Water quality is critical for poultry farming. This study assessed the physical, chemical and microbiological quality of drinking water in small-layer farms in Southern Mozambique and identified potential risk factors for total coliform (TC) and Escherichia coli contamination of drinking water. In 20 farms, 57 samples were collected and examined for pH, nitrate content (NC), nitrite level (NL) and total hardness contents (TH). Furthermore, TC and E. coli growth were assessed at 37 °C. One hundred per cent of the drinking water was of acceptable quality in terms of pH (6.5-8.5), NC (50 mg/L) and NL (3 mg/L). Total hardness contents exceeded the recommended standard in 37.5% of borehole water samples and 91.7% of tap water samples, respectively. Total coliform and E. coli were found in 40% and 15% of water samples. Tap water samples had the greatest contamination, with TC and E. coli levels of 41.7% and 16.7%, respectively. Although not statistically significant, sampling from the beginning of the nipple line (p = 0.101, OR = 7.357, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.678-79.886) and not cleaning the rearing equipment regularly (p = 0.098, OR = 3.966, 95% CI: 0.766-20.280) were factors affecting the TC growth. Sampling from the tank water source (p = 0.001, OR = 0.005, 95% CI: 0.000-0.121) and borehole water source (OR = 13 585) and not cleaning the equipment consistently (p = 0.073, OR = 9.682, 95% CI: 0.810-115.68) were all factors affecting E. coli growth. It is concluded that the TH and microbiological quality of the drinking water of the study region are inadequate. Regular water quality assessments should be incorporated into Mozambican layer farm management to limit the potential for health concerns, and farmers should thoroughly clean and disinfect their rearing equipment. CONTRIBUTION: We should incorporate regular water quality assessments into Mozambican layer farm management to limit the potential for health concerns, and farmers should thoroughly clean and disinfect their rearing equipment

Commercial bivalent killed Salmonella vaccine Salenvac-T has been used in several countries in order to prevent salmonellosis with Salmonella enterica serovars Enteritidis (SE) and Typhimurium (ST) in poultry. However, this vaccine has not been used in poultry farms in South Korea. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of Salenvac- T vaccine to protect against the challenge of virulent SE and ST, and the effect of the vaccine on egg production and mortality in layer hens. The colonization of liver, spleen and cecum with challenged SE and ST was reduced in vaccinated chickens compared with that of unvaccinated control group. The twice vaccination with Salenvac-T induced elevated antibody responses against both SE and ST detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The higher average hen-day production was observed in the vaccinated layer hens than in the unvaccinated layer hens without significance. The average mortality was lower in the vaccinated layer hens during the experiment period. The antibody responses to both SE and ST were persistently detected in the vaccinated layers. In summary, vaccination with Salenvac-T reduces colonization of internal organs and induces good antibody responses, thereby results in higher performance and lower egg contamination with SE and ST in layer hens.

Water quality is critical for poultry farming. This study assessed the physical, chemical and microbiological quality of drinking water in small-layer farms in Southern Mozambique and identified potential risk factors for total coliform (TC) and Escherichia coli contamination of drinking water. In 20 farms, 57 samples were collected and examined for pH, nitrate content (NC), nitrite level (NL) and total hardness contents (TH). Furthermore, TC and E. coli growth were assessed at 37 °C. One hundred per cent of the drinking water was of acceptable quality in terms of pH (6.5–8.5), NC (50 mg/L) and NL (3 mg/L). Total hardness contents exceeded the recommended standard in 37.5% of borehole water samples and 91.7% of tap water samples, respectively. Total coliform and E. coli were found in 40% and 15% of water samples. Tap water samples had the greatest contamination, with TC and E. coli levels of 41.7% and 16.7%, respectively. Although not statistically significant, sampling from the beginning of the nipple line (p = 0.101, OR = 7.357, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.678–79.886) and not cleaning the rearing equipment regularly (p = 0.098, OR = 3.966, 95% CI: 0.766–20.280) were factors affecting the TC growth. Sampling from the tank water source (p = 0.001, OR = 0.005, 95% CI: 0.000–0.121) and borehole water source (OR = 13 585) and not cleaning the equipment consistently (p = 0.073, OR = 9.682, 95% CI: 0.810–115.68) were all factors affecting E. coli growth. It is concluded that the TH and microbiological quality of the drinking water of the study region are inadequate. Regular water quality assessments should be incorporated into Mozambican layer farm management to limit the potential for health concerns, and farmers should thoroughly clean and disinfect their rearing equipment. Contribution: We should incorporate regular water quality assessments into Mozambican layer farm management to limit the potential for health concerns, and farmers should thoroughly clean and disinfect their rearing equipment.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate some hematological parameters in commercial layers inoculated with two virulent Pasteurella multocida serotypes. Materials and Methods: A total of 84 twenty-week-old black Harco layers were randomly assigned to seven groups (A, B, C, D, E, F and G) with 12 birds per group. 1mLof live attenuated fowl cholera (FC) vaccine was administered subcutaneously at 24 weeks of age to groups A and B, emulsified inactivated (killed) FC vaccine was administered dosed at 0.5 mL per bird subcutaneously at 24 weeks of age to groups C and D, groups E and F were not vaccinated, while group G served as control. Groups A, C and E were inoculated with P. multocida serotype A:1 and groups B, D and F were inoculated with P. multocida serotype A:3. Using McFarland Standard, each bird received a dose of 0.5 mL (0.1 mL intranasally and 0.4 mL intramuscularly) containing 4.5 x 108 cfu/bird. Results: For PCV (P≤0.2692 and P≤0.7643) and HB (P≤0.2806 and P≤0.7266) on day 2 and 10 post inoculation, there was no significant difference between the vaccinated, non-vaccinated groups and control group G. However, there was a highly significant difference P≤0.05 in the mean concentrations of ALP between the control group G (67.67±1.453 u/l) vaccinated groups A (80.33±4.98 u/l), B (81.33±2.60 u/l), C (75±6.35 u/l), and D (84±5.132 u/l) and unvaccinated groups E (104±1.528 u/l ), and F (78 ±3.512 u/l) post inoculation. Conclusion The PCV significantly decrease P≤0.05 in layers vaccinated and inoculated with P. multocida but increase in unvaccinated layers inoculated P. multocida. The mean serum ALP concentration significantly increase P≤0.05 in unvaccinated layers inoculated with P. multocida when compared to layers vaccinated and inoculated with P. multocida. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2017; 4(3.000): 234-240]