Comprehensive report of an Enterococcus cecorum infection in a broiler flock in Northern Germany.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Enterococcus cecorum is considered as an emerging pathogen in poultry and can cause substantial losses in broiler flocks. Femoral head necrosis and spondylitis were described as the main pathological changes in infected chickens. Nevertheless, little is known about the pathogenesis of Enterococcus cecorum infection in broilers. This report shows for the first time the whole course of disease over an entire growing period including repeated necropsies and subsequent microbiological investigations.

Case presentation

In a flock of 18200 broilers, a decrease in flock uniformity was detected from 14 days post hatch onwards with affected chickens showing lameness and an increase in flock mortality up to 7.22% at day 33 post hatch. In the first 3 weeks post hatch, perica

SUBMITTER: Jung A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4297365 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature