberis vulgaris were powdered and added to the ration of experimental group at a rate of 1%. The measured traits in this study were: live body weight, feed consumption and eventual side effects [gross and histopathological lesions]. Tissue samples of heart, liver and skeletal muscles were collected and fixed in 10% buffered formalin for histopathologic examination. Data were analyzed by two independent sample t-test, using SPSS/PC software. At six weeks of age, there was a significant and greater weight gain in chickens of experimental group [means +/- S.D in experimental groups was 1822.2 +/- 75.1 g versus 1662.8 +/- 85.2 g in control group] [p

Detection of avian leukosis virus subgroup J in albumen of commercial and native fowl eggs using RT-PCR in Fars province of Iran

The subgroup J of ALV [ALV-J] has emerged as an important pathogen of meat-type chickens since 1989. This virus is responsible for economic losses due to both mortality and depressed performance in chickens. So, the objective of this study is the detection of ALV-J in the albumen of commercial and native fowl eggs using RT-PCR. Three hundred and seventy egg albumens were randomly selected from different farms of Fars province, Iran. These eggs were obtained from the flocks of two research centers on native fowl production [70 eggs], a broiler grandparent farm [60 eggs], three broiler breeder farms [180 eggs], and a commercial layer flock [60 eggs]. RT-PCR was undertaken on isolated RNA from egg samples using a pair of ALV-J specific primers H5/H7 that produced a 545 basepair fragment. RT-PCR analyses detected ALV-J in 15 of 180 [8.33%] samples from three broiler breeders farms, 17 of 70 [24.28%] samples from flocks of two research centers of native fowls production, and none of the samples of commercial layer and broiler grandparent farms. Direct sequencing using primers specific for subgroup ALV-J verified the viral subgroup in the RT-PCR amplification products. This is the first report of the ALV-J in egg albumen in Iran which indicates the necessity to apply eradication programs for ALV-J in the poultry industry and native fowls in Iran

Evaluation of H9N2 avian influenza virus dissemination in various organs of experimentally infected broiler chickens using RT-PCR

Widespread occurrence of H9N2 low pathogenic avian influenza [LPAI] viruses in many Asian countries during the past decade has resulted in the need for evaluation of the pathogenesis of H9N2 virus infection. In this study, tissue tropism and dissemination of A/Chicken/Iran/772/1998[H9N2] virus throughout the body of broiler chickens were investigated. The clinical signs, gross lesions and antibody titer of the infected chicks were also monitored. Fifty one-day-old commercial broiler chicks were divided randomly into two groups [forty chicks in the experimental and ten chicks in the control group]. At the age of five weeks the chicks in the experimental group were inoculated intranasally with the virus. The samples from various tissues were collected at 1, 3, 6 and 9 days post-inoculation [DPI]. We used reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction [RT-PCR] assay to evaluate the virus dissemination. Chickens exhibited mild respiratory signs, depression and 5% mortality. Viral RNA was detected in the kidneys on days 3, 6 and 9 P1. The virus was also found in the spleen, trachea and lungs on days 3 and 6 P1. Viral RNA was observed only on day 6 P1 in feces. The most remarkable clinical signs and virus detection appeared on day 6 P1. Overall, out of 22 samples taken from each organ of the experimental [dead plus euthanized] birds, 4, 5, 11, 4, and 5 samples from trachea, lungs, kidneys, spleen and feces showed viral RNA, respectively. We could not trace the virus in the blood and pancreas. Data indicated that the number of infected chickens and viral RNA detection from tissues was reduced with increasing antibody titer on day 9 P1. Our findings suggest that the virus has tissue tropism for respiratory, urinary, lymphoid and digestive systems

Aerobic bacteria isolated from eggs and day-old chicks and their antibacterial resistance in Shiraz

To study the putative transfer of antibiotic resistance from broiler breeders to human, hen's eggs and their day-old chicks were examined for the presence of bacteria. The most frequently isolated organisms in decreasing order were: Streptococcus spp., Bacillus spp., Staphylococcus spp., Klebsiella spp., Enterobacter slip. and Escherichia coli followed by Citrobacter spp., Proteus spp. and Pseudomonas spp. from the eggs and E. coli, Enterobacter spp. and Citrobacter spp. followed by Klebsiella spp. and Bacillus spp. from the chicks. Different detection methods were evaluated which use various enrichment and plating media for bacteria in eggs and day-old chicks. Sensitivity tests showed the presence of antibacterial resistant strains of bacteria. In comparison, resistance to all antibiotics in chicks' isolated bacteria were more frequent than eggs' isolates, but statistically no significant differences between patterns of antibacterial resistance were seen [P

Evaluation of isoenzyme patterns for identification of pathogenic poultry Mycoplasmas

Electrophoretic analysis of isoenzymes in 8 enzymatic systems were used for differentiation of 4 isolates of chicken Mycoplasmas including two strains of M gallisepticum, one strain of M. gallinarum and one unknown isolate in comparison with a vaccinal strain of M agalactiae that basically is a pathogen in small ruminants. The enzymatic systems were lactate dehydrogenase [LDH], glucose dehydrogenase [G1DH], glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase [G6PD], galactose dehydrogenase [GalDH], 6 phosphogluconate dehydrogenase [6PGDH], malic enzyme [ME], glucose phosphate isomerase [GPI] and alkaline phosphatase [AP]. The number of isoenzyme patterns obtained for LDH, G1DH, G6PD, GalDH, 6PGDH, ME, GPI and AP enzymatic systems were 2, 3, 2, 4, 2, 3, 3 and 0, respectively. Except AP enzyme system which is not active in Mycoplasma species, it is concluded that isoenzyme pattern of 7 other studied enzymatic systems, could differentiate between chicken Mycoplasmas and the small ruminant's strain. Based on the isoenzyme patterns of GalDH system, 2 strains of M gallisepticum were differentiated from M. gallinarum and the unknown isolate. Isoenzyme patterns of ME system was able to differentiate M gallinarum from the other chicken isolates. The isoenzyme patterns of GPI system were different for the two strains of M gallisepticum. The isoenzyme patterns of GalDH, GPI and ME systems, showed that the unknown strain of chicken Mycoplasma is a strain of M gallisepticum and it is closely related to one of the known M. gallisepticum isolates

[Antibiotic resistance patterns, transmission of r-factor and determination of beta-lactamase production in ampicillin resistant strains of enterobacteriaceae isolated from sheep]and goats

In this study, 738 isolates including 500 coli [67.75 percent], 170 Proteus [23.04 percent], 47 Klebsiella [6.36 percent] and 21 Salmonella [2.85 percent] were identified in the faeces of 500 sheep and goats. 200 strains of these organismes were resistant against one or more antibiotics. The most resistance was against Ampicillin, Chloramphenicol and Furazolidon. Minimum resistance was against Tetracyclin. 114 Strains [72 percent] of resistant strains were capable of transferring either a part or the entire resistance pattern to sensitive recipient strain [E.coli K12]. Multiple - drug - resistant strains were more efficient in transferring their resistance patterns than were sigle - drug -resistnat strains. The capillary and the acidimetric methods were used to examine the Ampicillin resistant strains for Beta-lactamase production. The capillary method was able to detect Beta-lactamase production in 92.86% of the isolates while the acidimetric method showed 66.07% positive reaction