April 8, 2016

Blackhead disease in turkeys tackled in Aug. 8 symposium

Blackhead disease (histomoniasis) is a serious threat to the turkey industry, and due to an increasing need for the research and development of viable products for the prevention, treatment, and control of the disease, the American Association of Avian Pathologists (AAAP) will hold a symposium about blackhead diseasein turkeys on Aug. 8, during the 2016 American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Annual Conference in San Antonio, Texas.

With the support of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the symposium will provide an opportunity for discussion and to build collaboration between the animal health and turkey industries, and academia to address this problem.

The FDA said it recognises and shares the poultry industry''s concern regarding the very limited number of available therapeutic options to treat blackhead disease.

Blackhead disease, which damages the liver and cecum, usually strikes young turkeys, and carries a high mortality rate.

Interested persons can attend the three-hour symposium online through an FDA-sponsored WebEx platform: https://fda.webex.com/fda/onstage/g.php?MTID=edb23a1fbaf997ceecdea2186a2598f09

The symposium will begin at 8 a.m. Central Daylight Time on Monday, Aug. 8.

For more info about the AAAP symposium, you may contact Dr. Steven Clark at steven.clark@devenishnutrition.com.