Eight-wk-old layer cockerels and pullets were presented to the diagnostic lab with a history of increased mortality, ruffled feathers, lameness, and recent vaccination. At necropsy, the birds had large multifocal granulomas in multiple tissues. Only light bacterial growth was seen on culture. On histopathology, a mixed population of fungi was seen within the granulomas including zygomycetes and Aspergillus, with the zygomycetes being the predominant organism. Because of the coinfection with Aspergillus and Penicillium, obtaining the zygomycetes in pure culture was unsuccessful. The source of the zygomycete fungi remains unknown; however, zygomycetes are known to be ubiquitous. Serology was performed to evaluate the flock's immune status. There was no evidence of immunosuppression caused by chicken anemia virus or bursal disease infections. No flock treatment was initiated.

Eighty-three-week-old table egg layers with swollen sinuses were presented with a history of increased mortality. Serology revealed positive titers to Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG). The birds were part of a flock in which some birds had been vaccinated with 6/85 live MG vaccine at 18 wk of age. Tracheal cultures were obtained from both vaccinated and unvaccinated birds within the flock. The cultures were indistinguishable from 6/85 vaccine by both random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis and DNA sequence analysis. Challenge studies were performed to compare the field isolates with 6/85 vaccine and the R strain of MG. The field isolates produced a greater antibody response by serum plate agglutination than did the 6/85 vaccine. The isolates effectively colonized the trachea without increasing the tracheal mucosal thickness; however, they did not extensively colonize the air sacs or cause airsacculitis in the experimental birds.

Primary Audience: Breeder Flock Managers, Live Production Managers, Veterinarians, Nutritionists SUMMARYA survey was conducted to determine the incidence and magnitudes of parasitic helminth populations in broiler breeders. To that end, intact intestinal tracts were submitted by personnel from 10 poultry companies located in the southeastern United States. A total of 281 intestines were submitted, with 5 to 6 intestines being submitted from each of 47 breeder barns representing the 10 poultry companies. The birds selected for sacrifice were obtained at random from each barn, and ranged in age from approximately 30 to 49 wk at posting. Intestines were extracted on site, placed individually in plastic bags, chilled, and mailed overnight to the University of Arkansas for parasite collection, identification, and quantification. All intestines were identified with company, farm, bird age, and grower ranking. The majority of intestines were submitted with information relative to anthelmintic treatments given previously to the birds in the pullet house as well as specifics concerning bedding (number of flocks on current bedding). Of the 281 intestines submitted in the survey, only 3 were found to be void of helminth parasites, resulting in an overall infection incidence of 98.9%. Helminths isolated and identified from the intestinal tracts (and overall incidences) were Heterakis gallinarum (96%), Capillaria obsignata (75%), Ascaridia galli (63%), and Raillietina cesticillus (14%). Helminth counts for individual birds ranged from zero to a maximum of 3,240, 1,280, 940, and 445 for H. gallinarum, C. obsignata, A. galli, and R. cesticillus, respectively. Helminth levels varied significantly by company, but not significantly by grower ranking, although a direct correlation was evident between each parasite population and grower ranking (lower producer rankings were associated with higher helminth burdens). No correlation was detected between the helminth levels as seen in the surveyed birds and prior anthelmintic usage when the birds were in pullet production-an illustration of the refractory or compensatory nature of helminths and the inability of current treatments to control helminthiasis in breeders.

Formaldehyde administration in the hatchery can be very useful in decreasing microbial numbers. However, its use is controversial because of the adverse effects that can occur to chicks and people. This study was designed to look at alternative methods of application of formaldehyde in the hatchery. In addition, the study compared the effects of these methods of application on in ovo-and non-in ovo-injected eggs. All in ovo-injected eggs were given diluent only with no vaccine or antibiotic added. In hatchers containing both in ovo-injected eggs and non-in ovo-injected eggs, formaldehyde was administered two ways, dose (DOSE) and constant rate infusion (CRI). In the DOSE hatcher, 12 ml of formaldehyde was administered at one time every 12 hr, whereas in the CRI hatcher, the same volume was administered at a rate of 1 ml/hr over a 12-hr period. A control (CONT) hatcher received 12 ml of distilled water at the same time that the DOSE hatcher was given formaldehyde. In the DOSE hatcher, a peak concentration of formaldehyde of 102 ppm was reached. The CRI was maintained at approximately 20 ppm of formaldehyde. At pipping, the aerosol bacterial load in the hatchers receiving formaldehyde (DOSE, 130 colony-forming units [CFU]/m3; CRI, 82.5 CFU/m3) was significantly less than in the CONT hatcher (235 CFU/m3). At hatch, the CRI (337.5 CFU/m3) was not able to control bacterial levels and only the DOSE hatcher (150 CFU/m3) had a significantly lower aerosol bacterial count. The CRI non-in ovo-injected eggs (93.39%) had a significantly higher percentage of hatch of fertile compared with non-in ovo-injected eggs exposed to water (84.27%). In ovo-injected eggs in CONT and DOSE treatment groups contained significantly higher percentages of visual contamination than non-in on-injected eggs in the same hatchers. This difference had numerical significance only in the treatment groups within the CRI hatcher. The chicks were then placed into replicate treatment groups and grown for 14 days. Chicks from the CRI in ovo-injected eggs had a statistically significant improvement in feed conversion ratio (1.24) at 14 days when compared with chicks from CONT non-in ovo-injected eggs (1.29). All formaldehyde-exposed chicks had numerically lower feed conversion ratios compared with the CONT exposed chicks.