Cross sectional study and isolation of M. gallisepticum in commercial and backyard chickens in East Shewa, Ethiopia

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2007-06

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Cross sectional study and isolation of M. gallisepticum was conducted from November 2006 to April 2007 in commercial and backyard chickens in East Shewa, Ethiopia. A total of 514 sera were collected for sero-prevalence study, of which 187 were from commercial chickens and 327 from backyard chickens. All sera were tested using an indirect ELISA to detect antibodies to M. gallisepticum infection. This preliminary study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence of M. gallisepticum infection, to assess epidemiological risk factors and to isolate M. gallisepticum. The overall sero-prevalence of M. gallisepticum infection was 49.4% (254/514). Out of this, 64.5% (211/327) in backyard chickens and 23% (43/187) in commercial chickens and this was statistically significant difference (p<0.05). Variation in prevalence was observed among commercial farms being high in farm-B (46.8%) and low in farm-C (4.25%) and this was statistically significant (p<0.05). Significant difference (p<0.05) in prevalence was also observed among five Woredas selected for sampling backyard chickens being high in Lume (72.7%) and low in Ada'a (47.5%). Age was significantly associated (p<0.05) with M. gallisepticum infection. Increasing prevalence with an increasing age was recorded. In layer flocks, statistically significant (p<0.05) difference in prevalence was observed being 0% in chicks at 1 to 8 weeks and 67.3% in layers at 18 to 76 weeks. However, no significant difference (p>0.05) was seen between broiler growers at 3 to 6 weeks and finishers at 6 to 10 weeks with prevalence of 6.6% and 9.5%, respectively. It was also revealed that significant difference (p<0.05) in prevalence was seen between layers (41.7%) and broilers (7.8%). Significant association (p<0.05) was also observed between sex and MG infection in commercial chickens with higher prevalence in females (32.4%) than males (10.1%) but no significant (p>0.05) sex difference in prevalence among backyard chickens was observed. Post mortem examination was conducted and gross post mortem lesions on lung, trachea, and air sacs were collected and processed for isolation. M. gallisepticum was isolated from clinically sick commercial chickens and apparently healthy backyard chickens. The current study revealed M. gallisepticum infection is prevalent in the study area. It was also concluded that further study should be conducted to assess economic impact of the disease in the area and to investigate the status of the disease in other areas of the country.

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Sero-prevalence, M. gallisepticum, indirect ELISA, post mortem

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