Induced systemic candidiasis in young broiler chickens

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Mycology
• Avian Pathology

Background:

• Systemic candidiasis is a significant concern in poultry farming.
• Candida albicans can cause opportunistic infections in various hosts, including birds.
• Understanding the pathogenicity of different Candida albicans strains is crucial for disease management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of systemic candidiasis induced by Candida albicans in broiler chickens.
• To characterize the clinical signs, mortality, and neurological disturbances associated with the infection.
• To explore the potential for correlating Candida albicans strain characteristics with virulence and pathogenicity.

Main Methods:

• Intravenous injection of viable Candida albicans cells into 14-day-old broiler chickens.
• Monitoring of body weight, mortality rates, and gross pathological changes (liver, kidneys, pancreas).
• Detailed observation and documentation of neurological signs and microbiological examination of internal organs and blood.

Main Results:

• Infection led to decreased body weight, moderate mortality, and pathological changes in the liver, kidneys, and pancreas.
• Neurological disturbances, including opisthotonus and torticollis, were observed in 0-50% of birds, varying by Candida albicans isolate.
• Candida albicans was found to localize in the meninges of the brain, and isolate-specific effects on growth rate were significant.

Conclusions:

• Candida albicans infection in broiler chickens causes systemic disease with neurological manifestations.
• The virulence and pathogenicity of Candida albicans isolates can be differentiated by their effects on host growth and neurological function.
• Further research can correlate biochemical traits with virulence to understand pathogenicity mechanisms.