Avian cholera detected at two Kansas wildlife areas

Officials in Kansas are closely monitoring waterfowl populations at Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area and Quivira National Wildlife Refuge after dead geese were observed in the wetlands. Staff at both areas picked up dead birds recently and sent samples for testing.
Lab results confirmed that avian cholera, a contagious disease resulting from infection by the bacterium Pasteurella multocida, was the cause of death. This strain of bacteria commonly affects geese, coots, gulls and crows. Most of the dead birds found have been snow geese.
“We picked up about 30 dead geese on December 14,” said Karl Grover, Cheyenne manager. “Those birds had died between [Dec. 11 and Dec. 14], so we’re seeing about 10 dead birds a day. We estimate that the Bottoms is holding between 75,000 and 150,000 geese, half of which are snows, and about 10,000 ducks.”
USFWS staff at Quivira NWR gave similar estimates. Refuge manager Mike Oldham said some geese moved off of the refuge after the weekend.
“We probably have about 80,000 geese and about half of them are snow geese,” Oldham said. “We’re picking up about 4-5 dead birds per day.”
While it’s not uncommon for a contagious disease to affect waterfowl when large numbers are concentrated, avian cholera deaths are not common in Kansas. According to the USGS National Wildlife Health Center, humans are not at high risk for infection with the bacteria strain causing avian cholera. However, it’s recommended that hunters and their dogs avoid contact with any sick or dead birds.
Avian cholera quickly overcomes infected birds, resulting in death in as little as 6-12 hours, although 24-48 hours is more common. Infected birds may exhibit signs such as convulsions, throwing head back between wings, swimming in circles, erratic flight and miscalculated landing attempts.
Avian cholera should not be confused with avian influenza, which is a highly pathogenic virus that infected millions of poultry flocks in the upper Midwest last summer.

Research renders good news about Marek's Disease

USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation have announced the completion of a funded research project at the USDA Agriculture Research Service in East Lansing, MI, in which researchers found that the virulence of Marek’s disease virus may have plateaued. The project is part of the Association’s comprehensive research program encompassing all phases of poultry and egg production and processing. A brief summary of the completed project is shown below.
The project summary is as follows:
Project #F051: Pathotyping of Current Marek’s Disease Virus Field Strains and Identification of Sequence Variants to Predict Virulence
(Dr. John Dunn and Dr. Hans Cheng, Avian Disease and Oncology Laboratory, USDA Agricultural Research Service, East Lansing)
Researchers at the USDA Avian Disease and Oncology Laboratory recently completed a project that focused on the continued evolution of Marek’s disease virus (MDV). The disease causes tumors in chickens, has a long history of continuous evolution toward increased virulence in the field, which has required the continued development of more effective vaccines.
Dr. Dunn has completed the first survey of current MDV field viruses since 1997 and found, surprisingly, that the virulence of MDV in the U.S. poultry industry may have plateaued. He was not able to find MDV from current field cases that were any more virulent than viruses from 20 years ago. This is good news for the industry and may indicate that current management and vaccine programs have had a big positive impact.A complete report, along with information on other Association research, may be obtained by going to USPOULTRY’s website, www.uspoultry.org.

Research team is studying the development of disease-resistant poultry

Poultry disease is an international issue, especially when there is an outbreak close to home. However, it’s a particularly costly problem in developing countries. 
Developing animals resistant to disease may be one of the long-term solutions. University of Georgia researchers in the Regenerative Bioscience Center have spent the last four years gathering data that could make the process a reality.
The team, which includes Steven Stice and Franklin West in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and Claudio Afonso at the Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service, used a technology platform called shRNA—single strands of RNA that fold back on themselves—to selectively stop the production of nucleic acids that cause disease, such as the Newcastle disease virus. 
Newcastle disease is a worldwide problem and is caused by one of the most deadly of all viruses that spreads between birds. Exotic Newcastle virus, the most devastating form of the virus, has been eradicated in the U.S. and Canada. The milder forms of Newcastle are kept under control using vaccines.
The research team’s tooling process for enhancing disease resistance, published recently in the Journal of the International Alliance for Biological Standardization, is potentially a much better way of disease protection than vaccination, because it introduces permanent genetic resistance that is transmittable to a bird’s offspring, the researchers said. In contrast, many vaccines provide protection for a given period of time and must be re-administered periodically.
“With this technology, we can target specific regions used by the Newcastle disease virus that are critical for its survival,” said Stice, a Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar and director of the Regenerative Bioscience Center. “Preventing these lethal viruses from replicating in individual chickens may in the end reduce the overall level of virus transmission from one chicken to the next.”
Multiple types of animals and disease could be targeted. This technology could also be applied to avian influenza and swine flu. “Ultimately, you could have birds that are both avian influenza resistant and Newcastle disease virus resistant,” said West, an assistant professor in the animal and dairy science department. “Theoretically, you may never have to vaccinate again.”
Organized distribution of vaccine products can also present problems, especially in countries where farmers may not have a refrigerator or other means to store the vaccines at the temperature needed to keep the vaccine alive. This is particularly true in rural areas where backyard flocks may be a farmer’s main source of income. 
Shipping disease-resistant chickens produced here in the U.S. could be the best possible solution for many countries, Stice said. “We’ve taken many years to prove that this technology is viable,” he continued, “and we’re now ready to expand our work to the next stage.”
The study, “Delayed Newcastle disease virus replication using RNA interference to target the nucleoprotein,” is available at 
www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1045105615000275

USDA funds Ohio State poultry respiratory disease study

Ohio State University is receiving a $1.46 million grant from the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to develop knowledge-based integrated approaches to detect, control, and prevent poultry respiratory diseases in the United States through new and improved diagnostic tools, vaccines, and novel preventive measures.
The grant is one of three grants announced on April 13 by NIFA that are designed to boost food security by minimizing livestock losses to insects and diseases. The awards to support research, education, and Extension efforts were made through NIFA's Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), which is authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill.
NIFA made the awards through the AFRI Food Security challenge area, which seeks to increase sustainable food production. Priority was given to projects that will improve prevention, early detection, rapid diagnosis, or recovery from new, foreign, or emerging diseases or arthropods that have the potential to cause major impacts on food security.
Other grants announced by NIFA include $47,464 to Mississippi State University and a $1.48 million grant to the University of Vermont.
The grant to Mississippi State is for a project to create a portable computer and communication center for training veterinary students, graduate students, practicing veterinarians, and other food production stakeholders to use system dynamics modeling, other forms of stochastic and deterministic modeling and health data management or analysis software to protect livestock from pests and disease.
The University of Vermont grant is for a study to reduce the impact of new, emerging and foreign pests and diseases to domestic production of cattle, swine and small ruminant foods and byproducts.
"These grants will allow scientists to discover the new tools and technologies necessary to deal with the threats insects and pathogens pose to livestock production in our nation, which ultimately benefit consumers through abundant, affordable food." said Sonny Ramaswamy, NIFA director.

FAO, SIB crunching genomes to fight poultry, livestock disease

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has chosen the Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (SIB) as a designated reference center to expand its access to state-of the-art technology in combating dangerous viral infections, including avian influenza and foot-and-mouth disease, in farm animals and wildlife.
The SIB is equipped with high performance computers, software, databases and a knowledgebase used for screening and monitoring zoonotic diseases. These, like avian influenza, strike animals but can also be transmitted to humans.
Working closely with FAO, SIB experts have developed tools to improve early detection and fast alert systems to prevent and respond to transboundary disease emergencies in poultry or livestock.
"The new technology helps us understand biological threats in order to help countries better prevent, respond and ultimately protect the health of humans, animals and the environment," said FAO Chief Veterinary Officer Juan Lubroth.


Bioinformatics
SIB specializes in bioinformatics, a relatively new science which employs computer technology to study biological data. Scientists use bioinformatics to gather, process and analyze information on the genomes of pathogens - the genetic material peculiar to specific micro-organisms, such as viruses, bacteria and fungi that cause diseases in their hosts.
This lets them compare genomes, understand protein structures, and identify how diseases work at the molecular level. Such information enables scientists to develop new drugs and targeted treatments as well as improve the effectiveness of existing medicines.
The new technologies play an important role in understanding the nature and dynamics of biological threats, and FAO, in collaboration with SIB, has developed online e-learning courses on bioinformatics in viral pathogens that can help laboratory technicians, physicians, veterinarians and researchers around the world improve their work while increasing access to this emerging field of competence.


Sharing vital knowledge
SIB's database feeds information into FAO's Global Animal Disease Information System (EMPRES-i), the web-based application that supports veterinary services access regional and global disease information.
In particular SIB's databases on OpenFlu - already linked to EMPRES-i and combining virological and epidemiological information - and OpenFMD, provide resources on influenza and foot-and-mouth viruses respectively. This will help scientists in developing countries contribute directly to the global knowledge base on these diseases and properly assess the risk posed to their countries.
Future joint initiatives include a genetic module for Rift Valley fever - a viral disease that is potentially devastating to livestock and can also be transmitted to humans - peste des petits ruminants, and African swine fever.

Learn about chicken anemia virus, infectious bursal disease virus

Reduced productive performance and/or damage to immune organs have been associated with infection with chicken anemia virus (CAV) and infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV). In addition, a synergistic effect between CAV and IBDV has also been reported.
Register at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/121674689 to attend a webinar, “Preventing Economic Losses from CAV and IBDV synergism,” sponsored by Lohmann Animal Health and presented by WATT Global Media, to learn about CAV and IBDV co-infection as well as effective CAV control strategies to maximize poultry health. The webinar will be held Wednesday, March 11, 2015 at 8 a.m. CDT.
The fact that both immunosuppressive pathogens are ubiquitous in commercial chicken operations provides ample conditions for interaction and a major challenge for poultry veterinarians and producers. While numerous effective strategies have been developed to control IBDV, vaccination against CAV has not received the same level of attention.  Effective CAV vaccination of breeder flocks providing homogeneous and long-lasting immunity to progeny chickens shall reduce the synergistic effect of CAV with IBDV as well as with other pathogens, and ultimately reduce economic losses. 
By attending this webinar, you’ll learn:


• How CAV and IBDV cause immunodeficiency in chickens
• What scientific evidences support an interaction between CAV and IBDV
• Why effective vaccination and monitoring are essential to reduce CAV associated health problems
The featured speaker for this webinar is Dr. Haroldo Toro, professor of avian diseases, Department of Pathobiology at Auburn University.
Toro received his DVM degree in 1983 and his PhD in 1987 from the Institute of Avian Diseases of Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen, Germany. Between 1987 and 2001, Toro worked in the Laboratory of Avian Pathology at the University of Chile College of Veterinary Sciences. In 2002, he joined the faculty at Auburn University of Veterinary Medicine. His current research focuses on further understanding CAV and the interactions of CAV with other avian pathogens as well as further understanding of the infectious bronchitis role. Toro has published 80 peer-reviewed articles in the field of avian diseases and is a member of the editorial board the of the Avian Diseases journal.

MSD viral infectious bronchitis vaccine gets EU approval

Following a positive opinion from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Veterinary Use (CVMP), the European Commission has granted the marketing authorization for the veterinary medicinal product Nobilis IB Primo QX from MSD Animal Health to protect chickens against viral infectious bronchitis caused by QX-like variants of infectious bronchitis virus.
MSD Animal Health is known as Merck Animal Health in the United States and Canada.
Nobilis IB Primo QX will be the first vaccine developed using Sphereon technology in the EU, which freeze-dries live vaccines to small, highly soluble particles (spheres) that allow for packaging in light-weight aluminum cups in convenient dose sizes. The spheres produced by Spheron technology dissolve easily and quickly for improved preparation and administration of the vaccine.
“We are pleased that the European Commission has approved Nobilis IB Primo QX,” said Ian Tarpey, executive director, global poultry R&D, MSD Animal Health. “The QX strain of infectious bronchitis virus has become increasingly common, and Nobilis IB Primo QX will be an important tool for producers due to its proven efficacy and its easy administration method.”
Nobilis IB Primo QX is given to chickens from one day of age or older by spraying onto the chickens or by applying by eye-drop, and provides protection for eight weeks. The vaccine can be mixed with Nobilis IB Ma5 to provide additional protection against Massachusetts strains of the infectious bronchitis virus.

Poultry disease identification made easier with test alteration

USDA scientists have found a way to make it easier to detect avian reticuloendotheliosis and Marek's disease by modifying an already available test.
The two diseases are highly contagious and can cause cancer-like diseases, production losses and death of birds. Marek's disease usually affects young adult chickens, while reticuloendotheliosis infects chickens as well as other poultry, including turkeys, ducks, geese and quail.
Aly Fadly, research leader of the USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Avian Disease and Oncology Laboratory (ADOL) in East Lansing, Michigan, modified a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay to detect unique genetic sequences of the viruses that cause the diseases.
Diagnosing diseases involves taking tissue from the bird's affected organs, preserving it, and identifying the virus by microscopic examination, which most laboratories are equipped to do. However, if a definitive diagnosis can't be reached, fresh or frozen tissue from affected birds must be obtained and sent to the laboratory for further testing.
The modified PCR allows diagnostic laboratories to extract virus DNA from preserved tissues to detect the two diseases. It offers an effective alternative to current cumbersome biological and molecular tests that require frozen or fresh tissue samples, Fadly said. In addition, there is no need to rush more expensive frozen tissues to laboratories. That's because samples are preserved in formalin, a cheap, readily available solid. Samples preserved in formalin can be shipped by ground mail, making the process less expensive.
ADOL scientists developing Marek's disease vaccines
In other research, ADOL scientists are developing vaccines to help prevent the spread of Marek's and other avian diseases. They have developed a new vaccine, called CVRM2, which effectively protects chickens against Marek's disease viruses. ARS recently approved a license agreement with a private company to make CVRM2 into a commercial vaccine.

WATT webinar to focus on serology and fowl adenovirus

Fowl adenovirus (FAV) are worldwide-distributed viruses that affect poultry in a wide array of manifestations that vary in form. Attend the webinar “Fowl adenovirus: Using serology to control your flocks” to learn the serological methods used in the diagnosis and monitoring of fowl adenovirus so poultry producers can prevent disease cause by the organism.
The webinar, sponsored by BioChek and presented by WATT Global Media, will be held Tuesday, September 9, 2014, at 9 a.m. CDT. Register at https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/852546577?linknumber=website to attend.
Special emphasis will be put on the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as a tool for mass screening. Diagnosis of FAV is attained by combination of several techniques, including ELISA as a useful tool. The control of FAV is complex, and involves among others, biosecurity, achieving sero-conversion of parent flocks prior to lay, and avoiding immunosuppression.
Poultry veterinarians, integrators, producers and processors, poultry farm managers, C-level poultry professionals, and allied poultry health professionals should attend this webinar to learn


• What are the pathological conditions caused by FAV
• About serological methods available to diagnose and monitor FAV
• How to use ELISA as a tool to control the impact of FAV and maintain healthier flocks


Featured speaker
The speaker for this webinar will be Dr. Rafael Monleon, business unit manager at BioChek. Monleon graduated with a DVM from University Complutense of Madrid (Spain) and with a MSpVM/Residency from North Carolina State University (USA). He is a diplomate of the American College of Poultry Veterinarians and a registered ARPAS Professional Animal Scientist with specialty in Poultry. He has authored several publications in leading journals and industry magazines and is a well-known international speaker that has been invited to multiple meetings and conferences worldwide.
Monleon has been in the poultry industry for more than 12 years and has a broad experience ranging from primary breeding to processing. He worked for the Meat Hygiene Service in the United Kingdom, safeguarding public health in poultry processing operations, then moved to work for Aviagen as regional veterinarian, implementing poultry health plans in the Asia Pacific region. In 2013, he joined BioChek, where he manages product development, technical support, and the link between research and field performance at the customer level.

IPC calls on OIE, WHO for neutral disease naming

The International Poultry Council has expressed its support for efforts by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to review the nomenclature of existing and emerging animal diseases to ensure that the names are used accurately by the media and by infectious disease experts.
In letters to Dr. Bernard Vallat, director general of the OIE, and to WHO Director General Dr. Margaret Chan, IPC President Jim Sumner wrote that the IPC shares the interest of OIE and WHO in developing a science-based and neutral nomenclature for diseases, including influenza viruses that affect poultry.
“We believe that such an approach to naming viruses, consistently promulgated by OIE, WHO and FAO, and by other relevant international bodies and networks, …would greatly reduce the potential for major market disruptions from consumer loss of confidence at times of influenza and other disease outbreaks, and help to correct existing misleading usage,” Sumner wrote.
Widespread use of such terms as “bird flu” in media reports of incidents of influenza in poultry often create confusion and fear among consumers leading to reduced consumption of poultry, which can be costly to producers. During the H7N9 influenza outbreak in China in 2013, for example, fearful consumers shunned poultry, and consumption plummeted, costing the Chinese poultry industry an estimated $600 million in lost sales.
At IPC’s most recent conference in Istanbul, members discussed the issue at length and voted to support OIE and WHO’s disease nomenclature initiatives, and to offer technical expertise to the organizations if needed.
The OIE has officially recognized the IPC as the organization representing the global poultry meat industry. The IPC’s 24 country members account for about 85 percent of global poultry production and 95 percent of international trade in poultry meat.

Ceva summit reviews poultry diseases, solutions

Almost 200 poultry professionals from 21 European and African countries, including veterinarians, poultry production managers, renowned experts and Ceva team managers, met at a summit April 28-30 in Lisbon, Portugal, to discuss present and future solutions for Gumboro disease and infectious bronchitis control.
Ceva’s guests had the opportunity to hear from expert scientists on immunology, poultry pathology, incubation and vaccinology, in order to review the diseases and how to control them, with scientific and practical information on prevention, vaccine administration, and process control from the hatchery to the farm. The critical points to know, understand, check and share were discussed at length.
“Gumboro disease, infectious bronchitis and Newcastle disease are some of the most challenging avian diseases with major negative impacts on chicken production,” explained Sylvain Comte, Ceva corporate marketing director – poultry. “As part of our commitment to the poultry industry, we want to bring the latest data and the best advice to producers. Our ultimate goal is to help our clients improve their disease control measures and performance in their day-to-day activity.” 

Research provides new insight into controlling blackhead disease

USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation announce the completion of a funded research project at the University of Georgia in Athens, Ga., which studied blackhead disease in poultry. The project is part of the association’s comprehensive research program encompassing all phases of poultry and egg production and processing.
Dr. Robert Beckstead and Dr. Larry McDougald at the University of Georgia found that there are many reservoirs of blackhead disease and that isolates of the causative agent vary widely in their virulence and drug sensitivity. An experimental live attenuated vaccine failed to protect birds against the disease. Studies on the transmission of blackhead disease indicate that spreading of litter from pullet houses in which flocks have had blackhead disease may be an important risk factor for spreading blackhead disease.

How to mitigate ectoparasites in alternative laying systems

The key to mitigating bugs and mites in alternative laying systems is recognizing the problem early on in an infestation, according to Dr. Jim Arends, of JABB of the Carolinas, who spoke March 19 at the Midwest Poultry Federation Convention in St. Paul, Minn.
Arends, who was part of the Poultry Litter Management Workshop at the convention, said there are concerns with ectoparasites in alternative laying systems. Ectoparasites are parasites that live on the surface of a host, such as fleas and ticks.
"In the last 3 years, with more alternative systems coming online, the list of pests that I have seen in these systems has expanded," Arends said in a report submitted before the convention.
The recent emergence of bugs in poultry systems include northern fowl mites, lice, flies, red mites, pyomotes, darkling or fungus beetles, bed bugs, and fleas and ticks, Arends said.
"Most of the pests on the above list have not been commonly seen in 20 or more years," Arends said in the report. "That lack of these pests being common means that few people know what they look like on the birds or in the facility and also do not know how to look for them, where to look for them, or the time interval to evaluate the birds for a problem."
Ectoparasites can lead to several problems in a layer house, including spread of disease, decreases in egg production, and compromised immune systems.
In order to catch an infestation early and manage it, Arends said there are three keys:

• Identification of the pest and understanding of its life cycle and habitat
• Understanding the management options
• Understanding the control options
Catching a problem early will make management and control much easier and less costly than if the infestation has gone on for a longer period of time.
To monitor a flock for parasites, Arends said at least 10 percent of the birds should be checked at least monthly.
Arends said treating an infestation in alternative layer systems has become more difficult because the birds cannot be contained for a spray application, which is the simplest treatment. The pests' resistance to treatment products also poses a challenge.
Providing birds with access to dust boxes containing diatomaceous earth, kaolin or sulfur has been found to reduce lice and northern fowl mites. Insecticidal soaps - or even household degreasing soaps - can reduce pests, but numerous retreatments are required. Bio-pesticides are also a good option, due to low resistance levels.
Arends stressed that biosecurity in and around poultry houses is extremely important. People, equipment and birds should be closely monitored to prevent a problem from beginning in the first place.

New case of IBD virus confirmed in Washington

A new case of infectious bursal disease (IBD) virus, which is not known to infect humans or other animals, has now been confirmed in one flock of birds in the state of Washington, according to a report from Washington State University (WSU).
The viral poultry disease can result in high death losses in flocks, affecting young birds significantly. The disease can also suppress the birds' immune system, making them more vulnerable to secondary disease resulting in birds that do not die quickly.
Other forms of the virus are present throughout the U.S., but this new version has been reported only prior in California, and now, the state of Washington. The disease is not a regulated, reportable one, and is usually managed by poultry veterinarians and flock owners through biosecurity and disinfection.
Wild birds, such as healthy ducks, guinea fowl, quail and pheasants, have been found to be naturally infected with IBD virus, but they do not appear to be significant in the spread of disease to domestic poultry, according to WSU.
Diagnosis is based on clinical signs including death losses, depression and ruffling of feathers, poor appetite, huddling, an unsteady gate, reluctance to rise and diarrhea. As a result, the disease can be confused with other poultry diseases.
Experts advise that definitive diagnosis is made through post-mortem examination and virus testing. WSU says the Washington State University-Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratories in Pullman, Wash., and the WSU Avian Health and Food Safety Laboratory in Puyallup, Wash., can provide assistance and testing of recently deceased birds.

Zoetis introduces Rotecc Coccidiosis-Management Initiative

Zoetis Inc. introduced Rotecc Coccidiosis Management, a new, science-based initiative to help poultry producers worldwide develop more strategic, cost-effective and sustainable programs for battling the costly parasitic disease.
"Overall, the poultry industry has done a commendable job managing coccidiosis. But clearly, when you look at billions of dollars in losses associated with the disease, there is still lots of room for improvement," Mark LaVorgna, Ph.D., a nutritionist and global technical services director for the company, said at a news conference in Atlanta before the 2014 International Production and Processing Expo.
Rotecc begins with a consultation by a Zoetis representative, who reviews a poultry operation's past and current programs, necropsy data and results from anticoccidial sensitivity testing, as well as seasonal preferences for product usage, production goals and management practices. Other variables such as feed costs and meat prices also are considered.
Rotecc is built on best practices widely accepted by the poultry science community for coccidiosis management. Specifically, this includes not using the same in-feed anticoccidial for too long, rotating among products from different classes, resting each product and using a synthetic anticoccidial once yearly to clean up lingering coccidia and help reduce infection pressure.
Don Waldrip, D.V.M., senior technical services veterinarian for the company, with years of production experience, said poultry producers would benefit from thinking longer term - perhaps even 24 months ahead - when developing their coccidiosis-management programs.
To support Rotecc, Zoetis is developing several digital tools to help producers and veterinarians tailor a long-term program to suit their individual needs. These include the Rotecc Program Advisor, an iPad app that initially will be available in the U.S., and a Rotecc Calculator, which will run on the iPad and Windows operating systems. It will be used to help determine the most cost-effective anticoccidials for each producer's rotation plan while adhering to best practices for rotation. 

Researchers characterize new pathogenic Gumboro viruses

The USPOULTRY Foundation announced the completion of a funded research project at Ohio State University, Wooster, Ohio, that characterizes new pathogenic Gumboro viruses. The project is part of the USPOULTRY's comprehensive research program encompassing all phases of poultry and egg production and processing. A brief summary of the completed project is shown below. A complete report, along with information on other research, may be obtained by going to USPOULTRY's website. The project summary is as follows: 

Project #F038: Studies on Newly Emerging Reassortant Very Virulent Infectious Bursal Disease Viruses
(Dr. Daral Jackwood, Ohio State University, Wooster, Ohio)
In recent years the very virulent infectious bursal disease virus (Gumboro virus) has appeared in the U.S. poultry industry for the first time. The virus has since recombined with infectious bursal disease viruses that have been common in the U.S. for years. Researchers at the Ohio State University, led by Dr. Daral Jackwood, have isolated and characterized these new recombined viruses and found that they are less virulent than the parent very virulent viruses but break through maternal antibodies earlier than our native viruses. This may require adjustments in breeder vaccination programs in areas of the country where these viruses have been found.

Newcastle outbreak in Papua New Guinea linked to Indonesian poultry or eggs

A Newcastle Disease outbreak initially reported in Papua New Guinea in May 2013 is believed to have been introduced through fresh or frozen chicken meat or eggs from Indonesia. The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) reported the suspected source of Newcastle Disease in Papua New Guinea on January 2.
The Papua New Guinea Newcastle Disease outbreak was first reported by the OIE on May 3, 2013. The outbreak was confined to a single village in the Vanimo Green district of the Sanduan province.
Control measures used included stamping out, quarantine, movement control, screening, zoning and disinfection of the infected premises. No further control measures are expected.

Research advances understanding of vaccination against Arkansas infectious bronchitis

USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation announce the completion of a funded research project at Auburn University on research that advances the understanding of vaccination against Arkansas Infectious Bronchitis. The project is part of USPOULTRY's comprehensive research program encompassing all phases of poultry and egg production and processing.
Led by Dr. van Ginkel, Auburn University, researchers studied the immune response to Arkansas infectious bronchitis virus (ARK IBV). Despite widespread vaccination, ARK IBV continues to sporadically cause disease in U.S. broilers. The researchers found that tiny changes in the structure of the virus allow it to evade the immune system of the chicken. This research helps explain the cause of apparent vaccine failures and may lead to improved vaccines in the future.
A complete report, along with information on other association research, may be obtained by going to USPOULTRY's website.

WVPA Congress concludes with success in France

The World Veterinary Poultry Association's (WVPA) XVIIIth Congress that was held in Nantes, France from August 19-23 was a "triumph," according to WVPA global president, Dr. Trevor Bagust.
The theme of "viral and bacterial enteric diseases" was the focus for the Avian Pathology Lecture, presented by Professor Filip van Immersel of Belgium.
"The French organizing team did WVPA proud with a program of some 500 oral and poster presentations and their hospitality and social events were exceptional. Nobody can have left this Congress without a better understanding of key topical issues such as influenza, campylobacter, in ovo vaccination and antibiotic resistance," Bagust said.
The event's main industry supporters, Ceva, MSD Animal Health, Merial and Zoetis, also praised the quality of the papers and posters. Another event highlight was the induction of the first 52 members elected to the WVPA's new Hall of Honor. The Bart Rispens Award (supported by MSD Animal Health) and the WVPA-Zoetis Young Poultry Veterinarian Awards were also presented.
"Hosting WVPA's XVIIIth Congress was an honor, which was made all the more memorable because we had poultry health experts attending from 79 countries and we were particularly pleased to have had a good turnout from Asia," the French organizer, Nicolas Eterradossi, added.
In 2014 WVPA will be hosting Regional Meetings in Asia and Europe.

Positive necrotic enteritis vaccine study may offer poultry industry new option

A vaccine against necrotic enteritis is being developed at the University of Exeter in the UK. Research has shown that the bacterium produces a toxin called NetB and that much of the disease is caused by the effects of this toxin.
Researchers at the university, in collaboration with Ghent University in Belgium and Birkbeck University of London, have unraveled the molecular structure of the NetB toxin. Exchanging crucial amino acids in the toxin has enabled the researchers to identify a non-toxic form of NetB. Immunization with non-toxic NetB results in protection against necrotic enteritis.
Sergio Fernandes da Costa, from the University of Exeter, commented: "This is a tremendous step towards developing a necrotic enteritis vaccine that will control this disease in the future. We are working closely with the animal health industry to develop a product that can be efficiently given to entire poultry flocks in feed or water."
Necrotic enteritis is thought to cost the poultry industry an estimated £600 million worldwide each year. There has been a dramatic increase in the disease in various parts of the world following reduction in the use of antibiotic growth promoters in feed.