The main objective of this study was to determine the possible effects of thymoquinone (TQ) and curcumin (Cur) on immune-response and pathogenesis of H9N2 avian influenza virus (AIV) in turkeys. The experiment was performed on 75 non-vaccinated mixed-sex turkey poults, divided into 5 experimental groups (A, B, C, D, and E) of 15 birds each. Group A was kept as non-infected and a non-treated negative control (ctrl group) while group B was kept as infected and non-treated positive control (H9N2 group). Turkeys in groups A and B received normal commercial feed while turkeys in groups C and D received TQ, and Cur respectively, and group E concurrently received TQ and Cur from d one through the entire experiment period. All groups were challenged intra-nasally with H9N2 AIV (A/chicken/Pakistan/10RS3039-284-48/2010) at the fourth wk of age except group A. Infected turkeys showed clinical signs of different severity, showing the most prominent disease signs in turkeys in group B. All infected turkeys showed positive results for virus shedding; however, the pattern of virus shedding was different, and with turkeys in group B showing more pronounced virus secretion than the turkeys in the other groups receiving different levels of TQ and Cur. Moreover, significantly higher antibody titer against H9N2 AIV in turkeys shows the immunomodulatory nature of TQ and Cur. Similarly, increased cytokine gene expression suggests antiviral behavior of TQ and Cur especially in combination, leading to suppressed pathogenesis of H9N2 viruses. However, reduced virus shedding and enhanced immune responses were more pronounced in those turkeys receiving TQ and Cur concurrently. This study showed that supplements of TQ and Cur in combination would significantly enhance immune responsiveness and suppress pathogenicity of influenza viruses in turkeys.

Background. Enteric diseases are an important concern to the poultry industry and coccidiosis is imposing a significant economic burden worldwide.Objectives. The main goal of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of coccidiosis in free-range chicken in Sidi Thabet, northeast Tunisia.Methods. Six hundred and thirty free-range chickens along with fecal samples were collected from 15 flocks in this region and two hundred chickens were found positive for oocysts ofEimeriaspp. Intestines were dissected and examined for macroscopic lesions. The mucosa of small intestine and the caeca were examined for the presence and identification of parasitic forms using parasitology methods. The mean lesion scores were usually low (2+) were attributed mainly to the caeca.Results. The overall rate of coccidiosis was 31.8%:E.tenella(61.5%),E.maxima(12%), andE.acervulina(1.5%). MixedEimeriaspecies infection was observed with overall prevalence 26.5%. There was a statistically significant difference (P<0.05) among infection rates, age groups, season, diarrhea, and type of chicken.Conclusion. This is the first report of coccidiosis rate in free-range chicken in this region. Further additional studies are needed to develop better preventive measures against coccidiosis in the country.

The study was conducted to investigate the role of aflatoxin on the infectivity and transmissibility of H9N2 AI virus. The experiment was performed on 80 non-vaccinated turkeys, divided into 4 groups of 20 birds each. Group A was kept as non-infected and a non-treated negative control; Group B was inoculated intratracheally with H9N2 AI virus (1 × 10⁷ EID₅₀) at 4 weeks of age; Group C was fed on a diet containing 0.5 ppm aflatoxin from Day 1 through the entire experiment period and Group D was fed on diet containing 0.5 ppm aflatoxin as for Group C but inoculated intratracheally with H9N2 AI virus (1 × 10⁷ EID₅₀) at the fourth week of age and then mixed with naïve birds. Infected and contact birds showed clinical signs of different severity, showing the most prominent disease signs in birds of the aflatoxin + H9N2 group. All infected birds showed virus shedding, however, the pattern of virus shedding was different for birds of the aflatoxin + H9N2 group showing pronounced virus secretion. Similarly, efficient transmission of virus was observed between infected and contact birds, but more prominent virus transmission was seen in those birds inoculated and fed aflatoxin-treated diet. Moreover, significantly lower antibody titres against H9N2 AIV were observed in birds fed aflatoxin-treated diet, indicating an immunotoxic nature of aflatoxin as the reason for poor seroconversion. Similarly, decreased IFN_γ mRNA expression and higher mortality (35%) suggest an immunotoxic and immunosuppressive effect of aflatoxin leading to enhanced pathogenesis of H9N2 viruses in aflatoxin-fed birds. The immunosuppressive nature of aflatoxin might delay influenza virus clearance and this may be one of the reasons for increased pathogenicity of H9N2 LPAI viruses in turkeys under field conditions.

The main objective of this study was to determine the effects of various levels of dietary Nigella sativa seeds on immune-responsiveness and pathogenesis of H9N2 avian influenza virus (AIV) in turkeys. The experiment was performed on 80 unvaccinated turkey poults, divided into four groups of 20 birds each. Group A was kept as a non-infected, non-treated negative control; group B was inoculated intranasally with H9N2 AIV (10⁶ EID₅₀) at 4 wk of age; groups C and D were fed on diets containing 1% and 3% Nigella sativa seeds, respectively, from d 1 through the entire experiment period and inoculated intranasally with H9N2 AIV (10⁶ EID₅₀) at the wk 4 of age. Infected birds showed clinical signs of differing severity, with the most prominent disease signs appearing in birds of the H9N2 group. All infected birds showed positive results for virus shedding; however, the pattern of virus shedding was different, with birds of group B showing more pronounced virus secretion than the birds in the groups C and D, which were fed different levels of N. sativa. Moreover, significantly higher antibody titer against H9N2 AIV in group D birds show the immunomodulatory nature of N. sativa. Similarly, increased IFN-γ mRNA expression suggest antiviral behavior of N. sativa, leading to suppressed pathogenesis of H9N2 viruses in N. sativa-fed birds.This study showed that dietary supplementation with N. sativa seed at the level of 3% would enhance immune responsiveness and suppress pathogenicity of influenza viruses in turkeys.

Avian influenza is a highly pathogenic poultry disease found around the globe. It is caused by different strains of avian influenza virus. The H5N1 strain is not spread worldwide in humans, although, sporadic contaminations have been reported. It is known that the virus spreads from animals to humans however, there is concern regarding the evolution of the virus and that it is now possible for the virus to spread from human to human. There is currently no vaccine available that can act against all strains of the virus, although some vaccines have reached clinical trial stage. Regardless, there is a great need to develop a vaccine which will be effective against all strains of avian influenza. This review will focus on recent advances with special reference to the development of DNA vaccines against avian influenza. The specific importance, the hurdles to development and the possible future strategies for the development of DNA vaccines against multiple strains of avian influenza will be discussed.

We, the Editor and Publisher of World’s Poultry Science Journal, have retracted the following article: S. Umar, S. Sarfraz, A. Mushtaq & M. Attique ‘Emerging threat of H9N2 viruses in poultry of Pakistan and vaccination strategy’ (2016) 72:2, 343-352 https://doi.org/10.1017/S0043933916000179 The above article has been retracted as, subsequent to publication, significant duplication has been found in content in the ‘Introduction,’ ‘Emergence and evolution of LPAI H9N2,’ ‘Future prospects in AI vaccination,’ and ‘Conclusion’ sections with the following earlier published works: Karthik Shanmuganatham, Mohammed M Feeroz, Lisa Jones-Engel, David Walker, SMRabiul Alam, MKamrul Hasan, Pamela McKenzie, Scott Krauss, Richard J Webby & Robert G Webster ‘Genesis of avian influenza H9N2 in Bangladesh’ Emerging Microbes & Infections (2014) 3:1, 1-17 DOI 10.1038/emi.2014.84 Umar, S. ‘Emergence of new sub-genotypes of Newcastle disease virus in Pakistan’, World’s Poultry Science Journal (2017) 73:3, 567-580 DOI 10.1017/S0043933917000411 Lee, Dong-Hun and Song, Chang-Seon ‘H9N2 avian influenza virus in Korea: evolution and vaccination’ Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research (2013) 2:1, 26-33 DOI 10.7774/cevr.2013.2.1.26 We have been informed in our decision-making by our policy on publishing ethics and integrity and the COPE guidelines on retractions. The retracted article will remain online to maintain the scholarly record, but it will be digitally watermarked on each page as “Retracted”. © 2020 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group