Bacterial Poultry Infections: Staphylococcus, Colibacillosis, Pullorum, and Botulism

Staphylococcus Infection in Poultry

Staphylococcus infections commonly occur in poultry and are typically categorized into three forms: septicemia, staphylococcal arthritis, and bumblefoot.

Septicemia form: The clinical signs of Staphylococcus infection in this form resemble fowl cholera. Birds affected by septicemia appear weak, have hyperemic skin, exhibit low feed consumption, experience pain while moving, have foul-smelling diarrhea, and show a decrease in egg production.

Staphylococcal arthritis: This form of infection is characterized by lameness, swollen and hot joints with limping, the development of breast blisters, a reluctance to walk, and a preference for sitting rather than standing.

Bumblefoot (plantar pododermatitis): Bumblefoot is a localized Staphylococcus infection caused by puncture injuries. It is usually seen in mature birds, especially heavy breeds. Clinical signs include foot swelling, lameness, excessive pain (usually unilateral) with stretched and baggy skin, and the presence of pus-filled pockets that may burst through the skin.

The infection initially starts beneath the surface of the foot but can spread to affect the entire foot and phalanges, leading to the formation of caseous and necrotic tissues with hemorrhages. Early signs of bumblefoot include the presence of black spots on the sole of the foot.

The cause of bumblefoot is Staphylococcus aureus, an opportunistic bacterium that typically affects mature birds, particularly heavy breeds. It is caused by cuts or scrapes on the chicken's foot.

To prevent bumblefoot, it is important to reduce trauma in the poultry house. This can be achieved by removing sharp objects, avoiding wet litter, maintaining cleanliness and dryness in the coop and bedding, isolating chronically infected birds, and providing a nutritious and balanced diet to chickens. Excess scraps, fats, and carbohydrates should be avoided to prevent obesity.

The treatment of bumblefoot involves the use of antibiotics and treatment with Vetericyn Plus Poultry Care.

Colibacillosis in Poultry

Colibacillosis is an infection caused by the Escherichia (E. coli) bacterium, which is the most commonly occurring pathogenic bacterium in poultry. This disease affects all types of poultry and wild birds but is more prevalent in broilers and poults.

The transmission of the disease occurs through fecal contamination of eggs, feed, and water. It often serves as a secondary infection when the immune systems of birds in a flock have been compromised due to other diseases, primarily viruses, and mycoplasma.

Causes of Colibacillosis:

Colibacillosis can be either a primary pathogen or a secondary invader, resulting in conditions such as omphalitis, salpingitis, and air vasculitis. It is often caused by management failures, fecal contamination, and inhalation.

Transmission of Colibacillosis:

The disease can be transmitted through direct contact with contaminated litter, eggshells, and inhalation of contaminated dust. Colibacillosis is an environmental disease and is not passed from bird to bird.

Clinical Signs of Colibacillosis:

The clinical signs of Colibacillosis include unthriftiness, ruffled feathers, enlarged and swollen navels, resistance to many antibiotics, low performance in older birds (due to tumors), a high mortality rate in young birds (due to yolk sac infection), high embryonic deaths in breeder flocks, respiratory distress, reduced appetite, and poor growth, and diarrhea.

Prevention, Control, and Treatment of Colibacillosis:

Ciprofloxacin, which was previously used for treatment, has been banned or removed from food production since 2006. To prevent colibacillosis, it is crucial to enforce proper hygiene and sanitation practices. It is recommended to purchase disease-free stock and consider vaccination for layers and breeders.

Additional preventive measures include egg fumigation, dust control in the poultry house, removing dead birds, avoiding stress, and managing immunosuppression (for example, related to infectious bronchitis disease).

Antibiotics can be used for treatment. It is also important to avoid incubating floor eggs and reduce the risk of primary pathogens by implementing biosecurity measures.

Pullorum Disease (Bacillary White Diarrhea) in Poultry

Pullorum disease is a highly contagious and egg-transmitted illness that primarily affects chicks and turkey poults, causing white diarrhea and high mortality in young birds. Although adults can be carriers of the disease, they do not show any symptoms.

The disease is caused by the bacterium Salmonella pullorum, which settles in the ovary and can infect eggs before they are laid. Contaminated feeds, water, or air can also contribute to the spread of the disease.

Chicks hatched from infected eggs may die shortly after hatching or survive to maturity while harboring the bacteria in their egg-making organs. Older birds are more resistant but can still transmit the infection through eggs.

Additionally, the disease can be transmitted horizontally through contact with infected birds or contaminated equipment, feeds, water, or through animals such as rats and wild birds.

Clinical Signs of Pullorum Disease:

Clinical signs of pullorum disease include increased mortality in chicks younger than 10 days, especially between 2-3 days of age. Poor hatchability and white diarrhea are also observed. Infected birds exhibit loss of appetite, depression, high fever, decreased egg production (in mature birds), huddling together with closed eyes and ruffled feathers, sharp cries during defecation, and the presence of white, foamy, sticky, or brownish droppings.

Gross Lesions:

Adult birds usually show no lesions, but misshapen ovaries, pericarditis, and peritonitis may occasionally occur. In young birds, white or grey nodules may be found in the heart, liver, caecum, gizzard, and the spleen may be swollen. Fluid accumulation in the pericardium and peritoneum, as well as the presence of urate due to dehydration, can also be observed. Unabsorbed yolk sacs may be present due to malabsorption.

Diagnosis:

An increase in the mortality rate 2-3 days after hatching can be an indication of pullorum disease. Bacterial cultures of samples from sick birds, blood testing in adult breeders, and serological tests can help identify the cause.

Differential diagnoses include fowl typhoid and colibacillosis-watery, while a mortality rate higher than 20% may indicate a problem. Other factors to consider are chilling or overheating, omphalitis (navel infection), E. coli infections, and pseudo-staphylococcus infections.

Prevention and Treatment of Pullorum Disease:

To prevent pullorum disease, it is important to avoid purchasing eggs or breeding stock from infected flocks. Proper hygiene and sanitation should be maintained by disinfecting the brooder house and all equipment. Sick birds should be promptly removed and destroyed. Brooders, feeders, and drinkers should be kept clean. Vaccination of breeders is recommended.

Summary of Prevention, Control, and Treatment of Pullorum Disease:

1. Avoid purchasing eggs or breeding stock from infected flocks.
2. Disinfect the brooder house and all equipment.
3. Remove and destroy sick birds.
4. Maintain cleanliness of brooders, feeders, and drinkers.
5. Vaccinate breeders.

Botulism (Limberneck) in Poultry

Botulism is caused by the ingestion of feeds or other materials contaminated with the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. All poultry, humans, and other animals are susceptible to this disease.

Early symptoms of botulism include drowsiness, leg weakness, reluctance to move, and paralysis of the neck muscles. It is important to note that the course of the disease is rapid, and death usually occurs within a few hours after symptoms appear.

Birds exposed to contaminated feeds should be treated by drenching them with an Epsom salt solution. In the event of a botulism outbreak, any decomposed or spoiled feed accessible to poultry should be burned or buried. It is crucial to avoid feeding poultry with spoiled canned food as it can be a source of disease.

Transmission of Botulism:

Botulism occurs sporadically in poultry raised under poor hygiene conditions where birds have access to carcasses or other contaminated materials.

Prevention and Treatment of Botulism:

To prevent botulism, ensure that chickens are provided with clean feeds and water. Feeds should be provided in containers rather than being placed on the ground or floor. Birds should be kept away from stagnant waters. Infected or dead birds should be removed from the healthy ones on a daily basis.

Mycoplasma Meleagridis Infection in Poultry

Mycoplasma meleagridis is a disease that mainly affects turkeys and their poults. It causes an egg-transmitted disease in breeder turkeys and can result in high mortality rates. The disease is characterized by respiratory and skeletal problems. Mycoplasma meleagridis can be transmitted both vertically (through the eggs) and horizontally through people, vehicles, and equipment.

Clinical Signs of Mycoplasma Meleagridis:

Clinical signs of mycoplasma meleagridis infection include a drop in egg production, rapid growth of hock joints, decreased hatchability, stunted growth, skeletal abnormalities, mild respiratory problems, and leg deformities in young poults, as well as crooked necks.

Prevention of Mycoplasma Meleagridis:

To prevent mycoplasma meleagridis infection, it is important to source turkey poults from breeders that are free from the disease. Preventive medication can be administered to suspected infected flocks, and dipping eggs in tylosin or other antibiotics can help reduce transmission from infected flocks.

Treatment of Mycoplasma Meleagridis:

The treatment of mycoplasma meleagridis infection can involve the use of antibiotics such as tylosin, tetracycline, and erythromycin.

Conclusion

In conclusion, understanding and effectively managing common bacterial infections in poultry such as Staphylococcus infections, colibacillosis, pullorum disease, botulism, and Mycoplasma meleagridis infection are essential for maintaining the health and productivity of poultry flocks. Implementing proper preventive measures, such as hygiene practices, vaccination, and sourcing disease-free stock, along with timely and appropriate treatment, can help control and minimize the impact of these infections on poultry health.