Abstract: |
vian chlamydiosis is a serious avian
infection that carries a significant zoonotic danger to the
poultry industry. The respiratory co-infections caused
by the low pathogenic avian influenza virus H9N2
(LPAIV H9N2) also cause significant financial losses in
the poultry industry. The purpose of this study was to
examine the pathogenicity of Chlamydophila psittaci,
and LPAIV H9N2 individually and in combination in
broiler chickens, as well as to determine whether or not
aqueous neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf extract is effective against infections caused by these pathogens.
Therefore, 120 broiler cobb chicks were equally divided
into 4 groups (30 birds each) with triplicates with 10
birds. Broilers in group 1 (G1) were infected with only
C. psittaci, broilers in group 2 (G2) were infected with
only LPAIV H9N2, broilers in group 3 (G3) were
infected with C. psittaci and LPAIV H9N2, and broilers
in group 4 (G4) remained not challenged and nontreated with any therapeutic or preventive treatment
(negative control). At 21 d postinfection (dpi), birds in
G1, G2, and G3 were divided into 3 subgroups of 10
birds each: subgroup (A) remained infected and
untreated (positive control), subgroup (B) infected and
received oxytetracycline for 5 consecutive d, and subgroup (C) infected and received 8% aqueous neem leaf
extract for 5 consecutive d. The multiplication of C. psittaci in birds in G1, in various tissues was evaluated using
Giemsa staining and the data showed that multiplication was much higher in the lung, spleen, and liver from
6 h to 21 dpi, but low in the heart from 8 to 21 dpi. During simultaneous co-infection in G3, the birds developed
significant clinical symptoms and postmortem lesions
(PM). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction
(qRT-PCR) was used to detect viral shedding from
oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs between 2 dpi and 8
dpi, with cycle threshold (CT) values ranging from 22
to 24. In contrast, bacterial shedding began 6 h after
infection and continued until 21 dpi, with CT values
ranging from 23 to 26. Administration of an aqueous
neem leaf extract at an 8% concentration (Group C)
resulted in a numerical rise in average body weight
across all treatment groups in the third and fourth week,
as well as a reduction in LPAIV H9N2 and C. psittaci
replication in the respiratory and gut of treated birds
compared to those treated with oxytetracycline (Group
B). Overall, respiratory co-infections pose a considerable
risk to the poultry business, which is a big threat. To
control C. psittaci and LPAIV H9N2 in broiler chickens,
oral supplementation of 8% aqueous neem leaf extract is
recommended. This treatment improves the birds
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