USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation are accepting research preproposals from colleges, universities and research facilities through Nov. 3, on improved measures for controlling Blackhead disease in turkeys and chickens.

Blackhead disease is a significant concern in the commercial turkey and chicken industries and can cause up to 100% mortality in some poultry. Birds typically acquire the disease through ingestion of the eggs of the cecal worm Heterakis gallinarum, which can be transmitted via contact with infected chickens or contaminated litter. This worm serves as the intermediate host for the protozoan parasite Histomonas meleagridis, the causative agent of blackhead disease. Currently, no chemotherapeutic agents are available to prevent or treat the disease, as previous drugs have been withdrawn from the market and effective vaccines have not yet been developed. Advancing control measures is critical to protect bird welfare, reduce economic losses and ensure a secure, sustainable food supply.

Visit the USPOULTRY website for complete instructions to submit a preproposal.

On Monday, Sept. 29, at 2 p.m. ET, the USPOULTRY Foundation Research Advisory Committee (FRAC) will host a Zoom webinar to provide an overview of the request for proposals (RFPs) related to this topic and three other Board Research Initiative topics, as well as the process for submitting a preproposal. The webinar is complimentary and open to all researchers interested in learning more about the RFPs for the four topics. The webinar will provide an opportunity to ask specific questions to the FRAC, and it will be recorded and made available afterward. The link can be accessed here.