Open AccessArthritis and Osteomyelitis Associated with Enterococcus Cecorum Infection in Broiler and Broiler Breeder Chickens in Ontario, Canada
Author(s) -
Margaret Stalker,
Marina L. Brash,
Alexandru Weisz,
Rachel Ouckama,
Ðurđa Slavić
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.529
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1943-4936
pISSN - 1040-6387
DOI - 10.1177/104063871002200426
Subject(s) - flock , lameness , osteomyelitis , broiler , medicine , veterinary medicine , histopathology , discitis , septic arthritis , vertebral osteomyelitis , arthritis , surgery , biology , pathology , zoology , radiology , magnetic resonance imaging
In August 2008, an Ontario broiler chicken flock experienced an outbreak of lameness in 4-week-old birds, with morbidity reaching 7% by day 3. Necropsy examination and histopathology revealed arthritis of the hock, stifle, and coxofemoral joints, and femoral and vertebral osteomyelitis. Enterococcus cecorum was isolated from the lesions and identified by 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing. In October 2008, a second case of E. cecorum osteomyelitis involved a flock of 9-week-old broiler breeder chickens, with 2% of the male birds showing reluctance to walk. Necropsy examination revealed osteomyelitis and abscessation of the body of the caudal thoracic vertebra in affected birds, with impingement on the overlying spinal cord.