Raillietina cesticillus infection causes reduced egg production in chickens in a windowless poultry house.

In a windowless poultry house raising layer chickens in Kanagawa prefecture, Japan, a slight increase in the mortality of chickens and a decrease in egg production were observed. Necropsy revealed numerous tapeworms and proglottids in chicken intestines. Histopathologically, gut-associated lymphoid tissues were observed in the lamina propria of the jejunum; however, no significant changes were observed in the other organs. Numerous hide beetles, Dermestes maculatus DeGeer, intermediate hosts of Raillietina cesticillus, were observed in the poultry house. Following a decline in beetle numbers, egg production increased and chicken mortality decreased. The life cycle of a tapeworm was easily established in a closed space, such as a windowless house, which led to severe infections.

Genetic analysis of Streptococcus equi subsp. equi isolated from horses imported into Japan.

Strangles is a commonly diagnosed and important infectious disease of equids worldwide, caused by Streptococcus equi subsp. equi. We determined the SeM genotypes of S. equi isolated from imported horses at the Japanese border within the past 8 years, which allowed us to classify 12 strains isolated from these horses from each exporter into four allelic groups. These alleles were different from the alleles of past isolates found in Japan. Furthermore, four strains classified into the same allele were isolated from horses from one exporter over several years. In this study, S. equi isolates from different exporters had different SeM alleles. Attention to the hygiene status of farms will be necessary to prevent the incursion of strangles.