Detection, characterization, and persistence of Campylobacter hepaticus, the cause of spotty liver disease in layer hens.

ABSTRACT: A Campylobacter species was first described as the etiological agent of Spotty Liver Disease (SLD) in 2015 and subsequently named as Campylobacter hepaticus in 2016. The bacterium predominantly affects barn and/or free-range hens at peak lay, is fastidious and difficult to isolate, which has impeded elucidation of its sources, means of persistence and transmission. Ten farms from South-Eastern Australia, of which 7 were free range entities participated in the study. A total of 1,404 specimens from layers and 201 from environmental sources, were examined for the presence of C. hepaticus. In this study, our principal findings included the continuing detection of C. hepaticus infection in a flock following an outbreak, indicating a possible transition of infected hens to asymptomatic carriers

SUBMITTER: Courtice JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10209450 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature