Osteomyelitis in a slaughter turkey flock caused by Yersinia pseudotuberculosis sequence type ST42

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Pathology
• Bacteriology
• Food Safety

Background:

• Yersinia pseudotuberculosis is a rare zoonotic bacterium causing enteritis in humans and sudden death in animals.
• Osteomyelitis, characterized by bone inflammation, is less commonly reported in turkeys.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate an outbreak of lameness in a male turkey flock.
• To identify the causative agent and characterize the pathological findings.
• To assess the implications for food safety and disease control.

Main Methods:

• Necropsy and histopathological examination of affected turkeys.
• Bacterial isolation and identification from bone and joint tissues.
• Whole-genome sequencing for bacterial typing and source tracking.

Main Results:

• Osteomyelitis was diagnosed in lame, slow-growing turkeys, with lesions in long bones and joints.
• Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, serotype 1/O:1a, sequence type ST42, was isolated from affected birds.
• Whole-genome sequencing indicated a common source of infection for all isolates.

Conclusions:

• Yersinia pseudotuberculosis can cause osteomyelitis and lameness in fattening turkeys.
• Effective food chain information is crucial for slaughterhouse operations and worker safety.
• Good hygiene practices are essential during poultry processing to prevent zoonotic transmission.