Erysipelas in egg-laying chickens: clinical, pathological and bacteriological investigations

Clinical observations over several months of 2 flocks of White Leghorn chickens producing eggs for consumption and infected with erysipelas revealed a mortality of 13% and 33%. Egg production was not affected. Histopathological examinations showed non-specific septicemic changes of the liver, kidney and spleen. Lesions in endocardium, joints and skin, which are seen in turkeys and pigs, were not observed. From 50 birds examined from each flock, Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae was isolated from 78% (outbreak no. 1) and 94% (outbreak no.2) respectively. In biochemical respects the isolated strains constituted a homogeneous group. E. rhusiopathiae is usually described as negative for maltose fermentation, but this could not be confirmed in this investigation. Moreover, 2 of the isolated strains were negative for hydrogen sulphide production.