Subcutaneous inoculation of Escherichia coli in broiler chickens causes cellulitis and elicits innate and specific immune responses.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cellulitis caused by Escherichia coli is a common cause of condemnation of broiler chickens at slaughter worldwide and is associated with economic losses and a possible negative impact on animal welfare. The study objective was to monitor clinical signs and immune responses after subcutaneous E. coli inoculation (1.1-1.8 × 10⁷ CFU), aiming to induce cellulitis. Three groups of broiler chickens (n = 15/group) were inoculated with well-characterized E. coli strains (group A: ECA18 O24:H4/ST117 and group B: ECB11 O153:H9/ST38) or with saline (control) at 22 days-of-age. Clinical signs of disease, body weight and immune parameters were monitored until euthanasia 12-14 days after inoculation followed by post-mortem examination.

Results

The daily weight gain

SUBMITTER: Jonare L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11610265 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature