Sunoh Che
· Assistant ProfessorVerifiedUniversity of Maryland, College Park · Animal and Avian Sciences
Active 2021–2026
About
Dr. Sunoh Che is an assistant professor of poultry management, veterinarian, and board-certified epidemiologist at the University of Maryland's College of Agriculture & Natural Resources. Her educational background includes a PhD in Pathobiology from Ontario Vet College, University of Guelph, Canada; an MSc in Health Management from Atlantic Vet College, University of PEI, Canada; a Master of Veterinary Epidemiology from Murdoch University, Australia; and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Chonnam National University, South Korea. Her professional focus is on improving animal health through data-driven approaches, with particular expertise in poultry management, veterinary epidemiology, and metabolic disorders of chickens. Her research encompasses transcriptomic analysis of muscle myopathies in broiler chickens and metagenomic analysis of gut microbiomes, aiming to identify patterns among different groups and implement effective health management strategies. Dr. Che collaborates closely with poultry growers and processors to develop extension programs that enhance poultry health and production quality, ultimately supporting producers in maintaining animal health and productivity.
Research topics
- Biology
- Veterinary medicine
- Medicine
- Animal science
- Materials science
- Environmental health
- Food science
- Chemistry
- Internal medicine
- Ecology
Selected publications
The Journal of Applied Poultry Research · 2026-03-04
articleOpen access1st authorCorrespondingThe poultry industry in Maryland and the Delmarva region continues to evolve as producers adapt to rising input costs, increasing regulatory demands, and rapid technological change. To identify current challenges and priorities, the University of Maryland Poultry Extension conducted a regional needs assessment to update insights from 2017 for commercial producers and 2011 for backyard and small-scale flock producers. Surveys developed through Qualtrics were distributed between January and March 2025, yielding responses from 51 commercial broiler producers and 52 small-scale poultry producers. Among commercial respondents, 20.0% now manage flocks exceeding 200,000 birds per cycle, up from 7.1% in 2017, reflecting continued trends toward efficiency and scale. The most frequently cited concerns were rising input costs (42.9%), bird health (28.6%), and government regulations (14.3%). Although automation adoption is increasing, cost remains a key barrier for 76.2% of respondents. Extension training has improved biosecurity (50.0%) and flock performance (43.8%), with demand for future programs focused on health management (63.6%) and new technologies (18.2%). Among backyard producers, chickens (73.8%) remain the most common species, though species diversity has increased. Egg production (86.5%) remains the primary purpose, followed by local egg sales (32.7%) and meat for family use (23.1%). Major challenges include predator control (40.5%), feed costs (28.6%), and limited access to research-based education (11.9%). Respondents showed strong support for the Extension program, with 95% of participants rating it as very useful. This assessment provides timely, actionable insights to guide future Poultry Extension programming and support the continued resilience of Maryland’s poultry sector.
Pathogenesis of aquatic bird bornavirus 1 in turkeys of different age
npj Viruses · 2025-02-24
articleOpen accessAquatic bird bornavirus 1 (ABBV1), an orthobornavirus in the family Bornaviridae, displays a broad host range among avian species, including poultry. The pathogenesis of orthobornaviruses, at least in mammals and psittacines, appears to be mediated by the host immune response against the infected nervous tissue, with younger animals showing a milder disease due to immune tolerance. Here, we tested the ability of ABBV1 to infect domestic turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo), with a focus on evaluating the impact of age at infection. Cohorts of 6-week-old (old) and day-old (young) male turkeys were divided into virus-inoculated and control groups, and kept for up to 12 weeks. Results showed that turkeys of both ages were susceptible to ABBV1 infection by intramuscular administration, following a centripetal and limited centrifugal spread, although infection appeared delayed in old compared to young birds. Notably, only young turkeys developed clinical signs and more frequent inflammation of the central nervous system, indicating that infection at a very early age is unlikely to induce tolerance to ABBV1 infection.
Breast muscle myopathies: twists and turns in modern broilers
Avian Pathology · 2025-07-14 · 4 citations
reviewAlthough poultry meat production supports the livelihood and provides food security for billions of people worldwide, it is facing substantial challenges. The emergence of broiler breast myopathies (white striping, woody breast, spaghetti meat) at large scale is one of the most significant economic and welfare challenges that menace poultry production sustainability and for which there is currently no effective prevention, due to its unknown aetiologies. Here, by inviting and gathering several experts with diverse, but complementary disciplines, the objective of the present review is to highlight the current progress and knowledge on these myopathies. Five sections are presented, describing in detail the history and geographic occurrence of these breast myopathies, their macroscopic morphologies and microscopic characteristics, their putative aetiologies and causes as well as their underlying molecular mechanisms, and potential strategies and solutions. The is review summarizes both descriptive and functional mechanistic studies, highlights the complexity of these myopathies and the kinship between broiler genome, nutrition, and management, and outlines some of the promising molecular signatures. It aims to offer new fundamental frameworks for future investigations.
Poultry Science · 2025-03-03 · 1 citations
articleOpen access1st authorCorrespondingGaping is a recently described condition that affects the Pectoralis minor (tender) muscle of broiler chickens, characterized by post-mortem separation of myofiber that leads to meat depreciation and economic losses. In this study, we aimed at understanding prevalence, morphological features, and transcriptomics signatures of this poorly understood myopathy. Between July 2022 and January 2023, a total of 5,180 chicken tenders were collected from 32 flocks across two plants in the USA, handling light (2.7 kg) and heavy (4.1 kg) birds. The prevalence of moderate and severe gaping was 24.8 % and 53.7 %, respectively. The light bird plant had a lower prevalence of moderate gaping (P < 0.001), while the heavy bird plant had a lower prevalence of severe gaping (P < 0.001). Spaghetti meat prevalence from 8,000 fillets was 46.9 % for moderate and 8.3 % for severe cases, with no significant inter-plant differences. Use of peracetic acid treatment at the poultry plants significantly increased the prevalence of severe gaping. Physical and histological features, along with gene expression, were evaluated in 120 samples representative of three gaping severity tiers. Severely gaped tenders showed greater width compared to normal and moderately gaped tenders in both light and heavy birds (P < 0.05). An increase of 1 cm in tender width was associated with a 1.99-fold increase in the odds of classification into a more severe gaping category (95 % CI: 1.15 - 3.46). Affected muscles revealed histological evidence of myodegeneration, inflammation, and lipidosis with fibrosis. For one-unit increase in the myodegeneration score, samples had a 1.75-fold increase in the odds of being classified into a more severe gaping category (95 % CI: 1.37 - 2.23). Gene expression analysis using droplet digital PCR showed differential expression of 19 genes involved in oxidative stress response, cellular signaling, muscle development, and collagen formation between weight groups and myopathy categories. Notably, 21 out of 22 differentially expressed genes showed higher expression in light birds. This study provides the comprehensive description of gaping in broiler chickens and lays a crucial benchmark for assessment of future mitigating strategies.
Feline respiratory disease complex: insights into the role of viral and bacterial co-infections
Frontiers in Microbiology · 2024-09-03 · 6 citations
articleOpen accessFeline respiratory disease complex (FRDC) is a highly prevalent syndrome in cats that often result in fatal outcomes. FRDC etiology is complex, and often, multiple viral and bacterial pathogens are simultaneously associated with disease causation. There is limited information about the role of co-infections in pathogenesis and the current prevalence of pathogens in North America. We aimed to conduct a study using technical advances in molecular diagnosis and statistical modeling analysis to elucidate the occurrence of pathogens and how co-infections affect disease severity. We attained information from three diagnostic laboratories in North America regarding the occurrence of Bordetella bronchiseptica , Chlamydia felis , Mycoplasma , Felid alphaherpesvirus 1 (FeHV-1), feline calicivirus (FCV), and influenza A, along with age, seasonality, sex, and clinical signs. We also evaluated the role of co-infections in disease severity. These pathogens were also investigated in clinically normal cats (control). The most detected pathogens were Mycoplasma , FCV, and FeHV-1. Most pathogens were detected in the control group, highlighting the challenge of interpreting positive testing results. Co-infections of Mycoplasma and FCV, as well as Mycoplasma and FeHV-1, were important predictors of disease severity. Age, sex, and season had a minor impact on pathogen occurrence. This study provides new insights into FRDC and underlines the relevance of diagnostic panels to screen for a range of pathogens, providing knowledge for timely diagnosis and therapeutic interventions.
Spaghetti meat and woody breast myopathies in broiler chickens: similarities and differences
Frontiers in Physiology · 2024-08-26 · 3 citations
articleOpen access1st authorCorrespondingSpaghetti meat (SM) and woody breast (WB) are two economically significant myopathies affecting the quality of broiler chicken breast meat (Barbut, 2019). Another type of breast myopathy, white striping (WS), was not included in this paper as it has become a common occurrence, observed in nearly all breast fillets from commercial broiler production systems (Che et al., 2022b). These conditions lead to reduced consumer acceptance and product depreciation, causing substantial losses in the poultry industry (Barbut, 2019). SM is characterized by the separation of muscle fiber bundles in the Pectoralis major muscle, resulting in a mushy and stringy texture (Baldi et al., 2018). In contrast, WB is characterized by an abnormal hardening or firmness of the breast muscle, often accompanied by pale color and occasional petechial hemorrhages (Sihvo et al., 2017). This paper aims to compare and contrast SM and WB, highlighting their similarities and differences in various aspects.The prevalence of both myopathies is substantial, with SM ranging from 35% to 36% and severe WB ranging from 7.3% to 12%, respectively (Sihvo et al., 2017;Zampiga et al., 2018;Xing et al., 2020;Che et al., 2022b;Kang et al., 2022). However, these figures likely underestimate the true incidence, particularly for WB, due to challenges in assessment methods.While SM can be visually detected (Che et al., 2022a), the palpation-based scoring of WB lacks objectivity. The phenotypic incidence of WB in broiler chickens does not align with the microscopic assessment for necrosis and fibrosis, with the incidence can be higher when evaluated microscopically (Velleman, 2020). Moreover, the dorsal recumbent syndrome (DRS), potentially associated with WB, further highlights the underreported symptoms in live birds. DRS-affected broilers inexplicably fall onto their backs, unable to right themselves, leading to the descriptive term "turtle chicken." Ultimately, these recumbent broilers succumb to pulmonary failure, congestion, and edema, possibly due to the pressure exerted on the cardiopulmonary system (Che et al., 2023). Developing effective strategies to mitigate these myopathies and safeguard the economic viability of the poultry industry is essential.Common risk factors, such as higher live weight at slaughter and elevated temperatures during the grow-out period, contribute to the development of both SM and WB (Che et al., 2022b). In fast-growing broiler chickens affected by WB, muscle fibers have larger diameters, and the connective tissue spacing is reduced compared to unaffected muscle (Velleman and Clark, 2015;Sihvo et al., 2018). This alteration in muscle structure leads to myodegeneration, characterized by disorganization of the sarcomeric structure (Velleman et al., 2018). In response to myodegeneration, macrophages infiltrate the affected area and secrete cytokines, promoting the replacement of muscle tissue by extracellular matrix proteins, such as collagen and proteoglycans, and the deposition of fat (Mann et al., 2011). Consequently, fibrosis occurs, characterized by an overproduction of fibrillar collagens, primarily types I and III. The organization and crosslinking of these collagens lead to the formation of collagen fibers, further contributing to the abnormal texture of the affected muscle (Velleman, 2020) (Figure 1).Fast-growing broilers with high breast meat yields have a decreased ability to regulate their body temperature, which makes them more prone to the negative effects of thermal stress (Petracci et al., 2015). While exposure to cold temperatures can negatively impact satellite cell growth and differentiation, resulting in reduced muscle fiber size and overall muscle mass (Clark et al., 2016;Harding et al., 2016), exposure to high temperatures has been specifically associated with an increased incidence of WB and SM (Che et al., 2022b). Thermal stress, especially hot temperatures, can cause satellite cells to develop into adipose cells instead of muscle cells (Xu et al., 2022), which is associated with changes in breast meat quality, such as increased fat content (Velleman, 2023).These findings suggest that managing growth rates and environmental conditions could be crucial in reducing the incidence of these quality defects. Interestingly, several risk factors have different effects on SM and WB. For example, coccidiosis vaccination is associated with an increased risk of SM but a decreased risk of WB. The source of chicks and hold time on lairage at the processing plant also have different effects on the two myopathies. These differential risk factors highlight the complexity of the underlying mechanisms and the need for targeted approaches in managing SM and WB.Multiple studies have revealed key molecular features and pathways associated with WB.These include localized hypoxia, oxidative stress, elevated intracellular calcium, and potential muscle fiber-type switching, which were supported by observed microscopic lesions (Mutryn et al., 2015). Alterations in pathways related to muscle development, polysaccharide metabolism, proteoglycan synthesis, inflammation, and calcium signaling have been observed (Zambonelli et al., 2016). Age-dependent transcriptional differences in WB development involve changes in glucose and lipid metabolism, cell junction dynamics, and various signaling pathways. (Malila et al., 2021). Mitochondrial dysfunction in WB muscle is characterized by elevated monoacylglycerol levels, downregulation of lipid production genes, impaired fatty acid β-oxidation, and oxidative phosphorylation (Wang et al., 2023). It was suggested that selection for fast growth and breast meat yield has induced metabolic shifts towards alternative catabolic pathways for energy production, leading to oxidative stress and the initiation of inflammatory, regenerative, and fibrotic processes. (Pampouille et al., 2019). A transcriptomic meta-analysis revealed critical pathological processes in WB, including fibrosis, apoptosis, and alterations in Ca2+-related signaling, as well as suppression of the tricarboxylic acid cycle and mitochondrial electron transport chain (Zhang et al., 2024).While fewer studies have focused specifically on SM, recent research has revealed important insights. Both SM and WB samples exhibit significantly elevated mRNA levels of vimentin (VIM) and desmin (DES) genes, which encode essential components of the extrasarcomeric cytoskeleton in muscle cells, compared to normal tissue. Their analysis revealed significantly elevated mRNA levels of both VIM and DES in WB and SM samples compared to normal tissue (Soglia et al., 2020).Comparative analysis of SM and WB transcriptomes has revealed a high degree of similarity in their transcriptomic profiles (Che et al., 2024). Compared to normal breast muscle, both SM and WB samples exhibit a substantial number of differentially expressed genes, indicating extensive transcriptomic changes associated with the development of these myopathies. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis reveals an enrichment of terms related to immune response, inflammation, and the extracellular space. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis further supports the involvement of immune and inflammatory processes, with the cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction and cell adhesion molecules pathways being enriched in both myopathies (Figure 1). The lack of significant differences in gene expression between SM and WB samples suggests that these myopathies may share a common pathogenesis at the molecular level. This finding has important implications for understanding the underlying mechanisms and developing targeted interventions.Despite sharing similar molecular mechanisms and histological features, WB and SM exhibit distinct phenotypic characteristics due to differences in the extent and timing of the pathological processes involved. WB can be observed as early as week 2 after hatch (Chen et al., 2019), while SM is not typically assessed in live birds (Cahaner, 2024).The WB phenotype is primarily attributed to the excessive deposition of fibrous tissue within the muscle, resulting from prolonged and severe fibrosis. The fibrotic process in WB is thought to be driven by sustained hypoxia and oxidative stress, leading to the activation of profibrotic signaling pathways and the excessive production of extracellular matrix components, such as collagen (Soglia et al., 2017;Petracci et al., 2019).In contrast, the SM phenotype is believed to arise from the weakening of the connective tissue structures within the muscle, potentially due to the degradation of extracellular matrix components or alterations in the organization of muscle fibers (Baldi et al., 2018). The weakened connective tissue may render the muscle more susceptible to mechanical stress during processing steps, leading to the separation of muscle fibers (Baldi et al., 2021). This vulnerability could explain why SM prevalence is significantly higher in processing plants using water chilling compared to those using air chilling (Che et al., 2022b). The increased mechanical stress from water movement during chilling may exacerbate the condition in already weakened muscle tissue.Recent research into the genetic basis of these myopathies has revealed important insights about their heritability, highlighting the complex nature of these conditions and the potential for genetic selection as a mitigation strategy. Heritability estimates vary significantly between WB and SM, and between purebred lines and commercial crossbreds. In purebred lines, WB shows a low heritability of 0.07, while SM demonstrates a very low heritability of 0.04 (Bailey et al., 2020). However, in commercial crossbred broilers, WB exhibits a notably higher heritability of 0.49 (Lake et al., 2022). The substantial difference in heritability estimates between purebred and crossbred populations underscores the importance of studying commercially relevant populations. Multiple quantitative trait loci associated with WB have been identified, primarily clustered on chromosome 5, providing specific genetic targets for future breeding efforts (Lake et al., 2022). The higher heritability of WB in crossbreds suggests that genetics plays a more significant role in its development than previously thought, opening up greater potential for genetic selection against this myopathy.Understanding the impact of processing factors on the incidence and severity of WB and SM is crucial for developing effective mitigation strategies. Slow cooling has been reported to increase the relative incidence of SM significantly (Anton et al., 2019). Moreover, the defeathering process, including the number and configuration of defeathering machines, can also impact SM incidence and severity (Cahaner, 2024).Peroxyacetic acid (PAA) is an oxidizing antimicrobial agent widely used in poultry processing plants in the USA to reduce levels of foodborne pathogens like Salmonella on raw chicken carcasses. PAA solutions up to 2000 ppm are permitted for online reprocessing of poultry in the USA (Cano et al., 2021). While PAA is effective at inactivating bacteria, there are concerns that it may negatively impact meat quality at certain concentrations and exposure times.The effects of PAA on meat quality parameters such as texture, water-holding capacity, and drip loss are not well understood. More research is needed to investigate how PAA treatment conditions influence these important quality attributes. Interestingly, SM has been reported from Italy and Canada, where PAA was not used in processing plants. To fully understand the implications of PAA use in poultry processing, additional research is necessary. Studies should focus on how PAA affects meat quality characteristics and whether it plays a role in the occurrence of SM. Such investigations will help optimize the use of PAA while maintaining product quality and safety.In conclusion, while SM and WB share common ground in their molecular underpinnings, their distinct phenotypic characteristics, heritability patterns, and sensitivity to processing factors necessitate a multifaceted approach to mitigation. Future efforts should integrate genetic selection (particularly for WB), refined management practices, and optimized processing techniques. Additionally, further research into the potential role of antimicrobial agents like PAA in meat quality and myopathy development is warranted. Zampiga, M., Laghi, L., Petracci, M., Zhu, C., Meluzzi, A., Dridi, S., et al. (2018). Effect of dietary arginine to lysine ratios on productive performance, meat quality, plasma and muscle metabolomics profile in fast-growing broiler chickens. J Anim Sci Biotechnol 9, 79. doi: 10.1186/s40104-018-0294-5Zhang, X., Xing, T., Zhao, L., Zhang, L., and Gao, F. (2024). Transcriptomic meta-analysis and exploration of differentially expressed gene functions in wooden breast myopathy of broilers. Poultry Science 103, 104047. doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2024.104047
Age-Dependent Pathogenesis of Aquatic Bird Bornavirus 1 in Turkeys
Research Square · 2024-10-14
preprintOpen accessFeline Respiratory Disease Complex: Insights into the Role of Viral and Bacterial Co- infections
Research Square · 2024-05-02 · 2 citations
preprintOpen access<title>Abstract</title> Feline respiratory disease complex (FRDC) is caused by multiple viral and bacterial pathogens. There is limited information about the role of co-infections in pathogenesis and the current prevalence of pathogens in North America. We aimed to conduct a study using technical advances in molecular diagnosis and statistical modeling analysis to elucidate the occurrence of pathogens and how co-infections affect disease severity. We attained information from three diagnostic laboratories in North America regarding the occurrence of <italic>Bordetella bronchiseptica</italic>, <italic>Chlamydia felis</italic>, <italic>Mycoplasma</italic>, <italic>Felid alphaherpesvirus</italic> 1 (FeHV-1), feline calicivirus (FCV), and influenza A, along with age, seasonality, sex, and clinical signs. We also evaluated the role of co-infections in disease severity. These pathogens were also investigated in clinically normal cats (control). The most detected pathogens were <italic>Mycoplasma</italic>, FCV, and FeHV-1. Most pathogens were detected in the control group, highlighting the challenge of interpreting positive testing results. Co-infections of <italic>Mycoplasma</italic> and FCV, as well as <italic>Mycoplasma</italic> and FeHV-1, were important predictors of disease severity. Age, sex, and season had a minor impact on pathogen occurrence. This study provides new insights into FRDC and underlines the relevance of diagnostic panels to screen for a range of pathogens, providing knowledge for timely diagnosis and therapeutic interventions.
Animals · 2024-01-05 · 14 citations
articleOpen access1st authorSpaghetti meat (SM) and woody breast (WB) are breast muscle myopathies of broiler chickens, characterized by separation of myofibers and by fibrosis, respectively. This study sought to investigate the transcriptomic profiles of breast muscles affected by SM and WB. Targeted sampling was conducted on a flock to obtain 10 WB, 10 SM, and 10 Normal Pectoralis major muscle samples from 37-day-old male chickens. Total RNA was extracted, cDNA was used for pair-end sequencing, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were determined by a false discovery rate of <0.1 and a >1.5-fold change. Principal component and heatmap cluster analyses showed that the SM and WB samples clustered together. No DEGs were observed between SM and WB fillets, while a total of 4018 and 2323 DEGs were found when comparing SM and WB, respectively, against Normal samples. In both the SM and WB samples, Gene Ontology terms associated with extracellular environment and immune response were enriched. The KEGG analysis showed enrichment of cytokine–cytokine receptor interaction and extracellular matrix–receptor interaction pathways in both myopathies. Although SM and WB are macroscopically different, the similar transcriptomic profiles suggest that these conditions may share a common pathogenesis. This is the first study to compare the transcriptomes of SM and WB, and it showed that, while both myopathies had profiles different from the normal breast muscle, SM and WB were similar, with comparable enriched metabolic pathways and processes despite presenting markedly different macroscopic features.
Experimental Infection Of Aquatic Bird Bornavirus 1 (ABBV-1) In Canada Geese (Branta canadensis)
Research Square · 2023-09-21
preprintOpen accessAbstract Aquatic bird bornavirus 1 (ABBV-1) has a high prevalence of infection in certain North American populations of Canada geese ( Branta canadensis ), suggesting a possible role of these birds as an ABBV-1 reservoir. The goal of this study was to evaluate the ability of Canada geese to become experimentally infected with ABBV-1, develop lesions, and transmit the virus to conspecifics. One-week-old Canada geese ( n , 65) were inoculated with ABBV-1 through the intramuscular (IM) or cloacal (CL) routes, with the control group receiving carrier only. An additional 6 geese were added to each group to test horizontal transmission (sentinel birds). Geese were monitored daily, and selected birds were euthanized at 1, 8, and 15-weeks post infection (wpi) to assess virus replication in tissues and lesion development. At 15 wpi, over 70% of IM birds were infected, while the CL route yielded only 1 infected goose. Of the infected IM geese, 26% developed encephalitis and/or myelitis after 8 wpi. No clinical signs were observed, and no sentinel birds became infected in any group. Only 1 oropharyngeal swab (IM group) tested positive for ABBV-1 RNA, while the water from the enclosures was consistently negative for virus RNA. This study documents successful experimental infection of Canada geese with ABBV-1, with findings comparable to what is described in infection trials with other waterfowl species. However, minimal shedding and lack of environmental dispersal indicate that Canada geese have little potential to disseminate the virus among wild waterfowl, and that other species could be better suited to act as chronic ABBV-1 shedders in the wild.
Frequent coauthors
- 15 shared
Leonardo Susta
University of Guelph
- 12 shared
Phuc H. Pham
University of Guelph
- 11 shared
Shai Barbut
University of Guelph
- 7 shared
Brandon N. Lillie
University of Guelph
- 7 shared
Alexander Leacy
University of Guelph
- 6 shared
Dorothee Bienzle
University of Guelph
- 6 shared
Éva Nagy
- 4 shared
Pauline Delnatte
Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre
Labs
Sunoh Che LabPI
Education
- 2022
Doctor of Philosophy, Pathobiology
University of Guelph
- 2019
Master of Science, Health Management
University of Prince Edward Island
- 2012
Master of Epidemiology
Murdoch University Murdoch Veterinary School
Awards & honors
- Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicin…
- Resume-aware match score
- Save to shortlist
- AI-drafted outreach
See your match with Sunoh Che
PhdFit ranks faculty by your research interests, methods, and publications — grounded in their actual work, not templates.
- Free to start
- No credit card
- 30-second signup