Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale in nestling falcons

Area of Science:

• Avian Medicine
• Veterinary Pathology
• Microbiology

Background:

• Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale (ORT) is a bacterium known to cause respiratory disease in poultry.
• Falconry and falcon breeding farms represent unique environments for disease transmission.
• Severe clinical manifestations of ORT in falcons have not been previously documented.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a severe outbreak of airsacculitis caused by ORT in a large falcon breeding farm.
• To identify the causative agent and assess the efficacy of treatment in affected falcons.

Main Methods:

• Case report of an airsacculitis outbreak in young falcons.
• Postmortem examination of affected falcons and feed sources (cockerels, baby rats).
• Isolation and identification of Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale (ORT) serotype A from affected birds; ORT PCR on feed samples.

Main Results:

• ORT serotype A was isolated from the lungs and air sacs of two deceased young falcons.
• ORT was detected in cockerels used as feed, but not in baby rats.
• Treatment with long-acting tetracycline resulted in clinical improvement in the affected falcons, with only one additional death.

Conclusions:

• This is the first report of a severe Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale outbreak causing clinical disease in falcons.
• ORT infection should be considered in cases of respiratory distress and airsacculitis in young falcons.
• Prompt antibiotic treatment can be effective in managing ORT outbreaks in falcon populations.