Avian intestinal spirochaetosis (AIS) is a recently-recognized disease
of poultry resulting in wet droppings due to increased faecal water
content, wet litter and faecal staining of eggs. Delayed and/or
reduced egg production is often associated with the increased
frequency of diarrhoea.
AIS is the subject of intense research at the moment and two papers
from last month's 4th International Conference on Colonic Spirochaetal
Infections in Animals and Humans in Prague, Czech Republic, are now
available online:
1. "Avian Intestinal Spirochaetosis - Experiences":
www.octagon-services.co.uk/articles/poultry/ukspirochaetosis.pdf
Infection can cause increased mortality, immaturity and a delay in the
onset of lay. The first re****t of a chronic B. pilosicoli infection in
laying hens found a 6% reduction in egg production and an increase in
mortality of 8.8%.
2. "Brachyspira Species Isolated from Poultry Samples":
www.octagon-services.co.uk/articles/poultry/brachyspira.pdf
AIS is caused by infection of the caeca and/or the colo-rectum by
Brachyspira species.
A third new paper, "Controlling Brachyspiras in Layers" is also
available online:
www.octagon-services.co.uk/articles/poultry/brachyspiras.htm
Mike
http://www.sunflower-health.com
