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Review
. 2025 Apr 21;12(4):391.
doi: 10.3390/vetsci12040391.

Biosecurity Implications, Transmission Routes and Modes of Economically Important Diseases in Domestic Fowl and Turkey

László Kovács  1   2   3 , Gerda Domaföldi  1   2 , Pia-Charlotte Bertram  1 , Máté Farkas  2   3   4 , László Péter Könyves  1   3
Affiliations
Review

Biosecurity Implications, Transmission Routes and Modes of Economically Important Diseases in Domestic Fowl and Turkey

László Kovács et al. Vet Sci. .

Abstract

The poultry industry is a critical source of affordable protein worldwide; however, it faces continuous threats from various poultry diseases that significantly impact public health, economic stability, and food security. Knowledge of and examination of the transmission routes, risk factors, and environmental survival characteristics of the most important pathogens affecting poultry populations, as well as the importance of strict biosecurity, are pivotal. Transmission routes are split into direct and vector-borne pathways, and indirect ways, which include infections via contaminated surfaces and vector-borne pathways, including insects and rodents. Avian influenza virus and Newcastle disease virus spread through respiratory droplets, and their transmission risk increases with increasing stocking density. While other pathogens (e.g., infectious bursal disease virus and Salmonella spp.), to persist long-term in the environments, for example, feed and litter, increasing the probability to persist long-term in the environments, for example, feed and litter, increasing the probability of infection. The long-term resilience of pathogens in multiple pathogens in various environmental conditions highlights the role of biosecurity, sanitation, and hygiene controls in preventing disease outbreaks. High stocking density in production systems, suboptimal ventilation, and inadequate biosecurity controls further increase transmission risks. This paper summarizes important disease transmissions and reinforces the need for strict biosecurity protocols and routine health monitoring to prevent the spread of pathogens within and beyond poultry facilities. These strategies can support safe poultry production, address growing global demand, and ensure food safety and public health.

Keywords: biosecurity; food safety; poultry diseases; poultry industry; public health; transmission routes; zoonosis.

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Conflict of interest statement

Authors Gerda Domaföldi, László Kovács, and Máté Farkas were employed by the company Poultry-Care Kft. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The different transmission pathways of zoonotic poultry pathogens include horizontal and vertical transmission, direct and indirect transmission, and cross-contamination [32]. The arrow pointing in one direction is meant to indicate one-way transmission, while the arrow pointing in both directions is meant to indicate transmission in both directions.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The role of vectors as primary agents in pathogen transmission pathways.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Pathways of vertical transmission illustrating the direct transfer of pathogens to chicks and indirect transmission via contaminated eggshells [166].
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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