Colibacillosis associated with colistin-resistant avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli) poses a threat to both food security and public health. The potential horizontal transmission of mobilized colistin-resistant (mcr) genes facilitates the co-emergence of Klebsiella pneumoniae. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, molecular detection, analyze the antibiogram and identify associated risk factors for colistin-resistant E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from broiler chicken in three districts of Punjab province, Pakistan. In total, 230 visceral organ samples were collected from 13 different chicken farms located in Sargodha, Jhang and Toba Tek Singh in Pakistan. Following isolation, the broth microdilution test was used to confirm phenotypic colistin resistance. Polymerase chain reaction was used to detect mcr-1 and mcr-2 genes associated with colistin resistance. Antimicrobial susceptibility test against 11 antibiotics was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Risk factors associated with colistin-resistant bacteria, including host attributes, farm management practices, environmental and agent characteristics, were analyzed. The prevalence of colistin-resistant E. coli and K. pneumoniae was 24.78% (95% CI, 19.6–30.7%) and 3.04% (95% CI, 1.5–6.1%), respectively. The prevalence of colistin-resistant E. coli varied between cities at 42, 23.61 and 5.55% for Jhang, Sargodha and Toba Tek Singh, respectively. The detection frequency of mcr-1 gene, 42.1% (24/57), was significantly (p < 0.01) higher than that of the mcr-2 gene, 14.03% (8/57). Phylogenetic analysis of lipid A phosphoethanolamine transferase sequences revealed greater similarity with mcr-1.5 variant. Isolates were found resistant to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (84.21%), cefotaxime (70.17%), and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (73.68%). The multivariate logistic regression predicted preceding viral infection of the respiratory tract as a significant association (OR = 4.808, p < 0.01), whereas daily removal/culling of dead/diseased chicken (OR = 0.308, p = 0.01) was a protective factor against the emergence of colistin-resistant strains. These findings indicate that the emergence of colistin-resistant strains deteriorate colibacillosis control efforts in poultry and serves as a possible reservoir for zoonotic infections.

The mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) is of high importance among feed contaminants because of its frequent occurrence in toxicologically relevant concentrations worldwide. Cereal crops, the main component of chicken diet, are commonly contaminated with DON, resulting in frequent exposure of chickens to DON. Likewise, Campylobacter (C.), a pathogen of major public and animal health concern, is frequently found in chicken flocks and poses a threat to the One Health approach. Campylobacter colonizes the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of poultry with a high bacterial load in the caeca. However, the mechanism of C. jejuni colonization in chickens is still not understood albeit it is well known that C. jejuni resides primarily in the mucosal layer of the chicken intestine. Therefore, in the actual study we focused on the effect of exposure to DON and/or C. jejuni on expression profiles of intestinal mucins (MUC1, MUC2), β-defensins (Gallinacin (GAL) 10, 12), cytokines (Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), Interleukin (IL) 6, 8, Interferon-γ (IFN)-γ), inducible nitric oxide synthase 2 (iNOS2), as well as selected tight junction proteins (Claudin 5 (CLDN5), Occludin (OCLN), and zonula occludens-1 (ZO1) via RT-qPCR. For this, a total of 150 one-day-old Ross 308 broiler chickens were randomly allocated to six different groups (n = 25 with 5 replicates/group) and were fed for 5 weeks with either contaminated diets (5 or 10 mg DON/kg feed) or basal diets (control). Following oral infection of birds with C. jejuni NCTC 12744 at 14 days of age, several changes in gene expression patterns were demonstrated. A significant (P ≤ 0.05) downregulation of MUC2 mRNA expression was observed in birds fed DON5 and DON10 diet, as well as in birds co-exposed to DON5 and C. jejuni at 7 dpi. Furthermore, at 14 dpi, MUC2 mRNA expression was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) downregulated in birds fed DON (5 mg and 10 mg/kg diet) with and without C. jejuni and in birds infected solely with C. jejuni. The actual study also demonstrated that co-exposure of broiler chickens to DON and C. jejuni resulted in a decreased barrier function via downregulation of OCLD mRNA expression. In addition, Campylobacter infection induced an increased expression of the antimicrobial peptide GAL12 and the IL8 gene, indicating that C. jejuni can initiate an immune response in the chicken gut in a proinflammatory manner. Similarly, DON with and without C. jejuni induced upregulation of GAL10 and GAL12 mRNA expression at 7 dpi. Moreover, no change in iNOS2 mRNA expression was observed in both the jejunum and the cecum at either 7 dpi or 14 dpi, suggesting unchanged NO production during exposure/infection. In conclusion, we confirmed that DON contamination corresponding to the currently applicable EU guidance value of 5 mg DON/kg feed affects the intestinal gene expression profiles of broilers, mainly in a dose-independent manner. Furthermore, DON exposure interacted synergistically with C. jejuni challenge regarding mucins, innate immunity gene expression in either the jejunum or the cecum, suggesting immunomodulatory activity of both foodborne agents (DON and C. jejuni).

Infections caused by Campylobacter spp. represent a severe threat to public health worldwide. National action plans have included source attribution studies as a way to quantify the contribution of specific sources and understand the dynamic of transmission of foodborne pathogens like Salmonella and Campylobacter. Such information is crucial for implementing targeted intervention. The aim of this study was to predict the sources of human campylobacteriosis cases across multiple countries using available whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data and explore the impact of data availability and sample size distribution in a multi-country source attribution model.

目的 构建重点监控药品合理用药管理指标体系,为医疗机构合理用药管理提供参考。方法 通过调研重点监控药品相关政策法规、管理规范、指导原则等资料,确定初始指标框架,对26位专家进行2轮德尔菲函询,完善与优化指标体系,通过层次分析法(AHP)构建判断矩阵获得指标权重。结果 2轮函询回收率均为100%,专家权威系数为0.87。最终构建的重点监控药品合理用药管理指标体系,涵盖事前管理(权重0.253 6)、事中管理(权重0.503 1)、事后管理(权重0.243 2)3项一级指标;处方审核(权重0.302 6)、制定合理用药规范(权重0.133 1)、超常预警管理(权重0.103 2)等15项二级指标;制定严格的处方审核规则(权重0.152 5)、审方药师干预力度(权重0.085 7)和有效性管理(权重0.052 5)等62项三级指标,指标判断矩阵通过一致性检验。结论 构建的重点监控药品合理用药管理指标体系可满足监督管理流程的闭环,做到事前提醒、事中监控、事后监管,为医疗机构保证管理流程精细化与规范化提供参考。

The Silway River has historically failed to meet safe fecal coliform levels due to improper waste disposal. The river mouth is located in General Santos City, the tuna capital of the Philippines and a leading producer of hogs, cattle, and poultry. The buildup of contaminants due to direct discharge of waste from chicken farms and existing water quality conditions has led to higher fecal matter in the Silway River. While there were technical reports in the early 2000s about poultry farming, this is the first study where fecal coliform from poultry farming was detected in the Silway River using highly sensitive protocols like qPCR. This study characterized the effect of flow velocity and physicochemical water quality parameters on chicken fecal contamination. Gene markers such as Ckmito and ND5-CD were used to detect and quantify poultry manure contamination through microbial source tracking (MST) and environmental DNA (eDNA) profiling. The results of this study showed the presence of chicken fecal bacteria in all stations along the Silway River. The results revealed that normal levels of water quality parameters such as temperature, pH, and high TSS concentrations create favorable conditions for chicken fecal coliforms to thrive. Multiple regression analysis showed that flow velocity and DO significantly affect chicken fecal contamination. A lower cycle threshold (Ct) value indicated higher concentration of the marker ND5-CD, which means higher fecal contamination. It was found that there was an inverse relationship between the Ct value and both velocity (R = 0.55, = 0.01) and DO (R = 0.98, = 0.2), suggesting that low flow velocity and low DO can lead to higher fecal contamination. Findings of fecal contamination could negatively impact water resources, the health of nearby residents, and surrounding farms and industries, as well as the health and growth of fish.

As of 2022, the Republic of Korea accounted for 0.8% of global chicken meat production and 0.9% of global egg production. The country achieved self-sufficiency rates of 83.1% for chicken meat and 99.4% for eggs, demonstrating significant quantitative and qualitative growth to meet domestic demand. Although the industry is trending towards expansion and specialization, it faces several challenges in achieving sustainable poultry production. Key challenges in Korea include highly pathogenic avian influenza and pest issues, climate change and the push for carbon neutrality, reliance on imported breeding stock, insufficient preparedness for expanding cage space per laying hen, post-settlement payment systems for egg sales and an oversupply of chicken meat, and the aging poultry farming population and the closure of farms unable to secure successors. Following strategies are proposed to overcome or mitigate challenges mentioned above: (1) enhancing farm biosecurity and implementing vaccination policies for disease control, (2) modernizing facilities and promoting carbon-neutral practices to adapt to climate change, (3) diversifying breeding stocks across multiple locations and developing domestic strains, (4) implementing policies and supporting farms based on a comprehensive readiness assessment of all farms regarding expanded cage space requirements, (5) improving market transparency for the egg industry and regulating supply and demand in the broiler industry, and (6) offering incentives for farm succession, attracting labor, and promoting coexistence between corporations, rural communities, and small farms. In conclusion, the sustainable development of Korea's poultry industry is not a simple task. It requires a comprehensive approach considering economic efficiency, animal welfare, environmental protection, food security, and the symbiosis with rural communities. This approach necessitates efficient cooperation among all stakeholders, including the government, farmers, integrators, retailers, and research institutions, along with a comprehensive, phased strategy for both short- and long-term goals.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) subtype H5N8 outbreaks occurred in poultry farms in South Korea in 2014 resulting in significant damage to the poultry industry. Between 2014 and 2016, the pandemic disease caused significant economic loss and social disruption. To evaluate the risk factors for HPAI infection in broiler duck farms, we conducted a retrospective case-control study on broiler duck farms. Forty-three farms with confirmed laboratories on premises were selected as the case group, and 43 HPAI-negative farms were designated as the control group. Control farms were matched based on farm location and were within a 3-km radius from the case premises. Spatial and environmental factors were characterized by site visit and plotted through a geographic information system (GIS). Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were developed to assess possible risk factors associated with HPAI broiler duck farm infection. Four final variables were identified as risk factors in a final multivariable logistic model: "Farms with ≥7 flocks" (odds ratio [OR] = 6.99, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.34-37.04), "Farm owner with ≥15 years of raising poultry career" (OR = 7.91, 95% CI 1.69-37.14), "Presence of any poultry farms located within 500 m of the farm" (OR = 6.30, 95% CI 1.08-36.93) and "Not using a faecal removal service" (OR = 27.78, 95% CI 3.89-198.80). This highlights that the HPAI H5N8 outbreaks in South Korea were associated with farm owner education, number of flocks and facilities and farm biosecurity. Awareness of these factors may help to reduce the spread of HPAI H5N8 across broiler duck farms in Korea during epidemics. Greater understanding of the risk factors for H5N8 may improve farm vulnerability to HPAI and other subtypes and help to establish policies to prevent re-occurrence. These findings are relevant to global prevention recommendations and intervention protocols.© 2018 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.

The traditional aviary decontamination process involves farmers applying pesticides to the aviary’s ground. These agricultural defenses are easily dispersed in the air, making the farmers susceptible to chronic diseases related to recurrent exposure. Industry 5.0 raises new pillars of research and innovation in transitioning to more sustainable, human-centric, and resilient companies. Based on these concepts, this paper presents a new aviary decontamination process that uses IoT and a robotic platform coupled with ozonizer (O3) and ultraviolet light (UVL). These clean technologies can successfully decontaminate poultry farms against pathogenic microorganisms, insects, and mites. Also, they can degrade toxic compounds used to control living organisms. This new decontamination process uses physicochemical information from the poultry litter through sensors installed in the environment, which allows accurate and safe disinfection. Different experimental tests were conducted to construct the system. First, tests related to measuring soil moisture, temperature, and pH were carried out, establishing the range of use and the confidence interval of the measurements. The robot’s navigation uses a back-and-forth motion that parallels the aviary’s longest side because it reduces the number of turns, reducing energy consumption. This task becomes more accessible because of the aviaries’ standardized geometry. Furthermore, the prototype was tested in a real aviary to confirm the innovation, safety, and effectiveness of the proposal. Tests have shown that the UV + ozone combination is sufficient to disinfect this environment.

China's poultry industry is characterized by large-scale production and rich breeds, presenting both opportunities and challenges. In 2023, the industry produced 10.79 billion broilers, 28.38 million tons of eggs, and 4.88 billion waterfowl. The foundation of a thriving poultry industry lies in the continuous improvement of breeds. For instance, new lines of Lueyang black-boned chickens have been developed using genomic selection breeding, with a focus on improving production performance and unlocking their high-quality genetic potential. Precision nutrition programs enhance the expression of poultry's genetic potential and improve feed utilization efficiency. The five-dimensional feed evaluation system and the comprehensive National Feed Database provide formulators with accurate nutritional parameters of feed. Additionally, the concept of “nutrition power” and the \"five-ring gold standard\" enable researchers to analyze poultry's digestive physiology more effectively. Feeding management plays a crucial role in optimizing genetic potential and the effectiveness of precision nutrition. To further boost production efficiency, smart farming systems have been implemented, incorporating intelligent management of environmental factors, animal parameters, and poultry health tracking. Meanwhile, in order to improve material utilization efficiency across the entire poultry production chain and support the sustainable development of the poultry industry, it is essential to optimize and promote the application of the Poultry-Crop interaction systems. In summary, strengthening fundamental research in poultry, optimizing smart poultry farm platforms, and implementing Poultry-Crop Interacting systems will drive the sustainable development of China's poultry industry.