Vertebral osteomyelitis associated with single and mixed bacterial infection in broilers.

Vertebral osteomyelitis associated with single and mixed bacterial infection in broilers. Avian Pathol. 2016 Jun 17;:1-24 Authors: Braga JF, Silva CC, de Paula Ferreira Teixeira M, da Silva Martins NR, Ecco R Abstract Vertebral osteomyelitis (VO) is a worldwide emerging disease that affects broilers. In Brazil, there are no studies on the frequency of VO, therefore the objective of this study was to determine the frequency and aetiology of VO in broilers in a highly productive broiler region. For this, 608 broilers with locomotory problems were analysed from 18 commercial farms. Clinical signs were recorded, necropsy was performed and samples were collected from vertebral bodies with gross changes for molecular and histopathological analysis and for bacterial isolation. From broilers with locomotory changes, 5.1% (31/608) had VO and, of these, 93.5% were 40 days-old or older and 89.7% were males. The birds with VO showed varying degrees of limited mobility and this was related to the level of compression to the spinal cord. Bacterial species of the genus Enterococcus (DNA detected in 53.6%) were the aetiological agents involved in most VO cases. Enterococcus faecalis was detected most frequently (35.7%), but Enterococcus hirae was also present in some lesions (7.1%). Escherichia coli was detected in 35.7% of vertebral lesions and co-infection with Enterococcus faecalis was confirmed in 7.1% cases. Staphylococcus aureus was involved i...
Source: Avian Pathology - Category: Pathology Authors: Tags: Avian Pathol Source Type: research