In this episode, I hosted Dr. Danielle Graham, an Assistant Professor at the University of Arkansas. Dr. Graham has devoted her career to studying avian intestinal health and parasitology. She underscores the significance of rigorous research and the critical role played by detailed models in the poultry industry. Dr. Graham has successfully used these models to mimic commercial environments for disease research. This approach has led to the discovery of key insights into the transmission and effects of the notorious pathogens Histomonas and Enterococcus cecorum. Despite the difficulties in replicating these diseases, Dr. Graham's research offers hope for new intervention methods in the poultry sector, particularly exploring the potential of probiotics.

"When comparing natural remedies to chemicals and antibiotics, it's important to remember that they may not meet the same standards but can still be beneficial to the bird. Expecting identical effectiveness from these alternatives is unrealistic, yet they can still offer value."

What you'll learn:

(00:00) Highlight
(02:05) Introduction and professional background
(05:18) Disease models: perspectives and difficulties
(09:09) Histomoniasis: chickens vs. turkeys
(11:35) Recreating horizontal transfer for research
(14:07) Studying bird strains and understanding diseases
(17:30) Disease models and the poultry industry
(21:46) Anticoccidial sensitivity and potential vaccine candidates for Eimeria spp. in turkeys
(27:51) Final questions

Meet the guest: Dr. Danielle Mahaffey Graham

Experience:

Dr. Danielle Mahaffey Graham: Poultry Disease Models | Ep. 64