PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
Spotty liver disease (SLD) caused by Campylobacter hepaticus affects the health and productivity of layer hens and is a disease of concern in poultry. In this study, blood and cloacal swab samples were collected from 709 birds across 11 free-range layer farms from different regions of Australia. The prevalence of C. hepaticus specific antibodies and DNA was assessed using a C. hepaticus specific ELISA and PCR and its correlation with mortalities and changes in egg production was analyzed to better understand the seroprevalence of C. hepaticus in Australian free-range layer farms. C. hepaticus specific antibodies were detected from birds in four of the five farms that had no history of SLD with seroprevalence as high as 41% in one of the farms. Seroprevalence of anti-C. hepaticus antibodies among flocks that had an active or previous SLD outbreak varied between 2 and 64%. C. hepaticus DNA was detected from birds in three farms with no known SLD history and five farms with confirmed SLD outbreaks. A good correlation was observed between the ELISA and PCR results with a Pearson correlation coefficient value of 0.85 (p-value = 0.001). No correlation was observed between the flock size or flock age and ELISA or PCR outcomes, and no significant difference between the seroprevalence of anti-C. hepaticus antibodies among flocks with or without a known history of SLD was established (p = 0.143). This study demonstrates the usefulness of C. hepaticus specific ELISA and PCR in identifying the occurrence of mild or sub-clinical SLD and provides a broader and more complete understanding of SLD epidemiology that will inform future research aimed at the development of methods to control SLD, such as appropriate biosecurity measures, vaccines, and feed additives.
摘要：
由肝弯曲杆菌引起的轻度肝病（SLD）影响蛋鸡的健康和生产力，是家禽中值得关注的疾病。在这项研究中,血液和泄殖腔拭子样本来自澳大利亚不同地区的11个自由放养层农场的709只鸟。使用肝肠杆菌特异性ELISA和PCR评估了肝肠杆菌特异性抗体和DNA的患病率，并分析了其与死亡率和产卵变化的相关性，以更好地了解澳大利亚自由放养层农场肝肠杆菌的血清阳性率。在五个没有SLD病史的农场中的四个农场中，从鸟类中检测到了肝杆菌特异性抗体，其中一个农场的血清阳性率高达41％。抗C的血清阳性率有活动性或先前的SLD爆发的羊群中的肝抗体在2％至64％之间变化。从三个没有已知SLD病史的农场和五个确认SLD暴发的农场的鸟类中检测到肝梭菌DNA。在ELISA和PCR结果之间观察到良好的相关性,Pearson相关系数值为0.85(p值=0.001)。没有观察到羊群大小或羊群年龄与ELISA或PCR结果之间的相关性，抗C的血清阳性率没有显着差异。在有或没有已知的SLD病史的羊群中建立了肝脏抗体（p=0.143）。这项研究证明了肝梭菌特异性ELISA和PCR在识别轻度或亚临床SLD的发生中的有用性，并提供了对SLD流行病学的更广泛和更完整的理解，这将为未来的研究提供信息，旨在开发控制SLD的方法。例如适当的生物安全措施，疫苗,和饲料添加剂。
