Journal of Poultry Sciences and Avian Diseases
Volume:1 Issue: 2, Spring 2023

Infectious bursal disease (IBD) is one of the most important diseases in the poultry industry all over the world. It is a viral disease caused by a birnavirus, which weakens the immune system. The disease was observed for the first time in 1962 in the Gumboro area of ​​Delaware, USA. The first report of this disease in Iran dates back to 1994. Since then, various investigations have been conducted in Iran on the isolation and identification of IBDV isolates, cognitive immunological studies and vaccine testing and design, disease pathogenesis and pathology, and recently in the field of genetic engineering. The main procedure for IBD control is vaccination in productive and commercial herds. Therefore, studies related to vaccination and immunogenicity play an essential role in designing preventive measures against this disease. In this manuscript, a comprehensive review of the studies conducted in Iran on IBD has been discussed.

According to previous studies, the serotonergic system plays a remarkable role in regulating meal intake, however, its role in the mediation of feeding caused by neuromodulin S (NMS) has not been investigated in birds. In the present research, 5 trials were considered in order to determine the links between these systems. In treatment 1, chickens received intracerebroventricular (ICV) infusion of NMS (0.25, 0.5, and 1 nmol). NMS (1 nmol), SB242084 (1.5 μg), a 5-HT2C receptor antagonist, and NMS + SB242084 were injected in the treatment 2. In subsequent treatments, instead of SB242084, 8-OH-DPAT (agonist of 5-HT1A receptor, 15.25 nmol), PCPA (serotonin synthesis inhibitor, 1.25 μg), and Fluoxetine (serotonin reuptake inhibitor, 10 μg) were applied. Then, total food consumption was recorded for 120 minutes. Based on observations, NMS dose-dependently attenuated meal intake (P<0.05). Hypophagia was diminished with NMS + SB242084 administration (P<0.05). ICV infusion of NMU + 8-OH-DPAT had no significant effect on the hypophagia (P≥0.05). The NMS-induced decreasing feed intake was attenuated with co-infusion of NMS+ PCPA (P< 0.05). Also, hypophagia was strengthened by NMS+ Fluoxetine co-infusion (P< 0.05). According to the results, the NMS-induced hypophagia is possibly mediated via 5-HT2c receptors in layer-type chickens.

Isoflurane and sevoflurane are among the newer inhalant anaesthetics that have shown fewer adverse effects than their older counterparts; as a result, they are used more frequently in avian practice. Determination of the differences between induction and recovery time of isoflurane and sevoflurane in pigeons (Columba Livia Domestica). In addition, the anaesthetic effects of each on their physiological parameters, hematocrit and plasma chemistry values were evaluated.  A total of 20 male pigeons were allocated to two groups of 10 undergoing anaesthesia by 5% isoflurane and 6% sevoflurane in oxygen in a crossover, randomised design. Three data sets were collected pre-anesthesia, at the end of anesthesia with the cessation of medications, and 24 hours post-anesthesia. Different physiological and biochemistry parameters were evaluated.  It was shorter in pigeons treated with isoflurane, and they experienced a longer RT than the other group. No significant difference was observed between isoflurane and sevoflurane regarding RT. HR decreased in both groups at the end of anesthesia, which was more significant in pigeons anesthetized with isoflurane. Although RR and T decreased at the end of anesthesia in both groups, they were lower within the group treated with sevoflurane. Both anesthetics decreased plasma biochemistry factors in most of the samples except creatinine phosphokinase and albumin, which almost returned to the initial state 24 h post-anesthesia.  Throughout, however isoflurane considers the most commonly inhaled anesthetic in avian practice, sevoflurane is recommended for anesthesia in pigeons.

Gastrointestinal diseases are considered the most prevalent and economically considerable diseases in the ostrich breeding industry, in which necrotic enteritis caused by C. perfringens induces high mortality, especially in ostrich chicks. Several antimicrobial agents are used to prevent enteric diseases, enhancing growth rate and increasing feed conversion ratio. This procedure results in a high prevalence of resistance among enteric bacteria with the possibility of a consequent emergence of antibiotic resistance in zoonotic enteropathogens. This study determined the susceptibility of C. perfringens strains isolated from the intestine and faeces of disease and healthy ostriches in southeast Iran to 8 antimicrobial agents. A total of 40 C. perfringens isolates were collected from several ostrich flocks and were tested using the broth microdilution method. The susceptibility of obtained isolates to antibiotics was as follows: ceftriaxone (80%), cefazolin (77.5%), florfenicol (72.5%), tetracycline (62.5%), penicillin (47.5%), sulfadiazine (20%), sulfadimidine (7.5%) and neomycin (7.5%). In conclusion, C. perfringens strains isolated from ostriches should be tested and monitored for antibacterial susceptibility patterns. The present study is the first to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility of C. perfringens isolated from ostrich.

Swallowing foreign bodies is an important cause of emergency visits in pet birds. An adult female mallard duck with a history of anorexia, weakness, and depression was referred to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. Radiographic examination showed the penetration of a needle in the ventriculus (gizzard). Since foreign bodies can lead to obstruction and injury that is life-threatening, the team's decision was surgical removal by ventriculotomy under general anesthesia. The patient was laid in dorsal recumbency on a heating pad, and the feathers around the incision site were removed. Then a skin incision was made in the middle of the abdomen. The ventriculus was explored, and the infiltrated foreign object was carefully removed. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study reports the first successful foreign body removal surgery in a duck in Iran. During the 10-day follow-up period, no complications were observed, and the duck was healthy. Prompt intervention and surgical treatment might be necessary to remove penetrating gastrointestinal foreign bodies located in the gizzard of domestic ducks.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a Gram-negative, aerobic, mostly motile, non-spore-forming, catalase-positive bacterium responsible for nosocomial infections, food and waterborne diseases in the human population, and infection of different organs in avian species. Because of the emergence of multidrug-resistant isolates in recent years, the occurrence of infection in pet avian species or poultry can lead to severe infection in the human population. This study reports an infection in turkey poults related to Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Overall, eight 4-day-old dead turkey chicks were presented to SANA Avian Hospital to diagnose the cause of death. For this purpose after necropsy, liver and bone marrow were sampled and cultured on blood agar. Then other complementary biochemical tests were performed to achieve a primary diagnosis. After the primary diagnosis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection, at the next step, PCR was used for definitive diagnosis and evaluation of virulence factors. Finally, the agar disk diffusion method determined antimicrobial resistance to some common medications, and results were interpreted by Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines.