Project Number: 6226-32000-012-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Jan 31, 2012
End Date: Jan 30, 2017

Objective:
Objective 1: Develop bacteriophage as an alternative to antibiotics to prevent and treat pertinent poultry diseases such as turkey coryza. Sub-objective 1A: Isolate bacteriophage with activity to clinically relevant Bordetella avium isolates. Sub-objective 1B: Establish a model to study turkey coryza. Sub-objective 1C: Determine the efficacy of bacteriophage to prevent Bordetella avium induced turkey coryza. Sub-objective 1D: Determine the efficacy of bacteriophage to treat Bordetella avium induced turkey coryza. Objective 2: Determine the role of stress-induced immunosuppression in the pathogenesis of Clostridial dermatitis (CD) in turkeys and runting stunting syndrome (RSS) in chickens, and the efficacy of immunomodulation in reducing their incidence and severity. Sub-objective 2A: Develop an experimental model for CD in turkeys using dexamethasone (Dex) immunosuppression, transport stress, and Escherichia coli respiratory challenge and evaluate herbal immunomodulators for their efficacy in decreasing CD incidence. Sub-objective 2B: Evaluate the efficacy of adaptogenic herbal immunomodulators in early feeding as a management strategy for the prevention of RSS. Objective 3: Develop diagnostic tools to evaluate the role of antimicrobial peptides in stress-induced immunosuppression.

Approach:
Bacteriophage targeted to the bacteria Bordetella avium, the cause of turkey coryza, will be isolated from environmental sources. We will develop a model to study the effects of bacteriophage to both prevent and treat turkey coryza by spray administration and environmental augmentation of bacteriophage. We will use our stress response model to evaluate the role stress plays in Clostridial dermatitis (CD) in turkeys and runting stunting syndrome (RSS) in chickens. Using this model we will evaluate the efficacy of feed and /or water delivered adaptogenic herbal immunomodulators as a management strategy for the prevention of these costly diseases. We will also develop tools to evaluate the role of antimicrobial peptides in stress-induced immunosuppression. These approaches are an effort to find practical alternatives to antibiotics to reduce the impact diseases have on poultry production.