Hafnia alvei infection in broiler breeder chickens

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

Studies on recent outbreaks of infectious laryngotracheitis

Recently, increased incidence of outbreaks of infectious laryngotracheitis [ILT] was observed among chicken flocks in Egypt. These were associated with variable high mortalities. Investigation of 8 such outbreaks revealed that three nonvaccinated replacement layer pullets of 6-8 weeks of age were severely affected with mortality rates of 11-12% up to 40%, while in a 4[th] pullet flock of 24 weeks of age, which was comparatively milder and resulted in only 2% mortality. On the other hand, in four commercial broiler flocks of 5-7 weeks of age with no history of previous vaccination, the disease varied in severity and mortalities [7.6 - 18.0%]. Eight isolates were recovered from these outbreaks and were identified as those of ILTV. Pathogenicity tests for two representative isolates from pullets and broilers were carried out by inoculation of each intratracheally into susceptible chickens of the respective types [egg and meat-type], morbidity and mortality rates were used to calculate an intratracheal pathogenicity index used the same as that described for Newcastle disease virus, in addition to microscopic tracheal lesion scoring as criteria for judging their pathogenicity. Results indicated that both isolates were pathogenic like wild ILT field viruses. Reversed virulence of modified live vaccine viruses was speculated under prevailing conditions of suboptimal management practices, hygiene and biosecurity measures which help spread of infection between flocks, beside the role of latently infected carrier birds and other factors in the epizootiology of the disease, especially in nonvaccinated flocks, were discussed

Studies on pyocin typing, dermoneurosis and pathogenicity of E. Coil recovered from septicemic broiler chickens

E. coli was recovered from 59.00% of septicemic broiler chickens suffering enteritis, perihepatitis and airsacculitis. Pyocin typing of chosen E. coli isolates revealed two types. The first type was able to grow in the presence of pyocin [PREC]. The second type was unable to grow in the presence of pyocin [PSEC]. There is no correlation between pyocin typing and dermonecrotic test or pyocin typing and pathogenicity for day-old chicken. But there is a correlation between dermonecrotic test and pathogenicity for day-old chicks. Thus, virulent types of E. coli can be detected through the dermonecrosis of their whole cell lysates [WCL] in the skin of guinea- pigs

Occurrence and public health importance of enterobacteriacea in giblets at consumer level

A total of 30 samples of giblets [10 of each gizzards, hearts and livers] were collected from general markets at Alexandria Province and examined bacteriologically for detection of enteric organisms. Respectively, the mean values for total coliform/g of the gizzard, heart and liver were 8.30 x 10 4 +/- 2.06 x 10 4, 3.64 x 10 2 +/- 0.67 x 10 2 and 2.79 x 10 4 +/- 0.55 x 10 4 and 7.06 x 10 4 +/- 2.23 x 10 4, 4.72 x 10 2 +/- 0.85 x 10 2 and 3.6 x 10 4 +/- 0.67 x 10 4 for total Enterobacteriaceae count. E. coli were the highest isolates from gizzards, hearts and livers [11.90%, 23.80% and 4.76%], followed by Enterobacter cloacae [2.38%, 9.52% and 4.76%] and Enterobacter aerogenes [2.38%, 9.52% and 2.38%]. Citrobacter frequndii, Hafnia alvei, Proteus rettgeri, Proteus morganii, Salmonella spp., Salmonella typhi and Shigella flexneri type 6, could be isolated in a different percentages from examined samples. Spoilage effect as well as the public health significance of isolated species have been discussed