Histomonosis - an existing problem in chicken flocks in Poland

• DOI: 10.1007/s11259-015-9637-2
• Publication Date: 2015-05-14T03:49:23Z
• Authors: Beata Dolka; Artur Żbikowski; Izabella Dolka; Piotr Szeleszczuk
• Keywords: Flock; Bursa of Fabricius; Poultry farming

Histomonosis (histomoniasis, blackhead), beside coccidiosis, belongs to the most important parasitic protozoan diseases in poultry. So far Histomonas meleagridis infections with varied mortality rates have been mainly diagnosed young turkeys. Recently an increasing number of cases reported chicken flocks Europe resulting economic losses. It is thought that this situation predominantly caused by a complete withdrawal effective antihistomonals EU. Authors listed selected outbreaks histomonosis 10 originated from different farms 4 regions Poland: 8 broiler breeder (at mean age 33 weeks) and 2 commercial layers 38 weeks). This study here naturally occurring case H.meleagridis infection (BB) flock line ROSS 308 at 16 weeks. We showed acute form characteristic necrotic foci liver, ulcerative typhilitis. Beside liver caeca, multiple histomonads, lymphoid tissue depletion heavy destruction bursa Fabricius were observed. Additionally, absence systemic diffuse histomonads lack Heterakis gallinarum, caecal worm eggs faecal samples noted. PCR technique enabled detect presence genetic material investigated samples. indicate can be considered as re-emerging infectious intensive production system.