Septicemic proteus infection in Japanese quail chicks (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

Avian Diseases
|January 1, 1983
PubMed

Insights

Proteus mirabilis caused severe depression, coma, and mortality in quail chicks. This study demonstrates the bacterium

Area of Science:

  • Veterinary Pathology
  • Microbiology
  • Avian Diseases

Background:

  • Proteus infections can cause significant mortality in poultry.
  • Understanding the specific pathogens affecting quail is crucial for disease prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify the causative agent of severe depression and mortality in quail chicks.
  • To confirm the pathogenicity of the isolated bacterium in experimental models.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation and biochemical identification of the causative organism from affected quail chicks.
  • Pathogenicity testing of the isolate in mice and quail chicks.

Main Results:

  • Proteus mirabilis was isolated from the heart blood and lungs of affected quail chicks.
  • Inoculation of P. mirabilis caused severe disease and mortality in experimental quail chicks and mice within 48 hours.
  • Pathological lesions included lung, liver, and kidney congestion, and tracheal mucus exudation.

Conclusions:

  • Proteus mirabilis is identified as the cause of a septicemic disease in Japanese quails.
  • This is the first report demonstrating the association of P. mirabilis with disease in Japanese quails.

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