Avian intestinal spirochetosis is a disease of poultry caused by the spirochete bacterium
Brachyspira, and is characterized by increased mortality, reduced egg production, weight loss,
diarrhoea, and fecal staining of egg shells, which leads to downgrading of eggs. The presence of
Brachyspira species in Ontario layer chicken flocks and its association with downgrades for dirty
eggs was explored. Further, farm interviews were conducted to determine risk factors associated
with the presence of Brachyspira species. The prevalence of Brachyspira species was
significantly higher in flocks with a higher proportion of dirty eggs (dirty flocks) compared to
those with a lower proportion of dirty eggs (clean flocks). Brachyspira pilosicoli was the only
pathogenic species detected. Risk factors associated with the presence of Brachyspira species
were flock age, barn age, multi-age farms, and housing type. Based on these findings,
recommendations were suggested to control the occurrence of Brachyspira species and the
associated dirty egg problem. / Animal Health Laboratory
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:OGU.10214/3229 |
| Date | 04 January 2012 |
| Creators | Asmelash Medhanie, Genet |
| Contributors | Guerin, Michele |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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