Mapping the poultry insectome in and around broiler breeder pullet farms identifies new potential Dipteran vectors of Histomonas meleagridis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Histomonas meleagridis can infect chickens and turkeys. It uses the eggs of the cecal worm Heterakis gallinarum as a vector and reservoir. Litter beetles (Alphitobius diaperinus) and other arthropod species have been implicated as potential vectors, but little information about other arthropod species as potential vectors is known.

Methods

Four broiler breeder pullet farms were sampled every 4 months. On each farm, three types of traps were set inside and outside two houses. Trapped arthropod specimens were morphologically identified at order level and grouped into families/types when possible. Selected specimens from abundant types found both inside and outside barns were screened for H. meleagridis and H. gallinarum by qPCR.

Results

A total of 4743 arthro

SUBMITTER: Terra MT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10360274 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature