Category: Publications

Will you join us for the 4th International Avian Mycoplasma Conference 2026?

The 4th International Avian Mycoplasma Conference will take place in Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil, from 13–15 October 2026, bringing together leading experts, researchers, veterinarians, and industry professionals from around the world to discuss the latest developments in poultry mycoplasma.

Organized with the support of Vetworks, the conference will cover key topics including mycoplasma microbiology and immunology, pathogenesis, diagnostics, vaccination strategies, antimicrobial resistance, biosecurity, and the economic impact of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) and Mycoplasma synoviae (MS).

The programme features international experts including Chris Morrow (Bioproperties), Alberto Back (Mercolab), and Maarten De Gussem (Vetworks), alongside additional speakers to be announced.

We look forward to welcoming the global poultry health community to Campinas for three days of scientific exchange, practical insights, and discussion on the future of avian mycoplasma control.

For more info about the conference, click here!

Is biosecurity a driver for improved poultry performance? Experiences from a field trial

• Author(s): Giuditta Tilli1, Hilde Van Meirhaeghe1, Hedia Nasri Smaili2, Ana Mansilla2, Giulia Graziosi3, Tiago Prucha1, Maarten De Gussem1,4
  
  1Vetworks bv, Knokstraat 38, B-9880 Poeke, Belgium – giuditta.tilli@vetworks.eu; maarten.degussem@vetworks.eu)

  2CID lines, an Ecolab Company, Waterpoortstraat 2, 8900 Ieper, Belgium
  3Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra, 50, 40064 Ozzano dell’Emilia (BO), Italy
  4Faculty of Veterinary medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium
  
  

• Published in: Zootecnica Poultry Magazine
• Year of publication: 2026

Maintaining strict biosecurity is vital in poultry farming, with cleaning and disinfection (C&D) serving as a cornerstone for flock health and performance. On-field evidences show that well-implemented C&D can generate a return on investment and improve the performance of the flock even when infection pressure is low.

Link to publication

Overview of worm infestations in chickens: integrated control, preventive strategies, and novel diagnostic tools

• Author(s):

  Hilde Van Meirhaeghe1,2, Swati Karki1,3, Giuditta Tilli1, Maarten De Gussem1,2
  1 Vetworks bvba, Knokstraat 38, Poeke B-9880, Belgium (hilde.vanmeirhaeghe@vetworks.eu; giuditta.tilli@vetworks.eu; maarten.degussem@vetworks.eu)
  2 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ghent, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
  3 Poulpharm bvba, Prins Albertlaan 112, 8870 Izegem, Belgium
  
  

• Published in: Zootecnica Poultry Magazine
  
  
• Year of publication: 2026

The transition toward alternative and free-range housing systems has led to a renewed increase in helminth infection pressure in poultry production. Intestinal worms not only cause direct gastrointestinal damage but also impair immune competence and productivity, emphasizing the need for accurate diagnosis, monitoring, and flock-specific control strategies. Integrated prevention, evidence-based deworming programs, and continued research into novel diagnostic and control approaches are essential for sustainable helminth management in modern poultry systems.

Link to publication

Bioavailable silicium as feed additive and its beneficial effects throughout poultry production

• Author(s): Barbara Brutsaert1, Giuditta Tilli2, Maarten De Gussem2,3

  ¹ VetPharm, Noordkaai 24, Izegem 8870, Belgium (barbara.brutsaert@vetpharm-global.com)
  ² Vetworks bvba, Knokstraat 38, Poeke B-9880, Belgium (giuditta.tilli@vetworks.eu; maarten.degussem@vetworks.eu)
  ³ Faculty of Veterinary medicine, University of Ghent, Salisburylaan 133, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium

• Published in: Zootecnica Poultry Magazine
• Year of publication: 2026

Silicium is a naturally occurring trace element that supports bone formation, collagen synthesis, and structural integrity in tissues and eggshell membranes. In poultry, dietary bioavailable silicium can improve skeletal strength, egg and eggshell quality, laying performance, and hatchability, making it a valuable additive across production systems.

Click here and read more on benefits of Bioactive Silicium in poultry!

On-farm hatching: an innovative early-feeding strategy that improves welfare and reduces antimicrobial use in a sustainable way

• Author(s):

  Hilde Van Meirhaeghe1,2, Giuditta Tilli1, Maarten De Gussem1,2
  1 Vetworks bvba, Knokstraat 38, Poeke B-9880, Belgium, 2 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ghent, Salisburylaan 133, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium

• Published in: Zootecnica Poultry Magazine
• Year of publication: 2026

On-farm hatching is an innovative hatching technique that provides early feeding post hatch to newborn chicks. Several experimental studies and field trials show that flocks hatched on-farm have better intestinal health and health in general, resulting in fewer antibiotic treatments and better welfare.

Link to publication