UK Poultry Disease Quarterly Surveillance Report (to March 2006)

By Veterinary Laboratories Agency - This report monitors trends in the major endemic poultry diseases and utilises the farmfile and VIDA (Veterinary Investigation Disease Analysis) databases. The report is compiled using disease data gathered by the network of 15 VLA regional laboratories which carry out disease investigation in the field.
calendar icon 14 August 2006
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Quarterly Surveillance Report Poultry: Vol. 10 No. 1
January - March 2006
Published May 2006

Contents

OVERVIEW (here)

POULTRY STATISTICS

NOTIFIABLE DISEASES:
- SUBMISSIONS TO THE EU REFERENCE
- LABORATORY
- IMPORTED CAPTIVE BIRDS
- FOWL CHOLERA

FOOD SAFETY AND ZOONOSES
- SALMONELLA REPORT
- SALMONELLA ZO4 VISITS
- SALMONELLA GALLINARUM

ENDEMIC/NEW AND EMERGING DISEASE SURVEILLANCE
- VIROLOGY REPORT
- OTHER AVIAN TOPICS
- BLACKHEAD UPDATE
- MAREK’S DISEASE


Appendix I – VLA Lasswade Histopathology submissions July – December 2005

Highlights

  • SALMONELLA GALLINARUM IDENTIFIED ON A THIRD SITE (P4)
  • MAREKS DISEASE VACCINE BREAKS: CAUSES AND PREVENTION (P5)

Overview

Avian influenza remained uppermost in the minds of poultry farmers and game owners throughout the quarter, and also remained under the media spotlight. There was much debate on topics such as the pros and cons of vaccinating birds and on the possible role of migratory birds in spreading disease.

Increasing numbers of wild bird deaths were reported by members of the public and screened for avian influenza. The identification of H5N1 in a wild whooper swan in Scotland in early April and of low pathogenicity H7N3 in a breeder flock in East Anglia in late April fell outside the quarter. Details of viruses submitted to the EU reference laboratory during the quarter are tabulated on page 3 of this report.

It is difficult at this stage to quantify the impact, if any, of avian influenza on the UK poultry industry. The statistics on page 2 of this report show no undue trends over the quarter but any economic effects of the disease are not likely to have been evident in the statistics. Nevertheless there has been evidence of a downward pressure on poultry meat prices.

Following a presentation at the BVPA Spring meeting in March, the speaker has kindly provided an article on ‘Marek’s disease vaccine breaks: causes and prevention’ for this report (page 5) in which the need for careful attention to basic hygiene, vaccine administration and management practices are emphasised in maintaining control of MD. The quarterly VIDA diagnostic rate for Mareks disease again showed an increase during the quarter compared to the first quarter of previous years

Poultry Statistics

UK Quarterly figs for female Broiler Parent
Chick Placings (Average Monthly figures)



UK Quarterly figs for Commercial Broiler
Chick Placings (Average Monthly figures)



UK Quarterly figs for Turkey Poults Placings
(Average Monthly figures)



Av UK Quarterly figs for Commercial Layer
Chick Placings (Average Monthly figures)



UK Quarterly figs for Broiler Slaughterings
(Average monthly figures)



UK Quarterly figs for
Turkey Slaughterings (Average Monthly figures)



Total Poultry Meat Trade
(Average Monthly figures)

Further Information

To read the full 13 page PDF report please click here

May 2006

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