[A case of swollen head syndrome in a flock of guinea fowl]. / Een geval van het dikke koppensyndroom bij een koppel parelhoenders.

A case of swollen head syndrome in guinea-fowl is reported. In addition to the isolation of E. coli and staphylococci during the course of the disease, antibodies to rhinotracheitis were shown to be present in the blood. Treatment with Baytril produced satisfactory results.

[Several cases of nitrite poisoning in broiler breeding hens]. / Enkele gevallen van nitrietvergiftiging bij slachtkuikenmoederdieren.

Because of insufficient ventilation during winter, water condensation associated with a high concentration of ammonia (70-100 ppm) in the air, occurred on several breeding farms. The ammonia became bound to the condensation water and was converted into nitrites (6000-16000 mg/l) and nitrates (1630-1700 mg/l). Ingestion by the birds resulted in acute death, probably as a result of the high nitrite concentration. The brown colour of the blood pointed to the conversion of haemoglobin to methaemoglobin and this is one of the features of nitrite poisoning.

[Coccidiosis during the rearing of broiler breeding stock in Limburg]. / Coccidiose tijdens de opfok van slachtkuikenouderdieren in Limburg.

Increasing complaints concerning the rearing of broiler breeding stock in the Province of Limburg were the reason for collecting data and examining the possibilities of prevention more closely. The first batches of broiler breeders submitted to the Animal Health Service in Heythuysen were examined for the presence of coccidiosis throughout the year 1982. Of 363 groups submitted, 1,484 birds about which there were complaints, were examined. Of these, 153 flocks were found to be positive for coccidiosis, that is 42 per cent. The proportion of birds found to be positive was highest during the third quarter of 1982, being 50.52 per cent; two-thirds of these were birds under 3 months. Eimeria necatrix was the most common, being mainly present in the younger birds during the third quarter of the year, and the highest score was also recorded in this group. Coccidiosis may be associated with necrotic enteritis due to Clostridium perfringens. When these two are combined, this may cause very severe inflammatory lesions which may complicate treatment. Cl. perfringens was also found to be present in 11.6 per cent of the birds submitted, being particularly associated with E. necatrix and E. maxima. Amprol plus was found to be the anti-coccidial agent giving rise to the majority of problems, particularly in chickens under three months. Pancoxin plus and the shuttle monensin- Pancoxin plus were found to prevent more cases of coccidiosis, though they did so to a lesser degree in the older birds. Attention is drawn to the possible effect of feed-restriction on the prevention of coccidiosis in broiler breeding stock.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Triploidy as a possible cause of intersexuality in chickens (Gallus domesticus)]. / Triploïdie als mogelijke oorzaak van intersexualiteit bij kippen (Gallus domesticus).

A number of cases of intersexuality occurred in a fairly large number of cases in 6-8 months-old laying hens on two poultry farms in the province of Limburg. When macroscopic and microscopic studies failed to supply any evidence concerning the cause of the considerable development of the right gonad, it was decided to do a chromosome analysis. Three intersexes in which the chromosomes were studied, were found to be triploid birds showing a ZZW sex chromosome combination, which aberration may have been the cause of the intersexuality observed.

The hygienic treatment of turkey eggs by dipping in an antibiotic and disinfectant solution.

At the hatchery, in order to reduce bacterial infections in one-day-old chicks, turkey eggs are routinely dipped by the direct pressure difference method into a solution consisting of: (formula; see text) This dipping process was studied in more detail and the experiments allowed of drawing the following conclusions: 1. After 8 hours of use on three consecutive days the tylosin concentration had hardly decreased, the concentration of ampicillin dropped to approximately 65% and the concentration of quaternary ammonium compounds to 33%. 2. Bacteria were isolated from the fluid only at the time of final sampling (Bacillus subtilis). All other bacteriological investigations of the dipping solution showed negative results. 3. The treatment did not appear to influence hatchability. 4. The mortality in the first week of life of poults from treated eggs was significantly lower than of poults from untreated eggs.

[The "Vaccination Reaction" syndrome of broilers after vaccination against Newcastle disease and infectious bronchitis (author's transl)]. / Het syndroom "entreactie" bij slachtkuikens na enting tegen Newcastle disease en infectieuze bronchitis

In a part of the broiler flocks vaccinated against Newcastle disease (N.C.D) and infectious bronchitis (I.B.), disease symptoms of lingering nature have been observed, generally in the second half of the rearing period. In a practical investigation with weekly examinations of chickens, supplemented by a serological examination of twenty-four animals per flock at the age of six weeks, it was hoped to establish the factors responsible for this "vaccination reaction". In the district under notice the vaccination reaction syndrome had been responsible for widspread abandoning of twice spraying against N.C.D. in the first and fourth week in favour of drinking-water vaccination (generally combined with I.B. vaccination) in the second week and spray-vaccination in the fourth week or of combined drinking-water vaccination in the second week, either with or without N.C.D. drinking-water vaccination in the fourth week. Admittedly the incidence of vaccination reaction in flocks vaccinated exclusively via the drinking water was less frequent (32%) than in flocks in which the second vaccination was administered as a spray (48%), but this difference was largely accounted for by infection with Mycoplasma gallisepticum and/or Mycoplasma synoviae, complicated by infection with Escherichia coli. Of the thirty-three flocks free of mycoplasmosis, 24% exhibited the vaccination reaction, while the incidence to the fifteen infected flocks was 73.4%. In flocks infected with mycoplasmosis the course of E. coli infections was serious in 46.7% of the birds, while this figure was 18.2% in flocks free of mycoplasmosis. In flocks free of mycoplasmosis, the percentage of serious E. coli infections was lower after spray vaccination (14.3%) than after drinking-water vaccination (21%). The strains of E. coli brought in by one-day chicks from the hatchery disappear rapidly and play no role of any significance in the problem of colibacillosis observed at an age of three weeks or older. Of the 310 isolated strains of E. coli, 52 could not be typed and the others belonged to eighty different serotypes. With respect to the effect of infectious bronchitis the investigation does not provide sufficient evidence to permit of drawing conclusions. A significant role in the occurrence of the syndrome was played by coccidiosis and Gumboro's disease. With respect to environmental factors the available data did not allow of drawing conclusions. The authors recommend continuing with all available means to free the breeding animals from M. gallisepticum and M. synoviae, undertaking scientifically based research into the role of infectious bronchitis in the "vaccination reaction" syndrome, an effective programme of hygiene to control E...

[[Mycoplasma synoviae and Infectious Sinusitis in Turkeys (author's transl)]. / Mycoplasma synoviae en infectieuze sinusitis bij kalkoenen

Studies on two flocks of table turkeys affected with chronic respiratory distress and sinusitis showed that M. gallisepticum infection could be ruled out, whereas it was apparent from serological tests as well as examination by culture that M. synoviae infection was present in these cases.