Post by Predator on Jan 28, 2004 14:53:20 GMT -5
Chickens may damage your health
Apart from the psychological stresses associated with looking after free range chicken flocks, there are a small number of infectious diseases which may, on rare occasions, spread from poultry to people.
Diseases which can spread from animals to man are known as Zoonoses. There are a small number of conditions which may spread from chicken to man and some of these are discussed below.
Salmonella
This is one that everyone is aware of. There are over 2000 different Salmonella serotypes which can affect livestock including poultry. Many of these are so-called ‘exotic’ strains and may not cause any problems to people but there are a few, notably Salmonella typhimurium and Salmonella enteritidis, which can cause severe illness. Salmonella infection can be picked up from chicken meat, and eggs from infected birds but can also be picked up from a contaminated environment. With the ability now to vaccinate flocks against both Salmonella typhimurium and Salmonella enteritidis, risks from these two dangerous serotypes will be greatly reduced.
Campylobacter
This bacteria has been in the press a lot lately and is a very significant cause of human food poisoning in the UK. Incidents of Salmonella food poisoning are on the decline but the level of Campylobacter food poisoning has increased. There is still a lot more to understand about the various different strains of Campylobacter and the relevance of chicken strains to disease in people although chickens are considered a significant source of Campylobacter for human infection. Like Salmonella, Campylobacter infection can result in severe gastro intestinal problems in people. Infection can occur from contaminated meat. Campylobacter is also a fairly widespread organism in the environment.
Listeria
This bacterial infection is rare in poultry in the UK. Listeria is widespread in the environment and can be found in soil, silage, poultry litter, surface water and sewage. Infection can occur after eating contaminated food or Listeria infection may gain access through skin wounds.
Erysipelas
We have seen an increasing number of cases of Erysipelas infection in free range layers over the past few years. This may be associated with an increased rat population as rats and other vermin may carry this bacterial infection. Erysipelas can cause high mortality in poultry flocks. At present, control can be achieved by antibiotic treatment and, where necessary, vaccination of subsequent flocks. Risk of disease spreading to humans is fairly low but Erysipelas can gain access through damaged skin so it is important to keep any skin wounds clean and covered while working with poultry. In humans, Erysipelas infection can cause a localised inflammation around an infected wound or, more rarely, may cause generalised septicaemia.
Chlamydia
Chlamydia psittaci. Avian chlamydial infection in people was originally called Psittacosis as the disease was first found in parrots and the infection spread from parrots to humans. It is now known that Chlamydia psittaci can affect a wide range of domestic and wild birds. Strains of chlamydia vary considerably in their pathogenicity. Chlamydial infection is thought to be rare in chickens and the risk of human infection from birds is higher from pet caged birds, particularly parrots. Farm workers working with geese or ducks, particularly at processing plants, may be at higher risk. Chlamydial infection in people can cause a very severe flu like illness which can be treated with antibiotics.
Despite this list of nasties, there is no cause for panic. We have stressed the importance of biosecurity in previous articles for the protection of your chicken flocks. The same consideration should be given to the personal biosecurity of your family and farm staff. Providing that everyone observes basic hygiene precautions, risks are very few. The greatest risk, as with many other diseases, is to the very young, the very old, pregnant women and those with a compromised immune system.
Hopefully, you and your flocks will remain in robust good health. If, however, you need to consult your doctor about any problem which might be a zoonoses, you should tell your doctor that you work with poultry.
In addition, you will be aware of the potential risks of long term exposure to high levels of dust when working in poultry sheds so it is important to protect yourself and staff with a suitable mask.
Stephen Lister & Claire Knott, Crowshall Veterinary Services. February 2003
Apart from the psychological stresses associated with looking after free range chicken flocks, there are a small number of infectious diseases which may, on rare occasions, spread from poultry to people.
Diseases which can spread from animals to man are known as Zoonoses. There are a small number of conditions which may spread from chicken to man and some of these are discussed below.
Salmonella
This is one that everyone is aware of. There are over 2000 different Salmonella serotypes which can affect livestock including poultry. Many of these are so-called ‘exotic’ strains and may not cause any problems to people but there are a few, notably Salmonella typhimurium and Salmonella enteritidis, which can cause severe illness. Salmonella infection can be picked up from chicken meat, and eggs from infected birds but can also be picked up from a contaminated environment. With the ability now to vaccinate flocks against both Salmonella typhimurium and Salmonella enteritidis, risks from these two dangerous serotypes will be greatly reduced.
Campylobacter
This bacteria has been in the press a lot lately and is a very significant cause of human food poisoning in the UK. Incidents of Salmonella food poisoning are on the decline but the level of Campylobacter food poisoning has increased. There is still a lot more to understand about the various different strains of Campylobacter and the relevance of chicken strains to disease in people although chickens are considered a significant source of Campylobacter for human infection. Like Salmonella, Campylobacter infection can result in severe gastro intestinal problems in people. Infection can occur from contaminated meat. Campylobacter is also a fairly widespread organism in the environment.
Listeria
This bacterial infection is rare in poultry in the UK. Listeria is widespread in the environment and can be found in soil, silage, poultry litter, surface water and sewage. Infection can occur after eating contaminated food or Listeria infection may gain access through skin wounds.
Erysipelas
We have seen an increasing number of cases of Erysipelas infection in free range layers over the past few years. This may be associated with an increased rat population as rats and other vermin may carry this bacterial infection. Erysipelas can cause high mortality in poultry flocks. At present, control can be achieved by antibiotic treatment and, where necessary, vaccination of subsequent flocks. Risk of disease spreading to humans is fairly low but Erysipelas can gain access through damaged skin so it is important to keep any skin wounds clean and covered while working with poultry. In humans, Erysipelas infection can cause a localised inflammation around an infected wound or, more rarely, may cause generalised septicaemia.
Chlamydia
Chlamydia psittaci. Avian chlamydial infection in people was originally called Psittacosis as the disease was first found in parrots and the infection spread from parrots to humans. It is now known that Chlamydia psittaci can affect a wide range of domestic and wild birds. Strains of chlamydia vary considerably in their pathogenicity. Chlamydial infection is thought to be rare in chickens and the risk of human infection from birds is higher from pet caged birds, particularly parrots. Farm workers working with geese or ducks, particularly at processing plants, may be at higher risk. Chlamydial infection in people can cause a very severe flu like illness which can be treated with antibiotics.
Despite this list of nasties, there is no cause for panic. We have stressed the importance of biosecurity in previous articles for the protection of your chicken flocks. The same consideration should be given to the personal biosecurity of your family and farm staff. Providing that everyone observes basic hygiene precautions, risks are very few. The greatest risk, as with many other diseases, is to the very young, the very old, pregnant women and those with a compromised immune system.
Hopefully, you and your flocks will remain in robust good health. If, however, you need to consult your doctor about any problem which might be a zoonoses, you should tell your doctor that you work with poultry.
In addition, you will be aware of the potential risks of long term exposure to high levels of dust when working in poultry sheds so it is important to protect yourself and staff with a suitable mask.
Stephen Lister & Claire Knott, Crowshall Veterinary Services. February 2003