Poultry provides an affordable source of protein for populations worldwide, through meat and eggs. They are easier to manage and faster growing and have a smaller environmental footprint compared to other meat animals. Therefore, they play an important role in the agriculture sector and global food security. Bacterial diseases in poultry can cause high mortality and severely affect meat and egg production. Various bacteria species can cause diseases in poultry, such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella Pullorum, Salmonella Enteritidis, Salmonella Typhimurium, Pasteurella multocida, Staphylococcus aureus, Mycobacterium gallisepticum, Mycobacterium avium, Clostridium perfringens, and Enterococcus cecorum. Although Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli commonly colonise at high levels in the intestinal tract, they cause little clinical disease in poultry. Campylobacter hepaticus, however, causes major problems in layers as it can lead to a high death rate and egg production reduction. Efforts in understanding and controlling bacterial diseases in poultry are important in productivity, welfare, and securing food supply for the long term.
Antibiotics have been used to prevent and treat various bacterial diseases in poultry. However, due to their negative effects such as residues in animal products and the development of antibiotic resistant bacteria, their use in animal production has been actively reduced around the globe and banned in some countries. In addition to vaccines, other approaches, including natural feed additives such as plant-based products and probiotics have been adopted as sustainable alternatives to antibiotics for poultry production. Plant products contain bio-active ingredients that benefit the hosts’ gut microbiota, increase endogenous enzyme activity and nutrient transporters and enhance immunity. Probiotics are live microbes and have been increasingly used in poultry due to their health benefits. To make food production more sustainable, the search for antibiotic alternatives has been more urgent than ever before.
This Research Topic intends to showcase the current knowledge and latest advances in the biology and understanding of the virulence of bacterial diseases in poultry and prevention of those diseases in the post antibiotic era. We invite submissions of original research articles, short reports, or reviews. Articles covering all novel aspects from bacterial disease in poultry to treatment options, including but not limited to probiotics, phytobiotics, and organic acids, would be appropriate.
Poultry provides an affordable source of protein for populations worldwide, through meat and eggs. They are easier to manage and faster growing and have a smaller environmental footprint compared to other meat animals. Therefore, they play an important role in the agriculture sector and global food security. Bacterial diseases in poultry can cause high mortality and severely affect meat and egg production. Various bacteria species can cause diseases in poultry, such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella Pullorum, Salmonella Enteritidis, Salmonella Typhimurium, Pasteurella multocida, Staphylococcus aureus, Mycobacterium gallisepticum, Mycobacterium avium, Clostridium perfringens, and Enterococcus cecorum. Although Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli commonly colonise at high levels in the intestinal tract, they cause little clinical disease in poultry. Campylobacter hepaticus, however, causes major problems in layers as it can lead to a high death rate and egg production reduction. Efforts in understanding and controlling bacterial diseases in poultry are important in productivity, welfare, and securing food supply for the long term.
Antibiotics have been used to prevent and treat various bacterial diseases in poultry. However, due to their negative effects such as residues in animal products and the development of antibiotic resistant bacteria, their use in animal production has been actively reduced around the globe and banned in some countries. In addition to vaccines, other approaches, including natural feed additives such as plant-based products and probiotics have been adopted as sustainable alternatives to antibiotics for poultry production. Plant products contain bio-active ingredients that benefit the hosts’ gut microbiota, increase endogenous enzyme activity and nutrient transporters and enhance immunity. Probiotics are live microbes and have been increasingly used in poultry due to their health benefits. To make food production more sustainable, the search for antibiotic alternatives has been more urgent than ever before.
This Research Topic intends to showcase the current knowledge and latest advances in the biology and understanding of the virulence of bacterial diseases in poultry and prevention of those diseases in the post antibiotic era. We invite submissions of original research articles, short reports, or reviews. Articles covering all novel aspects from bacterial disease in poultry to treatment options, including but not limited to probiotics, phytobiotics, and organic acids, would be appropriate.