Application of a flexible‐film isolator for rearing specific pathogen‐free chickens and investigating poultry pathogens

Abstract

SUMMARYA commercially-available flexible-film isolator kit was adapted for rearing specific pathogen free poultry and for carrying out experiments with avian pathogens. By increasing the standard air hose diameter from 32 mm to 75 mm and incorporating large metal filter canisters in place of the standard plastic filter sleeves, air flow rates were increased up to 8-fold. These changes allowed a greater number of birds to be maintained for longer periods without the previous problems of condensation of water vapour on the inside surfaces of the isolator. Fibreglass mat filters were shown to be efficient in retaining Newcastle disease virus when challenged by aerosol produced experimentally. Cross-contamination by virus infections between adjacent isolators was prevented for at least 12 weeks. The use of air-tight seals between the isolator canopy and structural components, air-tight feeder and light supports, an automatic watering system and facilities to improve portability are described. The adaptations resulted in an isolator which was efficient to use and maintain.

Laryngotracheitis herpesvirus infection in the chicken: The role of humoral antibody in immunity to a graded challenge infection

“…Experimental chickens White Leghorn chickens of the "CSIRO-W" line maintained by the CSIRO SPF Poultry Unit, Maribyrnong, Victoria, were used in all experimental studies. At 1-dayold, the SPF chickens were transferred into flexible-film plastic poultry isolators (Dennett and Bagust, 1979). For infection studies, either a single age group was maintained or only one level of virus challenge was performed within any one isolator.…”

Laryngotracheitis herpesvirus infection in the chicken. II. The adoptive transfer of resistance with immune spleen cells

“…Australia. The chickens were maintained in flexible plastic isolators (Dennett and Bagust, 1979) on methyl-bromide sterilised feed and acidified water ad libitum. The inbred status of each of the five lines used in this study was established by the graftversus-host (GVH) splenomegaly assay.…”

A small-scale, low-cost isolation system for the incubation and rearing of low bacterial load chicks as a model to study microbial–intestinal interactions

“…Because eggs were sourced from a commercial flock and not from an SPF or germfree source, eggs were selected from hens that had commenced egg production three weeks prior to collection. This was to reduce bacterial transfer from the oviduct and/or cloaca to the egg, which is greatly increased in older hens (Dennet & Bagust 1979). All eggs were laid within a 2 h time period before collection (09:00-11:00 h).…”

“…Flexible film isolators are widely employed for housing animals under germfree, gnotobiotic and specific pathogen-free (SPF) conditions (Phillips et al 1962, Dennet & Bagust 1979. Such housing is useful as it allows the study of mechanisms underlying the pathology caused by bacterial infection.…”

“…Many isolator systems for rearing chicks have placed eggs in the isolator during the hatching period or even at one day of age (Phillips et al 1962, Dennet & Bagust 1979, Drew et al 2003. The feasibility of incubation and hatching chicken eggs within an isolator system was examined in an attempt to minimize exposure to the outside environment.…”