For the first time in Canada, turkey rhinotracheitis has been detected, impacting two commercial turkey flocks in Ontario. The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) announced these cases on May 13.
According to the WOAH report, increased mortalities were noted in a flock in Wellington, where 166 out of 5,150 turkeys died, and in a flock in Bruce, where 87 out of 15,000 turkeys died. The farm operators alerted the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) about the unusual mortalities.
The CFIA tested the birds for a variety of avian diseases, including highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). The CFIA National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease in Winnipeg, Manitoba, confirmed that the virus was avian metapneumovirus, responsible for turkey rhinotracheitis. This respiratory infection was studied by Dr. Silke Rautenschlein from the University of Veterinary Medicine in Hannover, Germany.
Despite the detection, the WOAH report noted that no specific control measures have been implemented. Currently, Canada is the only country with an active report of turkey rhinotracheitis listed on the WOAH website.
