Supporting the mental health and well-being of people working in poultry science and research has become a focus of the American Association of Avian Pathologists (AAAP), according to one of the organization’s newly elected leaders.

Naola Ferguson-Noel, DVM, PhD, who was recently elected to the AAAP board of directors, said the unprecedented challenges created by the Covid pandemic meant that many people were benefitting from support of others in the industry.

Large-scale collection of samples from producers across the southern US is helping shed new light on infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) in chicken flocks — including uncovering a new serotype of the pathogen. 

The 2-year surveillance project, led by Brian Jordan, associate professor at the University of Georgia, began as an effort to try to understand which bronchitis viruses were normally circulating in broiler flocks. 

Complexes should regularly evaluate the infectious bronchitis viruses (IBV) prevalent on their farms to help determine which vaccines can provide the best protection possible.

IB is primarily an upper respiratory tract disease that is most commonly associated with respiratory problems, but it can cause other issues like egg drop, for example, in laying hens.

 Use of thermal imaging cameras to measure facial temperatures may offer a non-invasive option for assessing heat stress in commercial broilers, according to research from the University of Arkansas. 

Attention to detail is vital when it comes to ensuring that spray vaccinations against respiratory diseases such as infectious bronchitis are as effective as they can possibly be, according to a poultry health expert. 

Brian Jordan, associate professor at the University of Georgia, said how the vaccine is mixed, the syringes and nozzles used, and the flow rate coming through the nozzles are all critical elements to vaccine-application efficacy and should not be overlooked.

Thorough vaccination programs and bird surveillance are critical to giving US flocks the best possible chance of protection against evolving strains of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV).

Brian Jordan, PhD, associate professor at the University of Georgia, said that while vaccinating against IBV is standard procedure in the poultry industry, matching a vaccine to the strain of the virus isn’t always possible. 

Commercial broiler farms often employ a multi-faceted approach in tackling Salmonella, but testing different combinations of control options together on a small scale before they are rolled out across entire production facilities is a valuable method of ensuring successful disease control, according to Phil Stayer, DVM, corporate veterinarian at Sanderson Farms.

Attention to detail is key to successfully vaccinating broiler flocks against infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT), according to a poultry health expert.

Tim Cummings, DVM, senior technical services veterinarian, Zoetis, said managing ILT outbreaks can be a struggle for some producers. 

A genetic technique which could help improve predictions about the virulence of infectious bursal disease (IBDV) has identified pathogenicity in seven new strains of the virus which causes an immunosuppressive  condition. 

Isolates were collected from broiler and pullet flocks showing signs of the disease by Daral Jackwood, PhD, Professor at Ohio State University and his team, primarily from Pennsylvania and Ohio but with some in the Midwest, Southeast and California. 

Sharing and analyzing data at farm level and beyond can offer new insights that improve bird health and profitability on layer farms, according to a poultry industry expert.
 
 Ian Rubinoff, DVM, director of global technical services for Hy-Line International, said utilizing data on mortality, body weight, egg size and overall production was enabling poultry companies to better understand a farm’s performance.