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1 March 2012 Persistence of Histomonas meleagridis in or on Materials Used in Poultry Houses
Abdul-Rahman Lotfi, E. M. Abdelwhab, H. M. Hafez
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Histomonas meleagridis is the causative agent of blackhead disease or histomonosis in turkeys, and previous research suggests that this parasite survives poorly outside of hosts except within heterakid nematodes. However, we investigated the viability of H. meleagridis in or on several artificially contaminated materials kept at ambient room temperature (22 ± 2 C) to mimic the situation in the field. The protozoan survived for up to 1 hr on wood, rubber, and metal; up to 3 hr on egg-tray cartons, egg shells, and bricks; up to 6 hr on straw, turkey feathers, and feed; and up to 9 hr in nonchlorinated tap water and fecal matter. Therefore, contaminated water, fresh fecal matter, or both could play a role in transmission of the parasite within and among poultry houses rather than other materials tested in this study.

American Association of Avian Pathologists
Abdul-Rahman Lotfi, E. M. Abdelwhab, and H. M. Hafez "Persistence of Histomonas meleagridis in or on Materials Used in Poultry Houses," Avian Diseases 56(1), 224-226, (1 March 2012). https://doi.org/10.1637/9519-090910-ResNote.1
Received: 14 September 2010; Accepted: 1 August 2011; Published: 1 March 2012
KEYWORDS
cyst-like stages
Histomonas meleagridis
parasites
persistence
poultry
protozoa
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