MS was shown to be present in all types of commercial production, although egg layers were principally affected with over 50% of flocks sampled being MS-positive in all producing regions of the province.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35068097/
MS in Quebec
Forum rules
Any advice in this section should not be taken to overrule advice by a certified licensed veterinarian. You should always consult a veterinarian for treatment or diagnoses of animal disease or injury. The information in this thread is simply the experience of board members and is not to be taken as a substitution for veterinary advice or treatment.
Any advice in this section should not be taken to overrule advice by a certified licensed veterinarian. You should always consult a veterinarian for treatment or diagnoses of animal disease or injury. The information in this thread is simply the experience of board members and is not to be taken as a substitution for veterinary advice or treatment.
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Killerbunny
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Re: MS in Quebec
I wish we had a programme like the NPIP (National Poultry Improvement Programme) like the US where small flocks cn be tested and assisted. Problem with commercial flocks is once it's in, that's it pretty much.
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Beltsville Small White turkeys.
Mutt chickens for eggs
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Re: MS in Quebec
https://www.laterre.ca/utiliterre/anima ... au-quebec
This is the article translated from French.
Some infectious agents are present in the landscape and generally cause little harm, but still represent an underlying threat to the animals they infect and potential economic loss to the sectors involved. Mycoplasma synoviae, commonly referred to as MS, falls into this category. This mycoplasma has the potential to infect chickens and turkeys whether they are for broiler or laying.
As with other mycoplasmas, disease manifestation may be obvious or silent. The many clinical signs caused by the disease are explained by the variability of pathogenicity of MS strains.
Identify the symptoms
Birds infected with MS remain carriers for life and since they are possibly infectious, the risk of transmission to birds on their farm and surrounding farms is all the greater.
When the disease manifests, respiratory problems are noted, such as sneezing, rales or discharge from the eyes and nose. It is also possible that the birds suffer from arthritis causing lameness. In both cases, growth delays and consequent reductions in egg laying may occur. Some strains also have the particularity of infecting the oviduct of layers. In this situation, the eggs laid during the infection may present a thinning of their shell and particularly of its apex. An increased rate of cracks and breaks, which can reach 25% of daily production, threatens infected livestock. To date, MS strains causing this problem have never been reported in America. They appeared in the early 2000s in European countries, to then be seen on other continents.
A discrete bacterium
In Quebec, the isolated strains are often discreet. Their presence is detected as part of routine monitoring programs in breeding stock or when birds are submitted to the laboratory. In this last situation, MS turns out to be a surprise in several cases. Silent, lodging in the upper respiratory system of birds, it opens the door to opportunistic bacteria and viruses. The manifestations of his presence are irregular and reveal different faces. A compilation of cases submitted between 2014 and 2019 to the MAPAQ laboratory made it possible to count 22 diagnosed cases of MS. It should be noted that 18 of the 22 cases were associated with the table egg sector, including commercial breeders, pullets and layers, and the other 4 with the meat sector, both in breeders and in chickens or turkeys.
During the years 2015 and 2016, contamination by MS occurred between three farms located close to each other and having no direct link between them.
Estimating the prevalence of MS in farms
The Quebec Poultry Disease Control Team (EQCMA) was questioned about this situation and its veterinary committee proposed to conduct a literature review on the subject, as well as a province-wide prevalence study.
In February 2019, EQCMA received funding from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's AgriRisk Initiatives program. The study was carried out between June 2019 and March 2020. Its objectives were to estimate the prevalence of SM in quota farms in Quebec and to compare production data from positive and negative farms.
A sampling plan was established taking into account regional specificities and practically all types of commercial birds raised in Quebec. For birds going to the slaughterhouse, samples were taken in collaboration with slaughterhouses receiving birds raised in Quebec. For commercial pullets, the samples were taken at the production site during the transfer of the birds to the nests. PCR (polymerase chain reaction) was used to decode the mycoplasma genome and as soon as there was detection, sequencing was done to identify the strain. In addition, a letter was sent to the producers participating in the study to send them their results and request specific production data for each type of bird. They were used for the comparison analysis between the positive and negative sites.
Present everywhere
This study demonstrated that MS is present in all types of birds and in all regions of Quebec. Prevalences below 10% were found in the different types of production, with the exception of a much higher prevalence in commercial layers.
As a result of sequencing, four types of strains were identified, one of which was found to be more prevalent and was found in all regions. Concerning the comparison of the zootechnical parameters, it revealed non-significant to marginal differences between positive and negative farms for MS.
Following these results, it is appropriate to question what arouses the interest shown in this agent. Since mycoplasmas can be transmitted from mother to offspring, a significant number of birds can be infected with them from birth. Knowing that birds infected with MS remain carriers for life and that they are possibly infectious, the risks of transmission to birds on their farm and surrounding farms are all the greater. In order to prevent the transmission of MS between farms, it remains imperative to never underestimate the effectiveness of well-applied common biosecurity, whether for personnel, equipment or vehicles.
Monitoring program
The EQCMA, with the help of its veterinary committee, is working on an MS surveillance and control program to prevent the introduction and establishment of new strains in Quebec and to minimize the risk of infection in breeders. In addition, work is in progress to examine the possibility of including this disease in the Québec Poultry Disease Compensation Plan (RIMAQ), which would cover the losses and costs of a breeder who proceeds to eradicate it in his herd.
Dr. Nadia Bergeron, project manager at the Quebec Poultry Disease Control Team (EQCMA)
Dr Ghislain Hébert, project manager at EQCMA
This is the article translated from French.
Some infectious agents are present in the landscape and generally cause little harm, but still represent an underlying threat to the animals they infect and potential economic loss to the sectors involved. Mycoplasma synoviae, commonly referred to as MS, falls into this category. This mycoplasma has the potential to infect chickens and turkeys whether they are for broiler or laying.
As with other mycoplasmas, disease manifestation may be obvious or silent. The many clinical signs caused by the disease are explained by the variability of pathogenicity of MS strains.
Identify the symptoms
Birds infected with MS remain carriers for life and since they are possibly infectious, the risk of transmission to birds on their farm and surrounding farms is all the greater.
When the disease manifests, respiratory problems are noted, such as sneezing, rales or discharge from the eyes and nose. It is also possible that the birds suffer from arthritis causing lameness. In both cases, growth delays and consequent reductions in egg laying may occur. Some strains also have the particularity of infecting the oviduct of layers. In this situation, the eggs laid during the infection may present a thinning of their shell and particularly of its apex. An increased rate of cracks and breaks, which can reach 25% of daily production, threatens infected livestock. To date, MS strains causing this problem have never been reported in America. They appeared in the early 2000s in European countries, to then be seen on other continents.
A discrete bacterium
In Quebec, the isolated strains are often discreet. Their presence is detected as part of routine monitoring programs in breeding stock or when birds are submitted to the laboratory. In this last situation, MS turns out to be a surprise in several cases. Silent, lodging in the upper respiratory system of birds, it opens the door to opportunistic bacteria and viruses. The manifestations of his presence are irregular and reveal different faces. A compilation of cases submitted between 2014 and 2019 to the MAPAQ laboratory made it possible to count 22 diagnosed cases of MS. It should be noted that 18 of the 22 cases were associated with the table egg sector, including commercial breeders, pullets and layers, and the other 4 with the meat sector, both in breeders and in chickens or turkeys.
During the years 2015 and 2016, contamination by MS occurred between three farms located close to each other and having no direct link between them.
Estimating the prevalence of MS in farms
The Quebec Poultry Disease Control Team (EQCMA) was questioned about this situation and its veterinary committee proposed to conduct a literature review on the subject, as well as a province-wide prevalence study.
In February 2019, EQCMA received funding from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's AgriRisk Initiatives program. The study was carried out between June 2019 and March 2020. Its objectives were to estimate the prevalence of SM in quota farms in Quebec and to compare production data from positive and negative farms.
A sampling plan was established taking into account regional specificities and practically all types of commercial birds raised in Quebec. For birds going to the slaughterhouse, samples were taken in collaboration with slaughterhouses receiving birds raised in Quebec. For commercial pullets, the samples were taken at the production site during the transfer of the birds to the nests. PCR (polymerase chain reaction) was used to decode the mycoplasma genome and as soon as there was detection, sequencing was done to identify the strain. In addition, a letter was sent to the producers participating in the study to send them their results and request specific production data for each type of bird. They were used for the comparison analysis between the positive and negative sites.
Present everywhere
This study demonstrated that MS is present in all types of birds and in all regions of Quebec. Prevalences below 10% were found in the different types of production, with the exception of a much higher prevalence in commercial layers.
As a result of sequencing, four types of strains were identified, one of which was found to be more prevalent and was found in all regions. Concerning the comparison of the zootechnical parameters, it revealed non-significant to marginal differences between positive and negative farms for MS.
Following these results, it is appropriate to question what arouses the interest shown in this agent. Since mycoplasmas can be transmitted from mother to offspring, a significant number of birds can be infected with them from birth. Knowing that birds infected with MS remain carriers for life and that they are possibly infectious, the risks of transmission to birds on their farm and surrounding farms are all the greater. In order to prevent the transmission of MS between farms, it remains imperative to never underestimate the effectiveness of well-applied common biosecurity, whether for personnel, equipment or vehicles.
Monitoring program
The EQCMA, with the help of its veterinary committee, is working on an MS surveillance and control program to prevent the introduction and establishment of new strains in Quebec and to minimize the risk of infection in breeders. In addition, work is in progress to examine the possibility of including this disease in the Québec Poultry Disease Compensation Plan (RIMAQ), which would cover the losses and costs of a breeder who proceeds to eradicate it in his herd.
Dr. Nadia Bergeron, project manager at the Quebec Poultry Disease Control Team (EQCMA)
Dr Ghislain Hébert, project manager at EQCMA
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