The epidemiology and ecology of infectious diseases of village chickens in Ethiopia
and the role of co‐infection in infection risk
Judy Bettridge, Stacey Lynch, Paul Wigley, Rob Christley, Olivier Hanotte, Pete Kaiser, Zelalem Gutu,
Takele Taye, Alemayehu Amare ,Supriya Garikipati, Kasech Malese and Tadelle Dessie
ILRI, EIAR, University of Liverpool, University of Nottingham, University of Edinburgh
Infectious disease and village chickens in Ethiopia
•Local ecotypes are preferred to exotic birds. They are well adapted to Diseases under investigation:
scavenging, rearing chicks and more resistant to disease. They however, •Viral diseases
have low production outputs in terms of eggs and meat. •Bacterial diseases
•Infectious diseases has been named by farmers as a major constraint to •Intestinal parasites:
poultry production •Haemoparasites
•Limited information is available regarding the pathogens responsible for the •Ectoparasites
diseases observed and risk factors for infection.
• The role of host susceptibility and co‐infections remain largely unstudied.
The production environment of these birds means exposure to multiple Sampling Strategy
diseases is common.
•Birds will be screened for exposure to parasitic, bacterial and viral diseases,
including some that are immunosuppressive.
• A laboratory has been established at EIAR’s Debre Zeit poultry Horro 2 Regions, both in the highland
areas, but with different social
demographics
farm.
Preliminary results: First Season (May 2011) Jarso
Outbreaks are reported to cause losses throughout the year. Outbreaks
4 Market sheds (groups of
peak in the wet season in the Horro (H1 &H2), compared to Jarso (J1& villages dependent on a single
market)
J1). Farmers in Horro often have more than one outbreak per year.
8 villages
25 households in each village per sampling season
.....................................
2 birds from each household
Household / Village / Market Shed / Region
Previous disease Previous
BCS treatment
Production state Weight
Feed provision
Sex Age
Source
Season
Housing
Analysis of
NDV
Amount
confined
Risk factors
Length of time
in flock
Salmonella Pasteurella
Mixing with
other birds
Ectoparasites
Prevalence of selected pathogens (Horro and Jarso IBD MDV
combined) Nematodes
Eimeria
Differential white cell
counts
Positive Negative
Salmonella Project aims
1. Identify and prioritise infectious diseases of village poultry that
Marek's disease impact on production and productivity and hence livelihood;
2. Define the prevalence and distribution of genetic markers of
Lice resistance within and between well‐defined local poultry ecotypes
and between local ecotypes and commercial lines;
Scaly-leg mite 3. Assess the social and economic factors underpinning village poultry
production, particularly the impact of infectious diseases and
Nematodes
identification of impediments to development of acceptable disease
Eimeria
control programmes (including selective breeding);
4. Develop strategies for enhancing genetic resistance against the
priority poultry diseases for incorporation into programmes for
0 20 40 60 80 100
Prevalence improved poultry production and productivity whilst recognising
social, cultural and economic factors
5. Develop capacity and inform policy for control of priority avian
diseases in East Africa.
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