Bacterial Leg Infections in Broiler Chickens

Lebdah, Mohamed A.; Youssef, Fatma M.; Elwan, Ezz-Eldin A.

doi:10.21608/zvjz.2015.28455

Bacterial Leg Infections in Broiler Chickens

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Avian and Rabbit Medicine Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, 44511, Egypt

² Clinical Pathology Department, Animal Health Research Institute, Ismailia

³ Poultry and Rabbit Disease Department, Animal Health Research Institute, Ismailia

10.21608/zvjz.2015.28455

Abstract

In a trial to investigate the bacterial causes of leg infection in broiler chickens, a total of 308 samples (foot bad and hock joint) of broiler chickens suffering from lameness were collected randomly from different broiler farms at Ismailia, Sharkia and North Sinai Governorates. Clinical and post-mortem examination, besides bacteriological analysis of the samples were carried out. The bacteriological investigation revealed the isolation of Staphylococcus aureus (83.8%, 258/308), Staphylococcus lentus (16.2%, 50/308), Escherichia coli (28.6%, 88/308); Salmonella spp.(1.3%, 4/308), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1.9%, 6/308)and Pasteurella multocida (1.9%, 6/308). Antimicrobial sensitivity tests of the isolated bacteria revealed that S. aureus isolates were sensitive to Cefotaxim, Ciprofloxacin, Enrofloxacin and sulpha Trimethoprim. Virulence associated factors (coagulase gene and clumping factor) were determined in S. aureus isolates by conventional PCR. The results showed that the coagulase gene was identified in 10 S. aureus isolates, while, the clumping factor was detected in only two isolates. It could be concluded that the staphylococcal infection is the most important cause of arthritis in broiler chickens.

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