The presence of fowl typhoid has been confirmed in a commercial table egg layer flock in San Antonio de Oriente, Honduras.
The case was reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) on December 12, after being confirmed by veterinary officials in Honduras.
According to a report from the OIE, a mortality problem was reported in the flock of more than 23,000 hens. The birds, when examined under the passive epidemiological surveillance system for poultry diseases, showed clinical signs and lesions that are compatible with fowl typhoid. Routine bacteriological and relevant biochemical tests were performed and Salmonella Gallinarum was diagnosed on November 28.
There were 48 deaths in the flock. Fifty-seven cases of fowl typhoid were found, and 3,192 birds were slaughtered, the OIE stated. The ages of the hens in the affected flock varied.
The affected farm has been placed under quarantine, and farms in the area are subject to epidemiological surveillance with restrictions on bird movement and continuous surveillance by sampling.
The OIE stated that it would provide weekly follow-up reports on the situation until it is resolved.
This is the first case of the disease in Honduras to be confirmed since January 21, 2011.
According to the Poultry International Top Companies rankings, two of the nine largest egg companies in Central America and the Caribbean are headquartered in Honduras. El Esfuerzo and Las Delicias both have flocks of 0.9 million hens. Both companies have Dekalb layers in production.
