Poultry or Avian Science Commons^™

One Health Interventions And Challenges Under Rural African Smallholder Farmer Settings: A Scoping Review, Evanson R. Omuse, Honest Machekano, Bonoukpoè M. Sokame, Daniel M. Mutyambai, Thomas Dubois, Sevgan Subramanian, Frank Chidawanyika

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The global human population is rapidly increasing, escalating interactions of people, animals and the environment. This has led to more convoluted health challenges, for which African smallholder farmers bear the brunt. The One Health (OH) approach recognises the interconnectedness of these health challenges and thus follows a transdisciplinary approach involving diverse stakeholders to address them. Although there have recently been global concerted efforts and studies on OH, an information gap exists in Africa, particularly regarding smallholder farmers and their needs. Additionally, evaluation frameworks and outcome metrics for OH initiatives are still unclear. Thus, this study was conducted to critically map …

Re-Evaluating The Host Specificity Of Thirteen Eimeria Species That Infect Galliform Birds: Cross-Infection Experiments In Chukar Partridges (Alectoris Chukar), Northern Bobwhites (Colinus Virginianus) And Turkeys (Meleagris Gallopavo), Jessica L. Rotolo, A. Leveille, Rachel K. Imai, Elizabeth G. Zeldenrust, Billy M. Hargis, Elijah G. Kiarie, John R. Barta

Poultry Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

The commercial poultry industry has expanded and profited from intensively rearing birds, but it is not without consequences. Coccidiosis is an intestinal disease caused by Eimeria species that is well recognized by poultry producers because of the resulting health implications that often contribute to reduced welfare of birds, meat production and profitability. Strict host specificity of these parasites (infection of one host species only) is often assumed; however, examples of Eimeria spp. capable of infecting multiple galliform hosts have been described. Despite the relevance of coccidiosis in commercial poultry production, the number and extent of such crossinfections remain poorly understood, …

Genetic Factors Of Campylobacter Jejuni Required For Its Interactions With Free-Living Amoeba, Deepti Pranay Samarth, Asim Z. Abbasi, Young Min Kwon

Poultry Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Acanthamoeba, a free-living amoeba ubiquitous in environmental water, has been considered as the environmental reservoir of certain bacterial pathogens, including Campylobacter jejuni, an intracellular human pathogen causing self-limiting gastroenteritis. Acanthamoeba-C. jejuni interaction mechanisms may help clarify how the otherwise fastidious bacterium C. jejuni survives in environmental waters. In this study, we constructed single deletion mutants of C. jejuni strain 81-176 for the 10 selected genes (motAB, ciaB, kpsE, virB11, cheY, flaAB, cstII, docB, sodB, and cadF) previously shown to be important for the interaction (invasion and intracellular survival) of C. jejuni with mammalian hosts. We used a modified gentamicin protection …

The Effects Of Incubation Humidity On Broiler Chicks, Claire Caples

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Leg health issues are a welfare problem in commercial broiler chickens and an economic issue for the broiler industry. Broilers exhibiting leg abnormalities show altered gait, reduced ability to access resources, and increased lameness incidence. These leg health issues can result from many animal and environmental factors during incubation and post-hatch. Incubation strategies may contribute to the development of leg health issues, and recent research has increased focus on incubation factors affecting embryonic development and health and welfare post-hatch. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of high (80%), low (55%), and ideal (65%) humidity on …

Developing Protective Measures To Reduce The Incidence Of Bacterial-Induced Chondronecrosis With Osteomyelitis In Broiler Chickens, Alexa L. Thomas

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Bacterial Chondronecrosis with Osteomyelitis (BCO) lameness is a significant animal welfare and food safety issue affecting the commercial broiler industry in the United States and worldwide. Bacteria can translocate from the respiratory system and/or the gastrointestinal tract into the bloodstream, eventually settling in bone microfractures leading to necrosis and BCO lameness.

This study evaluated the effects of Probiotic 1 and Probiotic 2 on the incidence of BCO lameness in broiler chickens. Probiotic 1 was applied as a spray on Day 1-old chicks, while Probiotic 2 was administered prophylactically (orally in feed) from Day 1 to Day 56. Birds were assigned …

Utilizing 16s Ribosomal Rna Sequencing To Identify Bacterial Species Colonizing Lame Birds With Bacterial Chondronecrosis With Osteomyelitis, Kara Hoover

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Broiler chicken lameness has become prevalent in recent years due to high growth rates in broilerchickens. Bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis (BCO), the main cause of lameness, is characterized by necrosis of femoral and tibial heads in affected birds. Heavier birds are more susceptible to mechanical stress in these regions, which results in microfractures, leading to lameness. BCO lameness poses huge financial pressure to the poultry industry, as 14-50% of flocks can become affected during outbreaks. The purpose of this experiment was to identify bacterial species present in birds with BCO lameness. A total of 1,560 chicks were randomly distributed into …

The Effect Of 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 Supplementation On Humoral Immunity Against Bacterial Chondronecrosis With Osteomyelitis Lameness In Broiler Chickens, Bailey Herberger

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis (BCO) lameness, the most predominant locomotive illness in fast-growing broilers, causes substantial animal well-being issues and affects broiler production, leading to huge financial losses. Several strategies, including feed supplementations using organic trace minerals, vitamin D, probiotics, and prebiotics, have been utilized to alleviate BCO lameness incidences in broiler chickens. Previous studies have indicated that feeding an additive of Panbonis^®-G-1,25(OH)₂D₃ from Solanum glaucophyllum containing 1 µg/kg G-1,25(OH)₂D₃ to broilers for the first 28 days of their production cycle reduced BCO lameness by more than 50%. In this study, we …

Effects Of Intradermal Injections Of Lipopolysaccharide On The Local And Systemic Acute Inflammatory Responses In Turkeys, Delaney F. Roberts

Poultry Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

In chickens, the growing feather (GF) pulp has been established as a cutaneous bioassay to monitor and assess tissue/cellular immune activities in response to intradermal (i.d.) injections of test materials. The objective of this pilot study was to determine the suitability of the GF bioassay in turkeys by examining the acute inflammatory responses initiated by i.d. GF-pulp injections of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). For this, three, 5-wk-old turkey poults were used. Two poults had 8 GFs injected (10 μL/GF) with low (L)-LPS (0.1 μg/GF) and 8 GFs with high (H)-LPS (1 μg/GF), while a third poult had 8 GFs injected with endotoxin-free …

Inflammatory Response In Ucd200/206 Scleroderma-Prone Chickens To Intradermal Injection Of Silikon 1000, Katee L. Johnson

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Intradermal injections of silicone materials have resulted in chronic inflammation and fibrotic reactions in some individuals. The UCD200/206 line of chickens is characterized by spontaneous development of scleroderma/systemic sclerosis (SSc), a fibrotic autoimmune disease. This longitudinal study examined the cellular inflammatory activity initiated by SILIKON 1000 (a silicone product used as a filler in human skin) at the site of intradermal (i.d.) injection and in the peripheral blood in the SSc-prone UCD 200/206 (UCD) chickens and healthy White Leghorn (WL) controls. Specifically, the pulps of growing feathers (GFs) were i.d. injected with SILIKON or endotoxin-free, sterile PBS (8 and 3 …

The Effect Of 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 Supplementation On Humoral Immunity Against Bacterial Chondronecrosis With Osteomyelitis Lameness In Broiler Chickens, Bailey Herberger

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis (BCO) lameness, the most predominant locomotive illness in fast-growing broilers, causes substantial animal well-being issues and affects broiler production, leading to huge financial losses. Several strategies, including feed supplementations using organic trace minerals, vitamin D, probiotics, and prebiotics, have been utilized to alleviate BCO lameness incidences in broiler chickens. Previous studies have indicated that feeding an additive of Panbonis^®-G-1,25(OH)₂D₃ from Solanum glaucophyllum containing 1 µg/kg G-1,25(OH)₂D₃ to broilers for the first 28 days of their production cycle reduced BCO lameness by more than 50%. In this study, we …

Evaluation Of Fecal Egg Counts (Fec) As A Viable Means To Estimate Ascaridia Galli, Heterakis Gallinarum And Capillaria Obsignata Burdens In Laying Hens, Alexander H. Moss

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

The control of gastrointestinal helminths, specifically Ascaridia galli, Heterakis gallinarum, and Capillaria obsignata, is a critical component of poultry health management, particularly in free-range and organic farming systems. Methods of estimating parasite burdens, such as post-mortem examinations, are not feasible for large-scale commercial operations due to their invasiveness and time requirements. This study aimed to evaluate the use of fecal egg counts (FEC) as a non-invasive and efficient method for estimating the worm burdens of these parasites in laying hens. A flock of 12 brown egg laying, spent, hens were individually penned on concrete. Fecal samples (both cecal and intestinal) …

The Expression Of Intestinal Tight Junction Proteins Induced By 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3-Glycosides Supplementation To Reduce Bacterial Chondronecrosis With Osteomyelitis Lameness In Broilers, Kennedy M. Hicks

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Bacterial Chondronecrosis with Osteomyelitis (BCO) is a leading cause of lameness in broiler chickens, impacting animal welfare and commercial poultry production. Supplementation using organic trace minerals, vitamin D, probiotics, and prebiotics has been studied to mitigate BCO lameness incidences in broiler chickens. Our previous study demonstrated that feeding Panbonis®-G-1,25(OH)₂D₃ from Solanum glaucophyllum, containing 1 µg/kg G-1,25(OH)₂D₃, to broilers for the first 28 days of their production cycle reduced BCO lameness by approximately 50%. In this study, we investigated the impact of 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D₃ supplementation on the expression of tight junction …

A Comparative Study Of Urban And Natural Nesting Gray Hawks In The Lower Rio Grande Valley Of South Texas, Evan Farese

Theses and Dissertations

Urbanization can negatively impact birds of prey, which occupy higher trophic levels. The Gray Hawk (Buteo plagiatus) is a neotropical raptor inhabiting the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) of Texas, where it is threatened. The species’ ecology has been little studied and it is unclear how urbanization may affect population viability. I studied Gray Hawk reproductive success, diet, and thermal ecology at nests in urban and natural habitats in the LRGV. Camera trap data showed adults at urban nests delivered mostly avian prey, while mammalian prey was most frequently brought to natural nests. Data from temperature loggers showed …

Sustainable Poultry Farming: A Concept Of Iot-Based Poultry Management System For Small-Scale Farmers, Ayodeji Akinsoji Okubanjo, Ignatius Kema Okakwu, Olufemi Peter Alao, Nurudeen Samuel. Lawal, Ayoola Abiola Babalola, Abisola Olayiwola

Al-Bahir

Conventional poultry management techniques are failing to meet increased demand for poultry products as the population continues to grow. As a result, this issue has become a major concern for small-scale farmers, particularly those in low-income areas, in terms of food security. One of the main reasons for this is that the farmers rely on intensive farming methods which are inefficient for automating daily poultry operations. However, intensive farming methods pose major environmental concerns to ecosystems and poultry health. Also, the environmental conditions, welfare, and productivity of poultry operations may be harmed by the global climate crisis and poultry waste …

Mdpk Cell Lines Can Be Used For In Vitro Antiviral Testing With Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5n1), Jada L. Westover

Student Research Symposium

• Outbreak in agricultural poultry starting in 2022
• In March 2024 first confirmed case in Dairy Cattle
• Tested drugs T705, Oseltamivir, Baloxivir, Ribavirin, EIDD-2947, and EIDD-2749 on three different cell lines
• Goal: See if MDBK cell lines could be used for in vitro studies

Effect Of Heat Stress On Ileal Epithelial Barrier Integrity In Broilers Divergently Selected For High- And Low-Water Efficiency, Elizabeth S. Greene, Brooklee Roach, Maria Fernandez Cuadrado, Sara Orlowski, Sami Dridi

Poultry Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Water scarcity and rising global temperatures are two of the greatest current and future threats to poultry sustainability. Therefore, selection for water efficiency (WE) and heat resilience are of vital importance. Additionally, intestinal integrity is of critical importance under challenging conditions to maintain nutrient absorption and therefore, growth and performance of broilers. Here, we examined the effect of chronic cyclic heat stress (HS) on the ileal expression profile of tight-junction, gap-junction, adherens, and desmosome genes in the fourth generation of divergently selected low (LWE)- and high water efficient (HWE)-chicken lines. LWE birds exhibited higher levels of gut permeability, regardless of …

Evaluation Of The Effect Of In Ovo Applied Bifidobacteria And Lactic Acid Bacteria On Enteric Colonization By Hatchery-Associated Opportunistic Pathogens And Early Performance In Broiler Chickens, Mitchell C. Rowland, Aaron J. Forga, James Higuita, Makenly E. Coles, Billy M. Hargis, Christine N. Vuong, Danielle Graham

Poultry Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Probiotics have been used to promote pioneer colonization by beneficial bacteria in poultry. The purpose of the present study (four trials) was to determine if an in ovo injection with Bifidobacterium saeculare (B2-2, B3-4) and/or lactic acid bacteria (LAB18, LAB46) at d18 of embryogenesis reduced Enterococcus and Gram-negative bacterial colonization in the gut at hatch. An environmental challenge model was used to simulate microbial contamination in large-scale hatch cabinets in a laboratory setting. In all trials, gut homogenates obtained from chicks at hatch were plated to enumerate relevant bacterial populations. Performance was evaluated in trials two and four. The top …

The Mechanistic Target Of Rapamycin Mediates Clostridium Perfringens-Induced Chicken Necrotic Enteritis Attenuated By Secondary Bile Acid Deoxycholic Acid, Mohit Bansal, Tahrir Alenezi, Ying Fu, Janashrit Shrestha, Ayidh Almansour, Hong Wang, Anamika Gupta, Rohana Liyanage, Xiaolun Sun

Poultry Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Clostridium perfringens is a prevalent gut bacterial pathogen in humans and animals. This study investigated the role of the mechanistic targets of rapamycin (mTOR) and deoxycholic acid (DCA) on C. perfringens intestinal infection. Chickens were sequentially infected with Eimeria maxima and received the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin and DCA. C. perfringens-induced necrotic enteritis (NE) was evaluated using body weight gain (BWG), histopathology, bile acids, pathogen colonization, cell infiltration and death, and gene expression. The significant difference of p < 0.05 was analyzed by one-way ANOVA and multiple comparisons. Notably, rapamycin strongly reduced the subclinical and clinical NE histopathologies. DCA and DCA combined with rapamycin alleviated clinical NE and BWG loss. Rapamycin, DCA, and DCA + rapamycin attenuated bile acid reduction in NE birds, and they also reduced immune cell infiltration into the intestinal lamina propria as well as immune cell migration in vitro. At molecular levels, DCA and DCA + rapamycin reduced proinflammatory IFN gamma, MMP9, IL23, and IL17 gene expression. Rapamycin, DCA, and DCA + rapamycin reduced NE-induced intestinal cell apoptosis. Together, these results suggest that mTOR signaling mediates C. perfringens-induced ileitis, and combining mTOR inhibition and DCA improves the intervention efficacy against NE ileitis and BWG loss.

Hatching And Caring For Chicks, Cory Farnsworth, Jacob Hadfield, Ashley Longmore

All Current Publications

There are many reasons people are interested in raising birds. Most people who desire to start are interested in saving money and becoming more self-sufficient. Many people find excitement in hatching eggs and raising chicks. This fact sheet will help you get started with hatching eggs and raising chicks.

Extracellular Dna In The Chicken Cecal Environment, Deborah Bukola Olubanjo, Artur Zbikowski, Bishnu Adhikari, Tieshan Jiang, Pallavi Singh, Seong Kang, Young Min Kwon

Poultry Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

The presence and biological role of extracellular DNA (eDNA) have been explored in diverse microbial environments. Nonetheless, it has not been studied in the chicken gut microbiome. This study aims to investigate eDNA in the chicken cecum, analyzing cecal samples from broiler chickens using three preparation methods: Whole Cecal Suspension (WCS), Washed Cell Pellets (WCP), and Cell-Free Supernatant (CFS). The 16S rRNA gene-based microbiota analysis revealed distinct microbial communities in CFS compared to WCS and WCP (p = 0.001). Notably, specific taxa, including Anaerofilum, Anaerotruncus, Oscillospira, Syntrophomonas, and Delftia, were enriched in CFS. Confocal fluorescence microscopy, employing stains such as …