Overview
Avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) are a major cause of disease and economic loss, which have increased as antibiotic use has declined (Fancher et al., 2020).
E.coli are dominant members of the (early) gut microbiota. Avian pathogenic E. coli are a major cause of yolk sac infections (omphalitis) and first week mortality in chicks (Nolan, 2020). Later, APEC may infect the respiratory, reproductive and/or skeletal systems, causing, for example, inflammation of the air sacs (airsacculitis), oviduct (salpingitis), peritoneum (peritonitis) and/or the long bones (osteomyelitis) (Christensen et al., 2020). Fast growing lines of birds might be more susceptible, which has, at least partly, led to some companies switching their production to slower growing birds (Christensen et al., 2020).
It is increasingly recognised that APEC may genuinely infect or surface contaminate hatching eggs (vertical transmission) and be horizontally spread in the hatchery, during handling and/or transport (Christensen et al., 2020). Therefore, targeting interventions at the top of the production pyramid and other key areas of production are likely to be particularly effective. Eggs that are dirty and/or from older parents (>40 weeks of age) have been identified as particularly risky (Christensen et al., 2020).
There is limited information on the immune responses to APEC but both innate and adaptive (humoral and cell-mediated) responses have been associated with clearance of the primary infection in turkeys, and antibody responses could be particularly important (Sadeyen et al., 2015).
Stringent biosecurity measures, vaccines and even breeding for resistance are part of effective mitigation strategies. Various alternatives to antibiotics have also been considered for prevention and control of APEC and associated diseases (Fancher et al., 2020).
References
Christensen et al., 2020. New strategies to prevent and control avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC). doi.org/10.1080/03079457.2020.1845300
Fancher et al., 2020. Avian pathogenic E. coli and C. perfringens: Challenges in no antibiotics ever broiler production and potential solutions. doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms8101533
Nolan, 2020. Control key to protecting flocks from more virulent, resistant E. coli. poultryhealthtoday.com/control-key-to-protecting-flocks-from-more-virulent-resistant-e-coli/
Sadeyen et al., 2015. Immune responses associated with homologous protection conferred by commercial vaccines for control of avian pathogenic E. coli in turkeys. doi.org/10.1186/s13567-014-0132-5
Avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) are a major cause of disease and economic loss, which have increased as antibiotic use has declined (Fancher et al., 2020).
E.coli are dominant members of the (early) gut microbiota. Avian pathogenic E. coli are a major cause of yolk sac infections (omphalitis) and first week mortality in chicks (Nolan, 2020). Later, APEC may infect the respiratory, reproductive and/or skeletal systems, causing, for example, inflammation of the air sacs (airsacculitis), oviduct (salpingitis), peritoneum (peritonitis) and/or the long bones (osteomyelitis) (Christensen et al., 2020). Fast growing lines of birds might be more susceptible, which has, at least partly, led to some companies switching their production to slower growing birds (Christensen et al., 2020).
It is increasingly recognised that APEC may genuinely infect or surface contaminate hatching eggs (vertical transmission) and be horizontally spread in the hatchery, during handling and/or transport (Christensen et al., 2020). Therefore, targeting interventions at the top of the production pyramid and other key areas of production are likely to be particularly effective. Eggs that are dirty and/or from older parents (>40 weeks of age) have been identified as particularly risky (Christensen et al., 2020).
There is limited information on the immune responses to APEC but both innate and adaptive (humoral and cell-mediated) responses have been associated with clearance of the primary infection in turkeys, and antibody responses could be particularly important (Sadeyen et al., 2015).
Stringent biosecurity measures, vaccines and even breeding for resistance are part of effective mitigation strategies. Various alternatives to antibiotics have also been considered for prevention and control of APEC and associated diseases (Fancher et al., 2020).
References
Christensen et al., 2020. New strategies to prevent and control avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC). doi.org/10.1080/03079457.2020.1845300
Fancher et al., 2020. Avian pathogenic E. coli and C. perfringens: Challenges in no antibiotics ever broiler production and potential solutions. doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms8101533
Nolan, 2020. Control key to protecting flocks from more virulent, resistant E. coli. poultryhealthtoday.com/control-key-to-protecting-flocks-from-more-virulent-resistant-e-coli/
Sadeyen et al., 2015. Immune responses associated with homologous protection conferred by commercial vaccines for control of avian pathogenic E. coli in turkeys. doi.org/10.1186/s13567-014-0132-5