@article{chen_suyemoto_sarsour_cordova_oviedo-rondon_wineland_barnes_borst_2019, title={Temporal characterization of wooden breast myopathy ("woody breast") severity and correlation with growth rate and lymphocytic phlebitis in three commercial broiler strains and a random-bred broiler strain}, volume={48}, ISSN={["1465-3338"]}, DOI={10.1080/03079457.2019.1598541}, abstractNote={ABSTRACT Wooden breast myopathy (WBM), or “woody breast” or “wooden breast” affects modern, rapidly growing, high breast-yield broiler chickens. Decreased meat quality due to undesirable organoleptic properties and condemnation of affected breast meat cause economic losses. The pathogenesis of WBM remains unknown. In this study, WBM lesion development was determined in three modern broiler strains and Athens Canadian Random Bred (ACRB) broilers, a 1950s unselected broiler chicken. Correlations between WBM severity and incubation temperature profile, sex, strain, body weight, and lymphocytic phlebitis were also determined. At 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks of age, samples of breast muscle from 10 male and 10 female birds from each strain, incubated under optimal or low-early, high-late temperatures, were scored histologically for severity of WBM and lymphocytic phlebitis. WBM lesions, identified as early as 2 weeks, became progressively more severe with age and growth in the three commercial broiler strains. WBM severity was significantly correlated with lymphocytic phlebitis and body weight. Lymphocytic phlebitis and minimal WBM were present in the ACRB broilers at all samplings, but did not progress in severity over time. There were no significant differences in severity of WBM among the commercial broiler strains, between sexes, or between incubation temperature profiles. The positive correlation between WBM severity and lymphocytic phlebitis indicates vascular injury is likely an important factor in the pathogenesis. Mild muscle lesions in ACRB birds without overt clinical signs indicate subclinical muscle disease may have been present in broilers prior to the description of WBM.}, number={4}, journal={AVIAN PATHOLOGY}, author={Chen, Laura R. and Suyemoto, M. Mitsu and Sarsour, Albarra H. and Cordova, H. Alejandro and Oviedo-Rondon, Edgar O. and Wineland, Michael and Barnes, H. John and Borst, Luke B.}, year={2019}, month={Jul}, pages={319–328} }
 @article{borst_suyemoto_sarsour_harris_martin_strickland_oviedo_barnes_2016, title={Pathogenesis of Enterococcal Spondylitis Caused by Enterococcus cecorum in Broiler Chickens}, volume={54}, ISSN={0300-9858 1544-2217}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0300985816658098}, DOI={10.1177/0300985816658098}, abstractNote={Enterococcal spondylitis (ES) is a disease of commercial broiler chickens, with a worldwide distribution. Symmetrical hind limb paralysis typical of ES results from infection of the free thoracic vertebra (FTV) by pathogenic strains of Enterococcus cecorum . To determine the pathogenesis of ES, birds with natural and experimental ES were studied over time. In natural disease, case birds (n = 150) from an affected farm and control birds (n = 100) from an unaffected farm were evaluated at weeks 1–6. In control birds, intestinal colonization by E. cecorum began at week 3. In case birds, E. cecorum was detected in intestine and spleen at week 1, followed by infection of the FTV beginning at week 3. E. cecorum isolates recovered from intestine, spleen, and FTV of case birds had matching genotypes, confirming that intestinal colonization with pathogenic strains precedes bacteremia and infection of the FTV. Clinical intestinal disease was not required for E. cecorum bacteremia. In 1- to 3-week-old case birds, pathogenic E. cecorum was observed within osteochondrosis dissecans (OCD) lesions in the FTV. To determine whether OCD of the FTV was a risk factor for ES, 214 birds were orally infected with E. cecorum, and the FTV was evaluated histologically at weeks 1–7. Birds without cartilage clefts of OCD in the FTV did not develop ES; while birds with OCD scores ≥3 were susceptible to lesion development. These findings suggest that intestinal colonization, bacteremia, and OCD of the FTV in early life are crucial to the pathogenesis of ES.}, number={1}, journal={Veterinary Pathology}, publisher={SAGE Publications}, author={Borst, L. B. and Suyemoto, M. M. and Sarsour, A. H. and Harris, M. C. and Martin, M. P. and Strickland, J. D. and Oviedo, E. O. and Barnes, H. J.}, year={2016}, month={Aug}, pages={61–73} }