Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 19, 2026
05:51
Production of Germ-Free Fast-Growing Broilers from a Commercial Line for Microbiota Studies
Published on: June 18, 2020
3.6K
Vertebral osteomyelitis associated with single and mixed bacterial infection in broilers
Juliana Fortes Vilarinho Braga1, Camila Costa Silva1, Maurício de Paula Ferreira Teixeira2
1a Departamento de Clínica e Cirurgia Veterinárias, Escola de Veterinária , Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais , Belo Horizonte , Brazil.
Avian Pathology : Journal of the W.V.P.A
|June 18, 2016
Summary
Vertebral osteomyelitis (VO) in broilers is often caused by multiple bacteria, primarily Enterococcus species. This study found VO in 5.1% of affected birds in Brazil, with older males most susceptible.
Area of Science:
- Avian pathology
- Veterinary microbiology
- Poultry science
Background:
- Vertebral osteomyelitis (VO) is an emerging disease affecting broiler chickens globally.
- Locomotory problems are a significant welfare and economic concern in broiler production.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the frequency and etiological agents of VO in broilers within a major Brazilian poultry region.
- To investigate the clinical presentation and risk factors associated with VO in broilers.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 608 broilers with locomotory issues from 18 farms.
- Clinical examination, necropsy, and collection of vertebral samples.
- Molecular analysis, histopathology, and bacterial isolation for etiological identification.
Main Results:
- VO was diagnosed in 5.1% of examined broilers.
- Affected birds were predominantly older (≥40 days) males (93.5% and 89.7%, respectively).
- Enterococcus spp. (53.6%), particularly Enterococcus faecalis (35.7%), were the main causative agents, with Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus also implicated, often in co-infections.
Conclusions:
- VO in Brazilian broilers can be multifactorial, involving various bacterial species.
- The frequency of VO in this region appears lower than reported elsewhere, suggesting geographical variations.
- Enterococcus spp. are key pathogens in broiler VO, highlighting the need for targeted control strategies.
Related Concept Videos
01:18Viral Meningitis
2
Viral meningitis is the most common form of meningitis and is often referred to as aseptic meningitis to indicate the absence of bacterial involvement. It is generally milder than bacterial meningitis, with symptoms including fever, headache, stiff neck, drowsiness, nausea, photophobia, and vomiting. Rarely, more severe manifestations or death may occur. Common causative agents include enteroviruses, particularly coxsackie A and B viruses and echoviruses, all members of the Enterovirus genus...
2
01:18Bacterial Gastroenteritis
5
Bacterial gastroenteritis, characterized by diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting, is often caused by ingestion of contaminated food or water and is frequently associated with pathogenic Escherichia coli strains. These microbes exploit two principal mechanisms to inflict disease.Shiga toxin–producing E. coli, also referred to as STEC—notably O157:H7—release Shiga toxins that target ribosomes, blocking protein synthesis. The B subunit of the toxin binds the host glycolipid...
5
01:14Atypical Pneumonia
2
Atypical pneumonia, often caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, is a form of pulmonary infection that differs from the classical presentation of bacterial pneumonia in both its cause and clinical symptoms. Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a pleomorphic bacterium notable for its lack of a rigid cell wall. This structural characteristic imparts resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and significantly influences the bacterium’s behavior within the human host.Other pathogens responsible for the disease...
2
00:57Viral Recombination
25.5K
Cells are sometimes infected by more than one virus at once. When two viruses disassemble to expose their genomes for replication in the same cell, similar regions of their genomes can pair together and exchange sequences in a process called recombination. Alternatively, viruses with segmented genomes can swap segments in a process called reassortment.
25.5K