Impact and control of pathogens on poultry

Pathogens can be introduced to a poultry flock via air, pests, people, water and feed. Their prevalence and impact is largely dependent upon the quality of the environment and the health and welfare of the birds. Healthy birds have a higher tolerance to performance-limiting pathogens than stressed animals. Pathogens, disease-causing microorganisms including fungi, bacteria and protozoa, are associated with increased veterinary costs, poor flock uniformity, increasing concomitant diseases, reduc