NAHMS-240 Poultry 2010 Clostridial Dermatitis Sample Collection Re

National Animal Health
Monitoring System

Poultry 2010
Clostridial Dermatitis
Sample Collection Record

Animal and
Plant Health
Inspection Servi
Veterinary
Services

CASE FARMS

2150 Centre Ave, Bldg B
Fort Collins, CO 80526
Form Approved
OMB Number
Expires:

CONTROL FARMS

Select one house which has previously had
frequent clostridial dermatitis outbreaks and in
which you anticipate an outbreak again this
year.
Begin sampling when turkeys are 9 weeks of
age.

Select one house in which you do not
anticipate a clostridial dermatitis outbreak.
Begin sampling when turkeys are 9 weeks of
age.
Collect samples from this house weekly for 5
weeks.

Collect samples from this house weekly for 5
weeks (or until the outbreak occurs).
------------------------------------------------------------Use the flow chart below to determine what samples to collect:

Is there currently a
Clostridial dermatitis
outbreak on this farm?

NO

YES

Is this the fifth (final)
week of sampling for
this farm?

Follow
Section B
Instructions

NO

YES

Follow
Section A
Instructions

Follow
Section C
Instructions

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to
resond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this
information collection is 0579-XXXX. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 1 hour
per response, including the time to review instructions, search existing data resources, gather the data needed, and complete
and review the information collected.
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NAHMS-240
May 2010

Left blank on purpose

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Section A Instructions (Weeks 1 through 4 – no outbreak)
Sacrifice 3 healthy turkeys.
Intestinal histopathology samples: Immediately after death, open turkey to expose the GI tract.
Gently lift the intestinal tract and identify the
¾ Duodenal bend
¾ The diverticulum, and
¾ The cecal tonsil.
Remove a one-quarter inch (1/4”) section of the duodenal bend include a small piece of the
pancreas. Place in an open cassette next to the hinge of the cassette.
Remove a one-quarter inch (1/4”) section of the jejunum including the diverticulum. Place this
specimen in the middle of the cassette.
Remove a one-quarter inch (1/4”) section of the colon at the cecal tonsil include the inlet for each
cecum. Place this section near the closure of the cassette.
Drop the cassette into 10% buffered formalin. Screw the jar lid on, tape to secure, and label the jar.
Complete the submission form and send a copy of it and the samples to NVSL, Ames, Iowa.

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Section B Instructions
(Weeks 1 through 5 – outbreak currently occurring)
Sacrifice 3 turkeys with symptoms of clostridial dermatitis. Turkeys that have died within the
last 8 hours with symptoms of clostridial dermatitis are acceptable for sampling.

ÎSamples must be collected prior to starting antibiotics.
If sick or recently dead turkeys are not available, unaffected turkeys can be collected instead. Be
sure to label the samples as such.
Collect FIRST - Litter samples:
Collect golf ball-sized litter samples from each of these locations:
¾ Under a feeder
¾ Under a drinker
¾ Middle of the barn
¾ Away from feeders/drinkers
Place all 4 samples in the same Whirlpak bag and label.
Collect SECOND - Culture samples:
From the 3 turkeys, collect in this order:
• First, a 1 inch cube of spleen - place the sample in its own Whirlpak bag.
•

Next, a 1 inch cube of muscle/subcutaneous tissue that is affected by clostridial
dermatitis lesion and place the sample in its own Whirlpak bag. (Skip this sample if no
muscular/subcutaneous lesion present.)

•

Next, tie off a 3 inch section of mid- intestine at each end. Excise the piece of
intestine (keeping the ends tied) and place the sample in its own Whirlpak bag.

Collect LAST - Intestinal histopathology samples:
Intestinal histopathology samples: Immediately after death, open turkey to expose the GI tract.
Gently lift the intestinal tract and identify the
¾ Duodenal bend
¾ The diverticulum, and
¾ The cecal tonsil.
Remove a one-quarter inch (1/4”) section of the duodenal bend include a small piece of the
pancreas. Place in an open cassette next to the hinge of the cassette.
Remove a one-quarter inch (1/4”) section of the jejunum including the diverticulum. Place this
specimen in the middle of the cassette.
Remove a one-quarter inch (1/4”) section of the colon at the cecal tonsil include the inlet for each
cecum. Place this section near the closure of the cassette.
Drop the cassette into 10% buffered formalin Screw the jar lid on, tape to secure, and label the jar.
Complete the submission form and send a copy of it and the samples to NVSL, Ames, Iowa.
4

Section C Instructions (Week 5 with no outbreak)
Sacrifice 3 healthy turkeys.
Collect FIRST - Litter samples:
Collect golf ball-sized litter samples from each of these locations:
¾ Under a feeder
¾ Under a drinker
¾ Middle of the barn
¾ Away from feeders/drinkers
Place all 4 samples in the same Whirlpak bag and label.
Collect SECOND - Culture samples:
From the 3 turkeys, collect in this order:
¾ First, a 1 inch cube of spleen - place the sample in its own Whirlpak bag.
¾ Next, tie off a 3 inch section of mid- intestine at each end. Excise the piece of intestine
(keeping the ends tied) and place the sample in its own Whirlpak bag.
Collect LAST - Intestinal histopathology samples:
Intestinal histopathology samples: Immediately after death, open turkey to expose the GI tract.
Gently lift the intestinal tract and identify the
¾ Duodenal bend
¾ The diverticulum, and
¾ The cecal tonsil.
Remove a one-quarter inch (1/4”) section of the duodenal bend include a small piece of the
pancreas. Place in an open cassette next to the hinge of the cassette.
Remove a one-quarter inch (1/4”) section of the jejunum including the diverticulum. Place this
specimen in the middle of the cassette.
Remove a one-quarter inch (1/4”) section of the colon at the cecal tonsil include the inlet for each
cecum. Place this section near the closure of the cassette.
Drop the cassette into 10% buffered formalin Screw the jar lid on, tape to secure, and label the jar.
Complete the submission form and send a copy of it and the samples to NVSL, Ames, Iowa.

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Confirm you have all of the samples you need
If no outbreak – you will submit 3 cassettes in formalin, each cassette representing one healthy bird.
Each cassette contains 3 intestinal samples.
If this is the week of an outbreak – you will submit:
• 3 cassettes in formalin, each representing 1 sick bird. Each cassette contains 3
intestinal samples.
• 9 Whirlpaks – 3 Whirlpaks for each sick bird. For each bird: one bag contains spleen,
one contains muscle (lesion), and one contains intestine
• 1 Whirlpak with litter (mixture from 4 different locations in barn)
If this is the fifth (final) week of collection on a case or control farm that did not break with Clostridial
dermatitis – you will submit:
• 3 cassettes in formalin, each representing 1 healthy bird. Each cassette contains 3
intestinal samples.
• 6 Whirlpaks – 2 Whirlpaks for each healthy bird. For each bird: one bag contains
spleen and one contains intestine
• 1 Whirlpak with litter (mixture from 4 different locations in barn)

Preparing Samples and Shipping Instructions
Freeze ice packs thoroughly before collection.
Specimens placed in Whirl-pak bags must be cooled down quickly using ice packs, and shipped within 24
hours of collection.
Make sure all samples are Labeled correctly.
If necessary, replace ice packs so samples are shipped with frozen ice packs. DO NOT freeze samples.
Complete all information on the submission form and place the YELLOW copy in the sample box between
Styrofoam lid and outside box flap. Send the original to NAHMS and keep the pink copy for your records.

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National Animal Health
Monitoring System
2150 Centre Ave, Bldg B
Fort Collins, CO 80526

Poultry 2010
Clostridial Dermatitis
Sample Collection Record

Animal and Plant
Health
Inspection Service
Veterinary
Services

Form Approved
OMB Number
Expires:

Complete the information in the table below:
Operation #:

Collector :

Date:

Kit # on labels
What instructions
were followed?

4 digits

Initials

(mm/dd/yy)

Is this a CASE or CONTROL
farm?
†1 case

†2 control

Total time for everyone
involved to take the
samples (in hours):

†1 Section A

Farm Region
†1 North Carolina/South Carolina
†2 Wisconsin/Minnesota
†3 Arkansas/Missouri
Total travel time
for everyone
(in hours):

†2 Section B
†3 Section C

Answer the following questions:
†1 1

1. Sampling week: (Check one only)

†2 2

†3 3

†4 4

†5 5

2. How old is this house?....................................................................................______ years
3. Did the previous flock in this house have problems with clostridial dermatitis? †1 Yes

†3 No

4. What is the age of the turkeys in this house today (in weeks)? ......................______ age in wks
5. Does this house contain: (Check one only) †1 Toms only

†2 Hens only

†3 Toms and hens

6. Have the turkeys in this house received an antibiotic in the last 2 weeks? .... †1 Yes
If yes, specify the antibiotic(s) given ____________________________

†3 No

7. Are turkeys in this house currently experiencing symptoms consistent with
Clostridial dermatitis? .....................................................................................†1 Yes †3 No
If yes, on what date did symptoms begin? ....................................................______________date
8. What was the total mortality in the last 24 hours for this house?...................._________deaths
† Don’t Know

Complete this table for each bird:
Turkey
ID
1
2
3

Was this turkey
found dead or
sacrificed?
†1 Found dead
†2 Sacrificed
†1 Found dead
†2 Sacrificed
†1 Found dead
†2 Sacrificed

Did this turkey have
symptoms consistent with
Clostridial dermatitis?

Is this a tom
or a hen?

†1 Yes

†3 No

†1 Tom †2 Hen

†1 Yes

†3 No

†1 Tom †2 Hen

†1 Yes

†3 No

†1 Tom †2 Hen

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Gross Lesions
(please describe)