Ayebare Dreck, Mbatidde Irene, Kemunto Naomi P, Muloi Dishon M, Ibayi Eugine L, Nielsen Søren Saxmose, Ndoboli Dickson, Roesel Kristina, Tenhagen Bernd-Alois, Moodley Arshnee
International Livestock Research Institute, Kampala, Uganda.
Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
One Health. 2025 Apr 15;20:101039. doi: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2025.101039. eCollection 2025 Jun.
Effective biosecurity measures prevent the spread of pathogens, thereby reducing the need for antibiotic use on livestock farms. However, quantitative data on these practices and health outcomes in semi-intensive broiler farms in low-income settings is limited. A longitudinal study in Wakiso, Uganda, aimed to evaluate biosecurity practices, health performance, and antibiotic use in such farms.
The FarmUSE survey tool was used to collect data from 19 farms over two production cycles. A biosecurity risk assessment tool was used to quantify biosecurity. Blood samples (n = 342) were collected and analyzed using the ProFLOK® assay to assess antibody responses to vaccines for Newcastle disease (NCD), Infectious Bronchitis (IB), and Infectious bursal disease (IBD).
Median biosecurity scores were 26.3 % for external measures, 55.6 % for internal measures, and an overall score of 38.5 %. Sixteen farms reported respiratory signs, and 12 had gastrointestinal issues, with median mortality rates of 2.9 % in the first cycle and 4.6 % in the second. Antibiotic use was reported by 84 % and 77 % of farms in the first and second cycles, respectively. The most used antibiotics were tetracyclines, fluoroquinolones, and macrolides, with the highest usage occurring during the brooding phase. Good antibody responses were reported in only 10.5 % of flocks for NCD and 16 % for IBD, while all farms had poor responses against IB.
Recurrent clinical signs could be attributed to insufficient biosecurity and inadequate vaccination outcomes, resulting in high antibiotic usage despite low mortality rates. Improving diagnostic access and strengthening the vaccine supply chain are essential. Identifying feasible and cost-effective biosecurity practices for semi-intensive broiler farms can enhance health outcomes, reduce antibiotic use, and boost productivity.
有效的生物安全措施可防止病原体传播，从而减少畜牧场使用抗生素的需求。然而，关于低收入地区半集约化肉鸡场这些做法及健康结果的定量数据有限。乌干达瓦基索的一项纵向研究旨在评估此类农场的生物安全措施、健康状况及抗生素使用情况。
使用FarmUSE调查工具在两个生产周期内从19个农场收集数据。使用生物安全风险评估工具对生物安全进行量化。采集血样（n = 342）并使用ProFLOK®检测法进行分析，以评估对新城疫（NCD）、传染性支气管炎（IB）和传染性法氏囊病（IBD）疫苗的抗体反应。
外部措施的生物安全评分中位数为26.3%，内部措施为55.6%，总体评分为38.5%。16个农场报告有呼吸道症状，12个农场有胃肠道问题，第一个周期的死亡率中位数为2.9%，第二个周期为4.6%。分别有84%和77%的农场在第一个和第二个周期报告使用了抗生素。最常用的抗生素是四环素、氟喹诺酮类和大环内酯类，在育雏阶段使用量最高。仅10.5%的鸡群对NCD的抗体反应良好，对IBD的抗体反应良好的鸡群为16%，而所有农场对IB的抗体反应均较差。
反复出现的临床症状可能归因于生物安全措施不足和疫苗接种效果不佳，尽管死亡率较低，但抗生素使用量仍然很高。改善诊断途径和加强疫苗供应链至关重要。确定半集约化肉鸡场可行且具有成本效益的生物安全措施可改善健康状况、减少抗生素使用并提高生产力。
