ABSTRACT
The significance of Hafnia alvei [H.alvei] as a new potent poultry pathogen primarly investigated in broiler breeder chickens. H.alvei has been isolated from 3 naturally infected broiler breeder chickens suffering from sudden mortalities drop in egg production with necrotizing hepatitis and splenitis. Bacteriological examination of cloacal swabs of other apparently healthy 10 broiler breeder flocks revealed H.alvei with an isolation rate of 8%. Egg transmission of H.alvei could be proved both in naturally and experimentally infected broiler breeders. The antibiogramme of the isolated strains was investigated. Serological screening of the 13 investigated flocks for infections commonly encounted in broiler parent flocks was carried out. Histopathological examination for both naturally and experimentally infected chickens were studied. The pathogenicity of the isolated H.alvei was investigated