HealthGene's Avian Bulletin (04.15.2005)
IN BRIEF
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LIKENESS DOES NOT MEAN RELATEDNESS
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A new genetic study at New Mexico State University suggests
that many species thought to be related are not in the same
linage. Scientists were able to identify two major linages
- Coronaves and Metaves. Some species belonging to two different
linages have ended up looking alike and inhabiting a similar
ecological niche. One example is flamingos and roseate spoonbills
- two pink, long-legged wading birds with similar-looking
heads, wing shapes and plumage - belong to Metaves and Coronaves,
respectively. "People have been trying to classify birds
based on their appearance for hundreds of years. It is valuable
at some levels, but when you get to really deep divergences,
you just hit a wall," says Peter Houde, one of the authors
of the study.
Source: NewScientist.com
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BIRD FLU MAY SPREAD BEYOND ASIA
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The World Health Organization reported that a fatality rate
of bird flu infection in humans is an alarming 62%. After
recent 50 deaths due to the virus,the WHO has warned that
there are indications of possible changes in its clinical
effects on humans and an increase in the number of reported
clusters of human cases. The WHO is "on alert" for
the possibility of spreading the isease beyond Asia.
Source: Reuters News
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HEALTHGENE'S HIGHLIGHTS
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REPRODUCTIVE PROBLEMS RELATED TO
INFECTIONS
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Breeding season is an important period for breeders. Ensuring
that all proper preparation steps are taken will be rewarding
with healthy chicks and parents. Disease testing is one of
these important steps.
Reproductive problems during breeding can
be frustrating even to a professional breeder. Even though
many such problems are due to nutritional deficiencies or
lack of exercise and obesity, some of them relate directly
to infections. Complications of the infections may lead to
loosing a hen and/or chicks. Therefore, infectious testing
should be considered as an important preventative measure.
If a bird is in a "carrier" state
prior to breeding, the immune system is able to keep the number
of pathogens on a very low level. Thus, no symptoms may be
apparent to the breeder or veterinarian. Under the stress
of breeding, a weakened immune system lets the pathogen to
infect different organs including reproductive organs. Egg
binding, uterine rupture and peritonitis are some of the complications
of infections. Yolk contaminated with bacteria often causes
abdominal inflammation, scarring and adhesions of abdominal
organs. Damaged reproductive organs may prevent this bird
from future breeding.
Bacterial or fungal infections of oviduct,
uterus, or the ovary often lead to death in shell or the weakness
and death of chicks after hatching. There are three periods
when the transmission of infectious organism from the hen
to an egg are thought to be most likely to occur: during fertilization,
during egg development, and immediately after oviposition.
It was also shown that some pathogens can pass through the
eggshell upon physical contact with contaminated material
(feces, bedding, etc.).
Chlamydophila psittaci is one of the organisms
that can be transmitted from an infected hen to the embryo
through the egg. The embryo may die during incubation or if
hatched, a chick would become a "carrier" of the
disease. If an egg has died, it should be tested right away
for the presence of Chlamydophila in order to apply doxycycline
treatment to save remaining eggs.
Salmonella is one of those bacterial organisms
that can penetrate the eggshell. Once inside, the bacteria
causes death-in-the-shell or if the number of organisms is
low, will lead to very weak chicks that will likely die shortly
after hatching.
The other bacterial pathogens that are associated
with reproductive problems that should be considered for testing
are Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, and Mycoplasma spp.
Viral screening of the hen should also be
conducted prior to breeding. Artificial incubation that allows
for protection against many infectious organisms during an
embryo's development, has been found ineffective for many
viral infections. For example, baby birds from infected hens
with Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD) virus will
most likely develop the disease. With Pacheco's disease virus
and Polyomavirus, chicks are hatched as latently infected
carriers with a high chance of developing these diseases later
in life. Early detection and isolation of an infected bird
will protect from spreading viral diseases in the aviary.
HealthGene Laboratory offers a wide variety
of PCR-based tests, including tests for all above mentioned
pathogens, that allow for very accurate and early detection
of organisms.
For the full list of tests please visit our
website at
http://www.healthgene.com/avian/infectious.asp
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NEW RESUBMISSION POLICY AT HEALTHGENE
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HealthGene would like to inform clients that starting May
1 2005, only blood samples on cards are accepted for resubmissions
free of charge.
There have been a number of cases when due
to poor feather samples clients were asked to resubmit samples
for avian DNA sexing several times. HealthGene is testing
EVERY sample submitted and if the sample does not contain
enough genetic material for proper analysis, HealthGene does
not report results and requests samples to be resubmitted.
To avoid any delays with the results and to ensure high quality
of service, only blood samples will be accepted for free resubmission.
All feather samples resubmitted for avian DNA sexing
will be considered as a new submission.
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ARCHIEVES
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HIGHLIGHTS FROM OUR PREVIOUS BULLETINS
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- NEW AVIAN PROFILE:
AVIAN RESPIRATORY PROFILE (12/31/2004)
(http://healthgene.com/avian/arch_bull_1231.asp)
- INFECTIOUS AVIAN DNA TESTING:
THREE-YEAR STATISTICAL ANALYSIS (11.03.2004)
(http://healthgene.com/avian/arch_bull_1104.asp)
======================================================
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in Ontario, Canada. For more information, call 416-658-2040
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on www.healthgene.com or in this bulletin for your club's
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or by phone - 416-658-2040.
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