Spotlight on avian pathology: Campylobacter hepaticus, the cause of Spotty Liver Disease in layers

• Published in: Avian pathology Vol. 48; no. 4; pp. 285 - 287
• Main Authors: Moore, Robert J., Scott, Peter C., Van, T.T. Hao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 04.07.2019; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Animals; avian vibrionic hepatitis; Campylobacter; Campylobacter - ultrastructure; Campylobacter hepaticus; Campylobacter Infections - microbiology; Campylobacter Infections - therapy; Campylobacter Infections - veterinary; Chickens; Diseases; Epidemiology; Identification; Identification methods; layers; Liver; Liver - microbiology; Liver - pathology; Liver - ultrastructure; Liver diseases; Liver Diseases - microbiology; Liver Diseases - therapy; Liver Diseases - veterinary; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission - veterinary; Ova; Pathogenesis; Pathogens; Pathology; Poultry Diseases - microbiology; Poultry Diseases - therapy; Poultry production; Spotty Liver Disease; Virulence; layers; pathogenesis; avian vibrionic hepatitis; Spotty Liver Disease; virulence
• ISSN: 0307-9457; 1465-3338
• DOI: 10.1080/03079457.2019.1602247

Campylobacter hepaticus was recently identified as the aetiological agent of Spotty Liver Disease (SLD). SLD causes significant health and productivity losses in the Australian egg industry and the disease is present in other countries. Following the isolation and characterization of C. hepaticus, molecular tools and refined culturing methods have been developed to identify the pathogen. It is suspected that the application of these tools will lead to identification of the pathogen in many poultry production systems throughout the world. As C. hepaticus has only recently been identified, little is known about the mechanisms of pathogenesis and, hence, new research needs to be directed towards understanding SLD epidemiology and C. hepaticus virulence mechanisms to inform efforts to develop intervention strategies.