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Unknown on Sunday, May 6, 2012
Specific
Pathogen-Free Flock
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Specific
Pathogen Free (SPF) poultry flock is a flock of poultry
birds raised in a positive-air –pressure (PAP) surrounding at a temperature
of 22oC and duly proven-free from specific pathogens. These
specific pathogens consist of fourteen (14) viruses, two (2) bacteria, two
(2) mycoplasmas, two (2) protozoa, one (1) coccidia and (1) helminth.
An SPF unit was established with the aim of providing researchers with SPF
eggs and chickens for their experimental trials and production of
biologics. It was designed to constantly produce 200 eggs or chicks per
week.
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The SPF unit of the APDRTC started operation in September 1988 with the
arrival of a short-term Japanese expert (Shigeru Karaswa) and 400 SPF eggs
of L-MWL-Line M/be from Nippon Institute of Biological Science. Finally 68
females and 20 males were selected as SPF Parent Stocks.
Activities of the SPF unit are:
- Hatching
of SPF eggs and raising of an SPF flock
- Conducting
Artificial Insemination
- Production
and supply of SPF eggs
- Production
and supply of SPF chicks
- Collection
of samples for monitoring
- Prepare
and supply chicken feed
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Egg
Production
The hen house laying percentage during 2003 and 2004 between 21weeks and 60
weeks is 60%-64%. Through this period the liveability of the male and
female were 100% and 80% respectively.
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Fertility and Hatchability
Artificial
Insemination (AI) for the production of fertile eggs has been done twice a
week. The average fertility was 91 % and the average hatchability was 78 %.
Natural mating has been introduced in 1998.The average fertility,
hatchability and mortality are 87%, 82% and 6% respectively.
Production and Supply of Eggs
Eggs are supplied to various units in VRI and other regional
laboratories. In the beginning there was low consummation of eggs but at
present there is high demand for these valuable eggs. The cost of
producing one SPF egg at APDRTC in 1990 was RM13.80.We have now
reduced the cost to about RM 3.00 by increasing the number of
birds and having high producing egg birds. It could further reduce by
increasing the cages and birds.
Production and Supply of Feed
The first batch of feed was brought from Japan as the local feed materials
were found to contain high bacterial counts. Later feed was heated to
reduce or eliminate bacteria by using the autoclave and pellet machine in
the SPF feed mill. These method consumed high electricity, wastage of raw
material, time and manpower. Since 1992 a different method was used by
using hot air for reducing or eliminating pathogenic bacteria. Feed samples
were tested for plate count, Enterobacteriacae & Salmonella isolation
and the results were negative. This method uses less electricity
wastage, time and manpower.
SPF Flock Health Monitoring
Regular monitoring have been done at fixed intervals. Flocks are tested
for 22 viral, bacterial and parasitic infections/infestations. Flocks have
been so far been tested free. The followings are the specific
pathogens/diseases being tested for the SPF flock at VRI.
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Monitoring on the Status of SPF poultry at VRI
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No.
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Disease
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Test
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1
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Infectious
bronchitis (IB)
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AGPT
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2
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Infectious
bursal disease (IBD)
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AGPT
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3
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Avian
encephalomyelitis (AE)
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AGPT
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4
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Chicken
embryo lethal orphan (CELO)
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AGPT
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5
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Avian
influenza (AI)
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AGPT
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6
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Reovirus
infection (REO)
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AGPT
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7
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Reticuloendotheliosis
(REV)
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AGPT
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8
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Fowl
pox (FP)
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AGPT
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9
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Infectious
laryngotracheitis (ILT)
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AGPT
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10
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Marek’s
disease (MD)
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AGPT
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11
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Newcastle
disease (ND)
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HI
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12
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Egg
drop syndrome (EDS)
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HI
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13
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Avian
leucosis (ALV)
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ELISA
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14
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Swollen
head syndrome
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ELISA
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15
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Chicken
anaemia
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FAT
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16
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Mycoplasma
gallisepticum (Mg)
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RPAT
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17
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Mycoplasma
synoviae (Ms)
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RPAT
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18
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Salmonella Pullorum
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RPAT
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19
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Infectious
coryza
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HI
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20
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Leucocytozoonosis
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AGPT
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21
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Blood
protozoa
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Giemsa
stain
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22
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Coccidiosis
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Salt
floatation
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23
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Helminths
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Salt
floatation
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AGPT :
Agar Gel Precipitin Test
HI: Haemagglutination Inhibition
ELISA: Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay
FAT: Fluorescent Antibody Technique
RPAT: Rapid Plate Agglutination Test
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