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Ritu SN, Labony SS, Hossain MS, Ali MH, Hasan MM, Nadia N, Shirin A, Islam A, Shohana NN, Alam MM, Dey AR, Alim MA, Anisuzzaman. Ascaridia galli, a common nematode in semiscavenging indigenous chickens in Bangladesh: epidemiology, genetic diversity, pathobiology, ex vivo culture, and anthelmintic efficacy. Poult Sci 2024; 103:103405. [PMID: 38183880 PMCID: PMC10809094 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2023.103405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Ascaridia galli is the most common nematode in chickens. Ascaridia galli is highly prevalent in chickens reared in scavenging or semiscavenging systems. Here, we studied the epidemiology, pathology, genetic diversity, ex vivo culture protocol and anthelmintic sensitivity of A. galli prevalent in indigenous chickens in Bangladesh. Through morphological study and molecular analyses, the isolated worms were confirmed as A. galli. Of the chickens examined, 45.6% (178 out of 390) were found infected. The male and young chickens were significantly (P < 0.05) more prone to A. galli infection. Prevalence of the infection was significantly (P < 0.05) lower in the summer season. In heavy infections, A. galli blocked the small intestine. Marked inflammation, increased mucus production and petechial hemorrhages were evident in the small intestine, particularly in the duodenum. Also, there were desquamation and adhesion of the mucosal villi; degeneration, necrosis of the epithelial cells and goblet cell hyperplasia. The mucosal layer was infiltrated mainly with eosinophils and heterophils. We developed a hen egg white-based long-term ex vivo culture protocol which supported the survival and reproduction of A. galli for more than a week. Levamisole (LEV) and ivermectin (IVM) efficiently killed A. galli. However, albendazole (ABZ), mebendazole (MBZ), and piperazine (PPZ) did not kill the worms even at 120 μg/mL and 1mg/mL concentrations, respectively. Taken together, our results suggest that A. galli is highly prevalent in semiscavenging chickens in Bangladesh. Ascaridia galli can be easily maintained ex vivo in egg white supplemented M199 medium. LEV and IVM, but not ABZ, MBZ and PPZ, can be used for treating and controlling A. galli infections in chickens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumaya Naznin Ritu
- Department of Parasitology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh
| | - Sharmin Shahid Labony
- Department of Parasitology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh
| | - Md Shahadat Hossain
- Department of Parasitology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh
| | - Md Haydar Ali
- Department of Parasitology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh; Department of Pathology and Parasitology, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur 5200, Bangladesh
| | - Muhammad Mehedi Hasan
- Department of Fisheries Technology, Faculty of Fisheries, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh
| | - Nusrat Nadia
- Department of Parasitology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh
| | - Akter Shirin
- Department of Parasitology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh
| | - Ausraful Islam
- Department of Parasitology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh
| | - Nusrat Nowrin Shohana
- Department of Parasitology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh
| | - Md Mahmudul Alam
- Department of Surgery and Obstetrics, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh
| | - Anita Rani Dey
- Department of Parasitology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh
| | - Md Abdul Alim
- Department of Parasitology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh
| | - Anisuzzaman
- Department of Parasitology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh.
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Höglund J, Daş G, Tarbiat B, Geldhof P, Jansson DS, Gauly M. Ascaridia galli - An old problem that requires new solutions. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2023; 23:1-9. [PMID: 37516026 PMCID: PMC10409999 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2023.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
Reports of Ascaridia galli in laying hens in Europe have increased since the ban on conventional battery cages in 2012. As this parasite is transmitted directly via the faecal-oral route by parasite eggs containing a larva, it is reasonable to assume that the escalating problem is related to the increased exposure now occurring in modern welfare-friendly cage-free housing systems. On many farms, A. galli reappears in subsequent flocks, even though the birds have no access to the outdoors, biosecurity is high and empty houses are cleaned and disinfected during downtime. Since the egg production cycle lasts only ≈80 weeks and recombinant antigen production for helminth vaccines has not yet been solved, the development of a vaccine seems to be an unrealistic option. Therefore, disrupting the life cycle of the parasite by other means, including the strategic use of dewormers, appears to be the key to controlling infection. Of concern is that only one class of anthelmintics is licenced for poultry in Europe and that are usually administered indiscriminately through the birds' drinking water and often too late when the parasite is already established. If current calendar-based parasite control strategies are not changed, there is a risk that resistance to anthelmintics may develop, as has already been demonstrated with nematodes in livestock. We insist that treatments can be more effective and the risk of developing drug resistance can be mitigated if we invest in a better understanding of A. galli responses to more prudent and judicious use of anthelmintics. This review identifies knowledge gaps and highlights aspects of sustainable parasite control that require further research to support commercial egg producers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johan Höglund
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Section for Parasitology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Gürbüz Daş
- Institute of Nutritional Physiology 'Oskar Kellner', Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Wilhelm-Stahl-Allee 2, 18196, Dummerstorf, Germany.
| | - Behdad Tarbiat
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Section for Parasitology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Peter Geldhof
- Laboratory for Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820, Merelbeke, Belgium.
| | - Désirée S Jansson
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Matthias Gauly
- Free University of Bolzano, Department of Animal Science, Piazza Università 5, 39100, Bolzano, Italy.
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Oladosu OJ, Hennies M, Stehr M, Metges CC, Gauly M, Daş G. Pattern and repeatability of ascarid-specific antigen excretion through chicken faeces, and the diagnostic accuracy of coproantigen measurements as compared with McMaster egg counts and plasma and egg yolk antibody measurements in laying hens. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:175. [PMID: 37264440 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05782-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A coproantigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has recently been proposed for detecting ascarid infections in chickens. The excretion pattern of ascarid antigens through chicken faeces and the consistency of measurements over the course of infections are currently unknown. This study evaluates the pattern and repeatability of worm antigen per gram of faeces (APG) and compares the diagnostic performance of the coproantigen ELISA with a plasma and egg yolk antibody ELISA and McMaster faecal egg counts (M-FEC) at different weeks post-infection (wpi). METHODS Faecal, blood and egg yolk samples were collected from laying hens that were orally infected with a mix of Ascaridia galli and Heterakis gallinarum eggs (N = 108) or kept as uninfected controls (N = 71). Measurements including (a) APG using a coproantigen ELISA, (b) eggs per gram of faeces (EPG) using the McMaster technique and (c) ascarid-specific IgY in plasma and in egg yolks using an ascarid-specific antibody ELISA) were performed between wpi 2 and 18. RESULTS Time-dependent significant differences in APG between infected and non-infected laying hens were quantified. At wpi 2 (t(164) = 0.66, P = 1.00) and 4 (t(164) = -3.09, P = 0.094) no significant differences were observed between the groups, whereas infected hens had significantly higher levels of APG than controls by wpi 6 (t(164) = -6.74, P < 0.001). As indicated by a high overall repeatability estimate of 0.91 (CI = 0.89-0.93), APG could be measured consistently from the same individual. Compared to McMaster and antibody ELISA, coproantigen ELISA showed the highest overall diagnostic performance (area under curve, AUC = 0.93), although the differences were time-dependent. From wpi 6 to 18 coproantigen ELISA had an AUC > 0.95, while plasma IgY ELISA showed the highest diagnostic performance in wpi 2 (AUC = 0.95). M-FEC had the highest correlation with total worm burden, while APG had highest correlations with weights and lengths of A. galli. CONCLUSION Ascarid antigen excretion through chicken faeces can be measured with high accuracy and repeatability using a coproantigen ELISA. The antigen excretion increases over time, and is associated with worm maturation, particularly with the size of A. galli. Our results suggest the necessity of complementary use of different diagnostic tools for a more accurate diagnosis of infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oyekunle John Oladosu
- Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Institute of Nutritional Physiology 'Oskar Kellner', Wilhelm-Stahl-Allee 2, 18196, Dummerstorf, Germany
| | - Mark Hennies
- TECOmedical Group, Marie-Curie-Str. 1, 53359, Rheinbach, Germany
| | - Manuel Stehr
- Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Institute of Nutritional Physiology 'Oskar Kellner', Wilhelm-Stahl-Allee 2, 18196, Dummerstorf, Germany
| | - Cornelia C Metges
- Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Institute of Nutritional Physiology 'Oskar Kellner', Wilhelm-Stahl-Allee 2, 18196, Dummerstorf, Germany
| | - Matthias Gauly
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Universitätsplatz 5, 39100, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Gürbüz Daş
- Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Institute of Nutritional Physiology 'Oskar Kellner', Wilhelm-Stahl-Allee 2, 18196, Dummerstorf, Germany.
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Panich W, Tejangkura T, Chontananarth T. Feasibility of a DNA biosensor assay based on loop-mediated isothermal amplification combined with a lateral flow dipstick assay for the visual detection of Ascaridia galli eggs in faecal samples. Avian Pathol 2023; 52:209-218. [PMID: 36971233 DOI: 10.1080/03079457.2023.2196251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
Ascaridia galli is an important nematode that causes ascaridiasis in free-range and indoor system chicken farms. Infection with A. galli may damage the intestinal mucosa and inhibit nutrient absorption, leading to a reduced growth rate, weight loss and a decreased egg production. Consequently, A. galli infection is a significant health problem in chickens. In this study, we developed a loop-mediated isothermal amplification coupled with a lateral flow dipstick (LAMP-LFD) assay for the visual detection of A. galli eggs in faecal samples. The LAMP-LFD assay consists of six primers and one DNA probe that recognize the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) region; it can be performed within 70 min and the results can be interpreted with the naked eye. Using the LAMP-LFD assay developed in this study, A. galli DNA was specifically amplified without any cross-reactions with other related parasites (Heterakis gallinarum, Raillietina echinobothrida, R. tetragona, R. cesticillus, Cotugnia sp., Echinostoma miyagawai) and definitive hosts (Gallus gallus domesticus, Anas platyrhynchos domesticus). The minimum detectable DNA concentration was 5 pg/μl, and the detectable egg count was 50 eggs per reaction. The assay can be performed in a water bath, without the need for post-mortem morphological investigations and laboratory instruments. It is therefore a viable alternative for the detection of A. galli in chicken faeces and can replace classical methods in field screening for epidemiological investigations, veterinary health and poultry farming management. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTSThis is the first study using the LAMP-LFD assay for Ascaridia galli detection.The results can be observed by the naked eye.The developed assay can be used to detect Ascaridia galli eggs in faecal samples.
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Tabari MA, Poźniak B, Mostafavi niaki ST, Salehi A, Youssefi MR. Pharmacokinetics and therapeutic efficacy of levamisole in Ascaridia galli experimentally infected ducks. Vet Parasitol 2022; 312:109838. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2022.109838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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Oladosu OJ, Hennies M, Gauly M, Daş G. A copro-antigen ELISA for the detection of ascarid infections in chickens. Vet Parasitol 2022; 311:109795. [PMID: 36108471 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2022.109795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
A reliable method of diagnosing the most prevalent helminth infections in chickens is vital for developing effective control strategies. Ascaridia galli and Heterakisgallinarum are phylogenetically close nematode species that can elicit the development of cross-reactive antibodies in chickens. Therefore, an enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) based on Ascaridia galli antigens in faeces of chickens to detect and quantify infections with both A. galli and H. gallinarum was developed. The ELISA utilised polyclonal antibodies that were obtained from rabbits immunised with soluble antigens isolated from A. galli. In two separate experiments, chickens were kept as uninfected controls or were orally infected with either 100 or 1000 of embryonated eggs of A. galli or H.gallinarum. Faecal samples were collected after 28-30 weeks post-infection. The ELISA was then used to quantify the concentration of soluble worm antigens in faecal samples, i.e., the amount of antigen per gram faeces, APG. The APG from infected chickens was significantly higher than non-infected groups in both experiments (P 0.001). Both 100 and 1000 infection dose groups were not significantly different (P = 0.999) in the experiment with H. gallinarum, whereas in the experiment with A. galli, APG was significantly higher in the 1000 infection group (P 0.001). A receiver operation characteristics (ROC) analysis that evaluates the qualitative performance of diagnostics tests was used to calculate the assay parameters within each mono-infection experiment. The result showed that the assay had a high diagnostics accuracy with an area-under-curve (AUC) of 0.99 in detecting infection in A. galli infected chickens and a moderate-high accuracy (AUC = 0.89) in birds infected with H. gallinarum. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the assay at the optimal cut-off point equivalent to Youden index were 93% and 100% for detecting infections in A. galli experiment and 85% and 92% in H. gallinarum experiment, respectively. The correlation between faecal antigen concentration and all worm burden parameters was positive but generally low (r < 0.33), which provided less information about infection intensities. Nonetheless, these results indicate that a reliable and accurate qualitative diagnosis of the two most prevalent intestinal nematodes in chickens can be achieved using a non-invasive copro-antigen ELISA assay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oyekunle John Oladosu
- Institute of Nutritional Physiology 'Oskar Kellner', Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Wilhelm-Stahl-Allee 2, 18196 Dummerstorf, Germany
| | - Mark Hennies
- TECOdevelopment GmbH, Marie-Curie-Str. 1, 53359, Rheinbach, Germany
| | - Matthias Gauly
- Free University of Bozen - Bolzano, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitätsplatz 5, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Gürbüz Daş
- Institute of Nutritional Physiology 'Oskar Kellner', Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Wilhelm-Stahl-Allee 2, 18196 Dummerstorf, Germany.
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McMullin P. Infectious diseases in free-range compared to conventional poultry production. Avian Pathol 2022; 51:424-434. [PMID: 35675285 DOI: 10.1080/03079457.2022.2086448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Commercial chicken production for the supply of meat and eggs has expanded in the scale and variety of production systems in use to facilitate the supply of a range of cost-effective products in response to consumer demand. In the egg sector, traditional cage systems were required to be replaced in the EU by 2012, and most of this production capacity has been replaced by colony cage systems, which provide more space, perching, and environmental enrichment. In some countries there is significant production of "cage-free" or "barn" eggs in which the birds remain housed, but have access to litter. In the UK most egg production is now free-range. Meat poultry is produced in "barn" systems with various enrichments and some free-range. The rise in free-range production has seen the return of some diseases. Biosecurity is a critical tool for disease control in all production systems, particularly when disease challenge is high or farms are in a high poultry density area. An infectious dose of a pathogen is important in determining outcomes in terms of health and productivity, so biosecurity, hygiene, and good management are important across many diseases. Infections which are notifiable, of zoonotic importance and those which are sporadic or endemic in commercial poultry production are reviewed. General principles of preventative medicine applicable to the control of infectious diseases in different poultry production systems are proposed in areas such as biosecurity, system design and maintenance, range, and vaccination, though good management is always important.
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