Streptococcus bovis infection in turkey poults.

Increased mortality associated with Streptococcus bovis infection occurred on three independent turkey facilities in California. The age of the flocks during these outbreaks ranged from 1 to 3 weeks of age. Gross lesions included extensive pale foci in the pectoral muscles, markedly enlarged, dark and friable or mottled spleens, and swollen livers. Histopathology revealed multifocal necrosis in the spleen and Kupffer cell hypertrophy with necrosis of macrophages. Electron microscopy of liver showed replicating coccoid bacteria within the phagosomes of macrophages. 5. bovis was consistently isolated from bone marrow, liver and spleen.