A survey of disease in five commercial flocks of meat breeder chickens.
Causes of sickness and death in approximately 30,000 chickens in 5 meat breeder flocks were investigated between May 1979 and April 1980. Approximately 23% of disease was due to neoplasms; 81% of these were Marek's disease despite vaccination against this infection. Other frequent diagnoses included cellulitis (15%), respiratory disease (14%), lesions of the reproductive tract (11%) and tenosynovitis/arthritis (9%). Antibodies to Mycoplasma gallisepticium, avian adenovirus, infectious bursal disease virus and reticuloendotheliosis virus were present in all flocks. Antibody to Newcastle disease virus (NDV) was found in 2 flocks but titres were not considered protective against a virulent NDV challenge. Antibody to egg drop syndrome 1976 virus was found in 2 flocks comprised of the same breed of bird.
D000818:Animals; D001315:Australia; D002645:Chickens; D005260:Female; D007866:Leg; D008380:Marek Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary