Journal of World's Poultry Research

168-179

Authors: Sabry A. S. Sadek

Campylobacter is common in poultry, including layer and broiler chickens, geese, ducks, and turkeys. This review aimed to emphasize the prevalence of campylobacteriosis, recent poultry diagnoses, and strict prevention measures. Campylobacter species colonize the intestines of poultry and waterfowl but are generally nonpathogenic in poultry. However, they are the most common bacterial cause of sporadic human enteritis in both developed and developing countries. The main species responsible for campylobacteriosis is Campylobacter jejuni, followed by Campylobacter coli. A number of other Campylobacter species, such as Campylobacter lari, fetus, upsaliensis, and hyointestinalis are rarely associated with campylobacteriosis. Campylobacter hepaticus is the species linked to spotty liver disease in layers and breeder chickens, and it may be the etiological agent of the disease previously known as avian vibrionic hepatitis. The most prevalent infection source for Campylobacter is environmental contamination from poultry droppings. However, some Campylobacter species can be transmitted vertically, either on the surface of eggs or via trans-ovarian transmission in addition to consumption of contaminated feed or water. Due to the non-specific clinical signs such as diarrhea and weight loss, diagnosing campylobacteriosis in poultry requires culture or polymerase chain reaction tests. Little is known about the available vaccine or effective antibiotic treatment due to the rapid development of antibiotic resistance. Therefore, strict biosecurity measures play a crucial role in preventing Campylobacter infection in commercial poultry. These measures include decontaminating housing between flocks, preventing the entry of rodents, wild birds, and animals, and eradicating insects. To control campylobacteriosis and reduce infection risks, it is important to implement efficient on-farm biosecurity measures, conduct regular inspections of workers at meat processing plants and poultry farms, and ensure thorough preparation of chicken meat and eggs before consumption. These measures are vital in minimizing the Campylobacter transmission from both broiler and laying chickens, thereby reducing the risk of foodborne diseases caused by contaminated food.

191-198

Authors: Rubaijaniza Abigaba

Core body temperature is one of the physiological parameters that must be assessed during the monitoring of the thermic and or health status of broiler chickens. In this regard, cloacal thermometry is a standard method used for temperature measurement although it has many drawbacks. This study was conducted to explore the suitability of other anatomical sites for temperature measurement using a digital thermometer. This was a single-factor experiment that considered the anatomical site as the main factor with three levels (treatments), including cloacal (DTtcloacal), axillary (DTtaxillary), and inguinal (DTtinguinal) sites. Out of 84 broiler chickens, a total of 28 chickens were randomly selected for temperature measurement. The temperature was measured for each anatomical site, and the readings were analyzed using appropriate statistics. The cloacal site had the highest mean temperature (41.40 ± 0.17℃), while the lowest mean value was observed for the axillary site (41.12 ± 0.19℃). There was no significant difference between the mean cloacal and inguinal temperatures. The cloacal and inguinal temperature readings were significantly correlated. The results for the cloacal and inguinal temperature measurements revealed a non-significant bias. The agreement interval between these two methods was sufficiently lower than the maximum acceptable difference between the anatomical sites. Both cloacal and inguinal temperature measurements had similar median points. The results indicated an underestimation of the temperature readings for the axillary site compared to those of the other sites. In conclusion, this study has revealed that the application of a digital thermometer using the inguinal site gives temperature readings that are similar to those of the conventional cloacal method.

206-215

Authors: Walid S. Habashy

In almost all animal species, natural resistance-associated macrophage proteins (NRAMPs) have been linked to disease resistance. It plays a crucial part in innate immunity and can affect adaptive immunity as well. The aim of this study was to investigate some immunological traits and molecular genetics in the native breed of chickens, named Sinai (S) and a commercial strain of Lohman Brown (LB). The NRAMP1 gene was reported to be associated with a defense mechanism against infection by bacteria and viruses. A total of 144 female day-old chicks, including 72 from the commercial layer strain (LB) and 72 from the Egyptian native chicken strain (S), were used in this study. At 38 days of age, blood samples were taken randomly from 8 chickens of each group for serum antibodies against the New Castle disease virus, avian influenza virus, and infectious bursal disease virus analysis. Additionally, genomic DNA was extracted from 20 blood samples at 38 days of age. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses were conducted on the DNA samples, followed by sequencing of the PCR products to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the NRAMP1 gene in the two strains of chickens. The findings indicated that lymphocyte, eosinophil, phagocyte activity, and IgY were significantly greater in LB chicks than in S chicks. Sinai chickens, on the other hand, achieved dominance in Newcastle titter. Eight SNPs were found in NRAMP1 of the two strains. The nucleotide identity between S and LB nucleotides was 58.68%, while the changes in different amino acids were found in different positions. Multiple SNPs in the NRAMP1 gene have been discovered in Sinai and LB, suggesting that this gene can be used as a genetic marker for the selection of high-producing indigenous hybrids with the ability to resist pathogenic diseases in poultry.

223-232

Authors: Efri Junaidi

The development of broiler chicken farms in Indonesia has taken two forms, namely non-contract and contract farming. This study aimed to compare the technical efficiency levels of production in these two types of farming in Banten Province, Indonesia. Data were collected randomly from 180 broiler chicken farmers, consisting of 103 non-contract and 77 contract farmers. The study used the stochastic frontier production function to meet its objectives. The results showed that non-contract broiler chicken farmers were less efficient in their production than those under contract. The mean technical efficiency of the production factor for non-contract broiler chicken farmers was 0.689,ranging from 0.339 to 0.996. On the contrary, broiler chicken farmers under contract had a higher mean efficiency value of 0.893, ranging from 0.638 to 0.988. Moreover, the type of input supplier had a significant positive effect on technical inefficiency in non-contract farms. Non-contract farmers who purchased their production needs from a poultry shop showed higher technical efficiency compared to those who used distributors. This research sheds light on the efficiency of broiler chicken farms, both non-contract and contract, enabling all stakeholders, including the government, to devise appropriate policies for the development of broiler chicken farming. The study provided valuable insights into the technical efficiency levels of broiler chicken farming in Indonesia, which can help farmers identify areas that need improvement and develop strategies to increase productivity and profitability.