Persistence of Histomonas meleagridis in or on Materials Used in Poultry Houses

Lotfi, Abdul-Rahman; Abdelwhab, Elsayed M.; Hafez, H. M.

doi:10.1637/9519-090910-resnote.1

Cited by 24 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 14 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The shedding of H. meleagridis occurs in feces following multiplication of the parasite in the ceca of infected host birds [ 45 ]. In the present work, the detection of H. meleagridis in feces was done by qPCR since the parasite is highly fragile in the environment outside the host [ 5 ] and therefore losses by preparations for coproscopy can be expected. The absolute quantification using DNA from a defined number of histomonad cells from a clonal culture of H. meleagridis [ 46 ] as standard reliably and specifically determined the number of histomonads in the feces.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, earthworms are known to be paratenic hosts whereas other potential vectors, like the lesser mealworm or darkling beetle, were ruled out as a major contamination route between flocks [ 4 ]. In vitro cultivated H. meleagridis cannot survive outside of the host or the intermediate host longer than several hours [ 5 ]. Cyst-like stages have been identified by electron microscopy but so far information on their persistence or infection biology in the environment is lacking [ 6 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Excretion of Histomonas meleagridis following experimental co-infection of distinct chicken lines with Heterakis gallinarum and Ascaridia galli

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Histomonosis is a severe re-emerging disease of poultry caused by Histomonas meleagridis, a protozoan parasite which survives in the environment via the cecal worm Heterakis gallinarum. Following infection, the parasites reside in the ceca and are excreted via host feces. In the present work, male birds of conventional broiler (Ross 308, R), layer (Lohmann Brown Plus, LB) and a dual-purpose (Lohmann Dual, LD) chicken line were infected with 250 embryonated eggs of Ascaridia galli and Heterakis gallinarum, respectively, with the latter nematode harboring Histomonas meleagridis, to investigate a co-infection of nematodes with the protozoan parasite in different host lines. Methods In weekly intervals, from 2 to 9 weeks post infection (wpi), individual fecal samples (n = 234) from the chickens were collected to quantify the excretion of H. meleagridis by real-time PCR and to determine the number of nematode eggs per gram (EPG) in order to elucidate excretion dynamics of the flagellate and the nematodes. This was further investigated by indirect detection using plasma samples of the birds to detect antibodies specific for H. meleagridis and worms by ELISA. The infection with H. meleagridis was confirmed by histopathology and immunohistochemistry to detect the flagellate in the cecum of representing birds. Results The excretion of H. meleagridis could already be observed from the 2nd wpi in some birds and increased to 100% in the last week of the experiment in all groups independent of the genetic line. This increase could be confirmed by ELISA, even though the number of excreted H. meleagridis per bird was generally low. Overall, histomonads were detected in 60% to 78% of birds with temporary differences between the different genetic lines, which also showed variations in the EPG and worm burden of both nematodes. Conclusions The infection with H. gallinarum eggs contaminated with H. meleagridis led to a permanent excretion of the flagellate in host feces. Differences in the excretion of H. meleagridis in the feces of genetically different host lines occurred intermittently. The excretion of the protozoan or its vector H. gallinarum was mostly exclusive, showing a negative interaction between the two parasites in the same host. Graphic abstract

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Excretion of Histomonas meleagridis following experimental co-infection of distinct chicken lines with Heterakis gallinarum and Ascaridia galli

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Horizontal transmission likely occurs via the cloacal route (Hu et al, 2004) as retrograde transport of cloacal fluids to the caecum is fast (Akester et al, 1967), while oral inoculation with lumen stages of the parasite, probably due to the acidity of the gizzard, often fails to result in disease (Farmer & Stephenson, 1949;Horton-Smith & Long, 1956;Lund, 1956). The non-vector-mediated transmission is supported by the survival of H. meleagridis for up to 9 hours in non-chlorinated water or faecal matter (Lotfi et al, 2012). In addition, a possible role for cyst-like structures, which have recently been identified in histomonas cultures (Munsch et al, 2009;Zaragatzki et al, 2010) in horizontal transmission, cannot be discarded.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantification of parasite shedding and horizontal transmission parameters inHistomonas meleagridis-infected turkeys determined by real-time quantitative PCR

et al. 2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

To gain more insight into the within flock transmission of Histomonas meleagridis, the shedding of parasites was quantified by a newly developed real-time quantitative (q)PCR and the basic reproduction number (R 0 ) and the mean number of secondary infections per infectious bird per day in a susceptible population (β) of H. meleagridis in the absence of heterakis were assessed. Forty turkeys were divided into two groups of 10 and 30 birds at 14 days of age. Birds of the first group were inoculated with 200,000 histomonads each, the second group served as a susceptible contact group. Cloacal swabs were taken at −1, 1, 4, 7, 9, 11, 14, 18 and 21 days post inoculation (p.i.) to assess the shedding of the parasite by the qPCR (detection limit 330 histomonads/ml droppings). The experiment ended at 28 days p.i. Mortality was 100% in the inoculated birds and started at day 12 p.i., while in the contacts, it was 83% and started at 16 days p.i. Shedding started 1 day after the inoculation in both groups. The mean shedding levels (and 95% CI) expressed as parasite equivalents per gram cloacal content on a log 10 scale in the inoculated, contact birds that died and contact birds alive were 2.0 (1.6-2.4), 1.6 (1.4-1.9) and 1.2 (0.5-2.0), respectively. Birds that died shed histomonas more often and were infectious for 13.4 days; in contrast, those that recovered were infectious for 5.7 days. R 0 was estimated to be 8.4 and β 0.70. Simulations made with the parameters obtained were in agreement with the experimental results, confirming their validity.

show abstract

“…It is still not clear if histomonosis can be transmitted by contacting fresh feces in the litter or only by direct cloacal contact between turkeys and which factors would affect the survival of histomonads in the litter. Lotfi and colleagues ( 16 ) showed that histomonads could survive 9 h in turkey feces and non-chlorinated water, raising the possibility that the protozoa can be transmitted by contact with the litter and other environmental sources. In the present study, both pilot studies (Experiments 1 and 2) and Experiment 3 were conducted in floor pens with wood shavings as bedding material.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feed Composition and Isolate of Histomonas meleagridis Alter Horizontal Transmission of Histomonosis in Turkeys. Proof of Concept

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Outbreaks of histomonosis in turkeys are typically initiated by the ingestion of contaminated embryonated eggs of Heterakis gallinarum, potentially present in earthworms and mechanical vectors. Once an outbreak is started, infected turkeys can transmit the disease by horizontal transmission. Factors influencing horizontal transmission of histomonosis are poorly understood. Replication of horizontal transmission in experimental conditions has not been consistent, presenting an obstacle in searching for alternatives to prevent or treat the disease. Two pilot experiments and three validation experiments were conducted in the present study. In pilot experiment 1, one isolate of Histomonas meleagridis (named Buford) was used. Turkeys were fed a low-nutrient density diet corn-soy based (LOW-CS) and raised in floor pens. In pilot experiment 2, another isolate of H. meleagridis was used (named PHL). Turkeys were fed a low-nutrient density diet with the addition of wheat middlings (LOW-WM) and raised in floor pens. In experiment 3, conducted on floor pens, both isolates and diets were used in different groups. In experiment 4, turkeys were raised on battery cages and only the PHL isolate was used. Both diets (LOW-WM and LOW-CS) were used, in addition to a diet surpassing the nutritional needs of young poults (turkey starter, TS). In experiment 5, conducted in battery cages, only the PHL isolate was used, and the LOW-WM and TS diets were in different groups. The horizontal transmission was achieved only with the PHL isolate from all experiments. The transmission rate varied among experimental diets, with the TS diet having the lowest transmission rate in experiments 4 and 5. Variation was observed between experiments and within experimental groups.

show abstract

Persistence of Histomonas meleagridis in or on Materials Used in Poultry Houses

Cited by 24 publications

References 14 publications

Excretion of Histomonas meleagridis following experimental co-infection of distinct chicken lines with Heterakis gallinarum and Ascaridia galli

Excretion of Histomonas meleagridis following experimental co-infection of distinct chicken lines with Heterakis gallinarum and Ascaridia galli

Quantification of parasite shedding and horizontal transmission parameters inHistomonas meleagridis-infected turkeys determined by real-time quantitative PCR

Feed Composition and Isolate of Histomonas meleagridis Alter Horizontal Transmission of Histomonosis in Turkeys. Proof of Concept

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About