The specific objectives of this study were to determine the Newcastle disease virus (NDV) antibody titres from the chicken sera collected from various districts and provinces of Zambia and to determine the seroprevalence of ND in Zambian backyard chickens. Results showed that 73.9 % of the birds sampled tested positive for Newcastle disease (ND) antibodies. The seroprevalence of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) in Zambian backyard chicken flocks varied among the five provinces sampled, ranging from 82.6 % in Eastern Province to 48.3 % in Luapula Province. The seroprevalence of the virus also varied among the 11 districts sampled, ranging from 91.3 % in Monze District of Southern Province to 22.8 % in Mufulira District of the Copperbelt Province. The results indicated that the seroprevalence of ND in Zambia has increased since the last survey conducted in 1994. The data generated is expected to contribute towards a more clear understanding of the epidemiology of NDV that would ultimately contribute towards an improved ND control programme to benefit all stakeholders in Zambia. An improved ND control programme is expected to enhance flock numbers and ultimately improve the dietary requirements and income needs of many poor households in the country. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Veterinary Tropical Diseases / unrestricted

L’Influenza Aviaire Hautement Pathogène H5N1 (IAHP à H5N1) a été déclaré en Thaïlande lors de plusieurs vagues épidémiques puis lors de cas sporadiques entre 2004 et 2008, et le risque persiste encore en Thaïlande. La plupart des foyers confirmés d’IAHP à H5N1 en Thaïlande ont eu lieu dans les populations de volailles de basse-cour. Les poulets de basse-cour sont élevés pour de nombreuses raisons, y compris pour un revenu supplémentaire. Ce commerce est géré informellement par les collecteurs de volailles qui peuvent être classés en collecteur-abatteur (TS), sous-collecteur (HT) et collecteur de collecteurs (TT). Ces collecteurs se déplacent entre villages avec les mêmes véhicules et matériel non nettoyés. Nous avons mesuré leurs activités commerciales dans l'espace et le temps. Nous avons développé un modèle spatial dynamique compartimental et stochastique de la filière de poulet de basse-cour dans une province. Nos résultats indiquent que ces échanges commerciaux peuvent contribuer à la propagation d’IAHP à H5N1 grâce au chevauchement des zones de collecte et aux distances parcourues. Des variations temporelles ont été observées lors de certaines grandes fêtes rituelles tel le Nouvel An chinois. Nous avons développé un modèle SIR couplé au modèle de la filière de poulets. Nous avons supposé que la maladie peut se propager par deux moyens : localement entre villages voisins et par les échanges commerciaux. Nous avons utilisé ce modèle infectieux de base pour tester plusieurs mesures de contrôle connexes. Nos résultats suggèrent que lors d’un foyer une interdiction totale et rapide de tous les échanges de volailles devrait être mise en oeuvre ainsi qu’une campagne de désinfection. / Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 (HPAI H5N1) was recognized in Thailand by multiple epidemic waves and some sporadic cases between 2004 and 2008 but the risk of disease remerging in Thailand still remains up to present. Most of HPAI H5N1 confirmed outbreaks in Thailand occurred in backyard chicken populations. Backyard chickens are reared for many purposes including for additional cash income. Backyard chicken trade is informally managed by poultry traders which can be categorized into trader–slaughterhouse (TS), household trader (HT) and trader of trader (TT). These traders roam around different villages with the same unclean vehicle and facilities. Thus, their trade patterns in space and time are necessary to be elaborately studied. In our study, we developed a spatial compartmental stochastic dynamic model of backyard chicken trade network in a province of Thailand. Our model results indicated that the structure of poultry networks may contribute to HPAI H5N1 spread through overlapped catchment areas and long distance trades. Also, temporal variations of live poultry movements were observed during some major ritual festivals especially Chinese New Year. Subsequently, we developed an SIR model upon the dynamic model of backyard chicken trade network. It was assumed in this study that the disease can spread by two means: local spread to neighboring uninfected villages and spread by poultry traders. Then, we used this baseline infectious model to test multiple related control measures. Our ultimate results suggested that a complete ban of all poultry traders should be promptly implemented with poultry area disinfection campaign once the outbreak occurs.

A shortage of academic literature exists on North American backyard chicken (BYC) keeping. This is particularly apparent when we ask why people keep backyard chickens in North American cities. This thesis examines individuals’ motivations and lived experiences with raising non-permitted BYC within the City of Winnipeg, using a phenomenological approach and Hanisch’s (2006) the Personal is Political theoretical perspective. Participants were motivated to keep BYC for food production, learning opportunities, leisure and companionship. Motivations were personal and often partly political. Sources of satisfaction derived from keeping BYC included food products, by-products and production, increased sense of connection, enjoyment, leisure, entertainment and companionship, learning opportunities, and doing what felt right. Fear of being found out, isolation and negative stereotypes were challenges experienced. Should the existing bylaw change, permitting BYC on residential Winnipeg properties, participants recommended imposing BYC-specific regulations and public education as a way of addressing concerns and mitigating potential issues. / October 2015

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Poultry production is a very important economic activity in Brazil once the country is among the highest world avian producers. The knowledge of the pathogens epidemiology is essential to the control of infectious diseases and such control is very strict in chickens and turkeys on the avian industry. However, the avian population of the country shows a big diversity of domestic and wild birds and the chicken backyard population is out of this control. To investigate the presence of antibodies against specific viruses in the backyard chicken population, blood was collected of 867 non-vaccinated birds, from 60 farms and 22 counties from the Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. Neutralizing antibodies against infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) were detected in 65% (564/867) of the individuals, against avian reovirus (ARV) in 21.6% (187/867) and, against infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) in 80.2% (695/867). The results presented on the first chapter indicated that the tested viruses are circulating among this population. Among the wild species there is a group of Galliformes, classified at the Cracidae family and commonly known as guans, chachalacas and curassows which deserved a special attention in the present study. To determine the microbiota, the bacterial resistance and the presence of antibodies against specific viruses in these birds, fifty one serum and cloacal swab samples were collected from 10 different cracid species captive in the Rio Grande do Sul State during 2007. Serum samples were submitted to serum-neutralization test and specific antibodies were detected against IBV in 5.9% (3/51) of the cracids, against ARV in 15.7% (8/51) and, against IBDV in 35.3% (18/51). All the samples were found to be negative to fowlpox virus by the AGID test. Bacterial isolation and identification were performed from the cloacal swabs. After that, the isolates were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility. Ninety three bacterial isolates were obtained from 10 different genera. Escherichia spp., Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. are among the most prevalent genera. Antimicrobial resistance was observed in several isolates, with Serratia marcescens presenting the highest level of resistance to multi drugs followed by Streptococcus spp., Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, among others. The results from the second chapter of this dissertation allowed us to conclude that bacterial resistance is spread in the captive cracid microbiota and, most importantly, these species are susceptible to the infection by IBV, IBDV and ARV. / A avicultura é uma das principais atividades econômicas do Brasil, que ocupa posição de destaque entre os exportadores de frango e subprodutos. O conhecimento da epidemiologia de patógenos que podem gerar prejuízos a essa atividade é essencial para o controle das enfermidades infecciosas. Este controle é realizado em larga escala em galinhas e perus criados no sistema industrial. Entretanto a população avícola do país consiste de uma grande diversidade de aves domésticas e selvagens, sendo o grupo conhecido como galinhas de terreiro formado por indivíduos desta espécie criados fora do sistema industrial. Com o objetivo de investigar a presença de anticorpos contra alguns vírus específicos na população de galinhas de terreiro, foram coletadas amostras de sangue de 867 galinhas não vacinadas, em 60 propriedades de 22 municípios do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, que foram testadas pela técnica de soroneutralização. Anticorpos contra o vírus da bronquite infecciosa das galinhas (IBV) foram detectados em 65% (564/867) destas aves, contra o reovírus aviário (ARV) em 21,6% (187/867) e contra o vírus da doença infecciosa da bolsa (IBDV) em 80,2% (695/867). Os descritos no primeiro capítulo desta dissertação permitiram demostrar a circulação dos vírus testados na população descrita. No segundo capítulo trabalhou-se com aves da ordem Galliformes, pertencentes à família Cracidae e conhecidos popularmente como jacus, jacutingas, araquãs e mutuns, com o intuito de conhecer a microbiota, resistência bacteriana e a presença de anticorpos contra vírus de aves, 51 amostras de soro e swab cloacal de 10 diferentes espécies de cracídeos cativos do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul foram coletadas durante o ano de 2007. As amostras de soro foram utilizadas para a detecção de anticorpos neutralizantes contra o IBV, ARV e IBDV, onde obteve os seguintes resultados: contra o IBV em 5,9% (3/51) das amostras positivas, contra o ARV em 15,7% (8/51) e contra o IBDV em 35,3% (18/51). Através do teste de imunodifusão em gel de ágar (IDGA) determinou-se que todas as amostras de soro eram negativas para o vírus da bouba aviária. Para o isolamento e identificação bacteriana foram realizados dos swabs cloacais e, posteriormente, foi testada a susceptibilidade antimicrobiana. Foram obtidos 93 isolados bacterianos, divididos em 10 diferentes gêneros. Entre os gêneros bacterianos mais prevalentes estavam Escherichia spp., Staphylococcus spp. e Streptococcus spp. Foi observada em grande número de isolados resistência à antimicrobianos, sendo que a bactéria Serratia marcescens apresentou o maior índice de resistência múltipla antimicrobiana. Os altos índices de resistência também foram detectados para Streptococcus spp., Staphylococcus aureus e Escherichia coli. Os resultados apresentados permitem concluir que a resistência bacteriana está disseminada na microbiota de cracídeos cativos e que indivíduos destas espécies são suscetíveis à infecção pelo IBV, IBDV e ARV, assim como as galinhas de terreiro.