Visceral granulomas in chickens infected with a filamentous bacteria

Visceral granulomas containing gram-positive filamentous bacteria were diagnosed in eight chickens collected from processing plants over a period of 4 years. Formalin-fixed tissues were submitted from the chickens after slaughter, but no specimens suitable for bacterial culture were received. The bacteria lacked similar tinctorial, morphologic, and ultrastructural features of other gram-positive bacteria that have been identified in chickens. The bacteria were visible with hematoxylin and eosin and faintly visible with Gomori methenamine-silver, but negative with periodic acid-Schiff and Fite-Faraco acid-fast stains. Granulomas were found in the liver, spleen, and peritoneum.