Outbreak of Avian Tuberculosis in Commercial Domestic Pekin Ducks (Anas platyrhynchos domestica)

SUMMARY Avian tuberculosis is a contagious disease affecting various domestic and wild bird species, and is caused by Mycobacterium avium. It is reported extremely rarely in commercial poultry flocks and has not been reported in commercial domestic ducks to date, with domestic ducks reported to be moderately resistant to M. avium infection. Here, we report the outbreak of avian tuberculosis in commercial Pekin duck (Anas platyrhynchos domestica) flocks. Postmortem and histopathologic findings included nodules presenting in the visceral organs of ducks, and granulomas with central caseous necrosis surrounded by infiltrating lymphocytes. The M. avium pathogen was isolated and further identified by Ziehl-Neelsen staining and PCR based on insert sequence IS901 and the 16S rRNA gene. We highlight that avian tuberculosis not only has economic significance for the duck industry, but also presents a potential zoonotic hazard to humans.

[1]  Alejandro B. Thiermann.  International standards: the World Organisation for Animal Health Terrestrial Animal Health Code. , 2015, Revue scientifique et technique.

[2]  R. Hartkoorn,et al.  Whole-genome sequencing for comparative genomics and de novo genome assembly. , 2015, Methods in molecular biology.

[3]  Chunyan Han,et al.  First finding of subgroup-E avian leukosis virus from wild ducks in China. , 2014, Veterinary microbiology.

[4]  Xiaomei Wang,et al.  First isolation of reticuloendotheliosis virus from mallards in China , 2014, Archives of Virology.

[5]  C. Garzelli,et al.  Genetic diversity and phylogeny of Mycobacterium avium. , 2014, Infection, genetics and evolution : journal of molecular epidemiology and evolutionary genetics in infectious diseases.

[6]  H. Shan,et al.  Isolation and analysis of a very virulent Marek’s disease virus strain in China , 2013, Virology Journal.

[7]  Kumanan Kathaperumal,et al.  Differential Detection of Avian Oncogenic Viruses in Poultry Layer Farms and Turkeys by Use of Multiplex PCR , 2012, Journal of Clinical Microbiology.

[8]  C. Palmieri,et al.  Pathology of mycobacteriosis in birds. , 2012, The veterinary clinics of North America. Exotic animal practice.

[9]  Ping Liu,et al.  Comparative analysis of oncogenic genes revealed unique evolutionary features of field Marek's disease virus prevalent in recent years in China , 2011, Virology Journal.

[10]  Robert J. Taylor,et al.  Gross and microscopic findings and investigation of the aetiopathogenesis of mycobacteriosis in a captive population of white-winged ducks (Cairina scutulata) , 2007, Avian Pathology.

[11]  Robert F. Silva,et al.  Development of a Polymerase Chain Reaction to Differentiate Avian Leukosis Virus (ALV) Subgroups: Detection of an ALV Contaminant in Commercial Marek's Disease Vaccines , 2007, Avian diseases.

[12]  Marcel A. Behr,et al.  Mycobacterium avium in the Postgenomic Era , 2007, Clinical Microbiology Reviews.

[13]  J. Álvarez,et al.  Avian tuberculosis in naturally infected captive water birds of the Ardeideae and Threskiornithidae families studied by serotyping, IS901 RFLP typing, and virulence for poultry. , 2007, Veterinary microbiology.

[14]  B. Olsen,et al.  Mycobacterium avium with the bird type IS1245 RFLP profile is commonly found in wild and domestic animals, but rarely in humans , 2005, Scandinavian journal of infectious diseases.

[15]  I. Davidson,et al.  PCR detection of amplified 132 bp repeats in Marek's disease virus type 1 (MDV-1) DNA can serve as an indicator for critical genomic rearrangement leading to the attenuation of virus virulence , 1993, Virus Genes.

[16]  T. Bull,et al.  Study of Mycobacterium avium complex strains isolated from cattle in the Czech Republic between 1996 and 2000. , 2004, Veterinary microbiology.

[17]  M. González,et al.  Outbreak of Avian Tuberculosis in 48-Week-Old Commercial Layer Hen Flock , 2002, Avian diseases.

[18]  P. Svastova,et al.  Relationship between IS901 in theMycobacterium avium Complex Strains Isolated from Birds, Animals, Humans, and the Environment and Virulence for Poultry , 2000, Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology.

[19]  S. Williams,et al.  Detection of avian leukosis virus subgroup J using the polymerase chain reaction. , 1998, Avian diseases.

[20]  J. Fontaine,et al.  Mycobacterium avium infections in animals. Literature review. , 1997, Veterinary research.

[21]  S. Wilton,et al.  Detection and identification of multiple mycobacterial pathogens by DNA amplification in a single tube. , 1992, PCR methods and applications.

[22]  A. Mutalib,et al.  Epizootiology and pathology of avian tuberculosis in chickens in Saskatchewan. , 1988, The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne.

[23]  I. Gill,et al.  Control of avian tuberculosis in a commercial poultry flock. , 1986, Australian veterinary journal.

[24]  Thoen Co,et al.  Isolation of Mycobacterium avium serotype 3 from a white-headed tree duck (Dendrocygna viduata). , 1976 .