Chapters authored
Welfare of Pet Birds and Potential Zoonoses
The human-animal interaction had long been established and currently emerged in multiple aspects including housing of animals for food and as pets. The “pet birds” are the wild or exotic birds having high genetic value and are housed under captivity as companions or for ornamental purposes. The commonly housed pet birds are either passeriformes or psittaciformes. These birds are housed under conditions to meet standard requirements for welfare of pet birds. Besides the pet birds and human relationship, these birds are potential carriers or transmitters of several pathogens considered responsible for zoonotic diseases. The range of the zoonotic diseases consisted of bacterial, viral, parasitic and fungal diseases. The mode of transmission is also an important entity for understanding the spread mechanism of zoonotic diseases. The transmission and spread is predominantly through the direct contact and in the few conditions through the vectors; termed as vector-borne transmission. Altogether, in this chapter, the authors have discussed different aspects of welfare of pet birds, categories of zoonotic diseases along with mode of transmission and spread of zoonoses. At the last, few aspects of welfare of pet birds and prevention and control guidelines of zoonoses are suggested for the personal biosafety and public health.
Part of the book: Animal Welfare
Pathobiology, Public Health Significance, and Control of Campylobacter Infections
Campylobacteriosis is caused by Gram-negative and spiral-shaped microaerophilic Campylobacter bacteria. Different avian hosts are commonly infected with Campylobacter species. Among 16 Campylobacter species, infections are mostly caused by thermophilic Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli. C. jejuni and C. coli are well adapted to the avian intestinal tract and produce little or no clinical diseases in poultry. Although thermophilic Campylobacters are commensals in poultry, their significance is due to food safety and public health apprehensions. The majority of human Campylobacter infections are caused by C. jejuni, followed by C. coli, and rarely by C. lari. Campylobacter infections have now emerged as leading bacterial causes of foodborne gastroenteritis in humans throughout the world. Human Campylobacteriosis cases are sporadic and the disease is characterized by self-limiting watery and/or bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever; however, severe conditions may occur if patients are immunocompromised. The high prevalence of Campylobacter in the intestinal tract of poultry results in contamination of poultry carcasses and poultry products. Handling and eating raw or undercooked poultry meat is considered a significant risk factor for human campylobacteriosis. To ensure food safety and prevent human campylobacteriosis, eradication of Campylobacter from the human food chains, especially poultry and poultry products, is indispensable.
Part of the book: Recent Advances in Bacterial Biofilm Studies