Alcaligenes faecalis rhinotracheitis in Manitoba turkeys

An outbreak of alcaligenes rhinotracheitis occurred on one premises housing five turkey flocks totaling 25,000 poults. Prominent findings were severe respiratory difficulty resulting from excess mucus in the nasopharynx, lachrimation, and tracheal collapse. Sinus and tracheal cultures consistently yielded Alcaligenes faecalis. An adenovirus was isolated and four flocks became positive for CELO virus by agar-gel-precipitin (AGP) tests. Mortality by flocks ranged from 4% to 48%. Treatment was unsuccessful and appeared to increase the mortality rate. The course of the disease was about 6 weeks, and recovered turkeys were marketed 1 week later than the usual date.     

Alcaligenes faecalis infection in turkeys: effects on serum corticosterone and serum chemistry

The serum levels of corticosterone, total calcium, inorganic phosphorus, protein, sodium, and potassium were determined for turkey poults from 1 to 42 days of age. Corticosterone levels were higher at days 10, 14, 21, and 28 in Alcaligenes faecalis-infected turkeys than in uninfected poults. The corticosterone responses in this study indicate that A. faecalis infection stimulates adrenal cortical function even in the very young poult, which ordinarily does not show adrenal cortical responsiveness to various environmental and physical stressors. No differences were observed between infected and uninfected turkey poults in other serum chemistries.     

Observations on the pathogenicity of Alcaligenes faecalis in chickens

A series of trials was conducted in which specific-pathogen-free (SPF) leghorn chicks were exposed to various isolates of Alcaligenes faecalis. Chicks were inoculated with A. faecalis alone or in combination with Newcastle disease/infectious bronchitis (Nc/Br) vaccine, laryngotracheitis vaccine, infectious bursal disease virus, or Mycoplasma gallisepticum. The response was evaluated by morbidity, mortality, airsacculitis, reisolation of A. faecalis, and histopathological lesions of tracheas. Although A. faecalis was recovered up to 42 days postinoculation in some cases, no clinical signs were directly attributed to simple A. faecalis infection. None of the other agents significantly increased the severity of A. faecalis signs or lesions, except that A. faecalis-infected chicks that were given Nc/Br vaccine had prolonged microscopic tracheal lesions. In another trial, the effects of A. faecalis in young SPF leghorns, non-SPF broilers, and turkeys were compared. Broiler-type chicks were more susceptible than leghorns and less susceptible than poults. Consequently, the use of leghorns as a model for studying this infection is questioned.     

Infectious bursal disease virus and Alcaligenes faecalis infections in turkeys

To determine if infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) augments alcaligenes rhinotracheitis (ART), turkey poults were exposed to IBDV, Alcaligenes faecalis, or both IBDV and A. faecalis. In five experiments, poults exposed to IBDV alone exhibited neither signs of disease nor histopathologic lesions. Serum antibodies to IBDV were detected in poults exposed to this virus by inoculation and by direct contact with inoculated birds. Signs of ART were observed 4 to 6 days following exposure to A. faecalis. Clinical signs of ART and histopathologic lesions in the upper respiratory tract of poults exposed to both IBDV and A. faecalis were similar to those observed in poults exposed to A. faecalis alone.     

Tracheal mucus transport rate in normal turkeys and in turkeys infected with Bordetella avium (Alcaligenes faecalis)

Using the radiopharmaceutical 99mtechnetium-sulfur colloid, the tracheal mucus transport rate (TMTR) was measured in healthy unanesthetized turkeys and in turkeys infected with Bordetella avium. The TMTR of uninfected turkeys was 35.6 +/- 14.4 cm/min. The TMTR of B. avium-infected turkeys was normal on days 0 through 14 postexposure (PE), despite heavy bacterial colonization of the tracheal epithelium. On day 21 PE, the TMTR of B. avium-infected turkeys was significantly depressed (P less than or equal to 0.01) compared with that of control turkeys. Depressed transport was associated with extensive loss of ciliated epithelium from the tracheal mucosa and replacement of the normal mucosa by immature nonciliated epithelium or metaplastic squamous epithelium.     

An Alcaligenes faecalis isolate from turkeys: pathogenicity in selected avian and mammalian species

An Alcaligenes faecalis isolate of known pathogenicity for turkeys was examined for adherence and cytotoxicity in tracheal organ cultures of turkeys, chickens, Japanese quail, guinea pigs, hamsters, and mice, and for colonization and pathogenicity in these 6 species. Adherence and colonization were detected by fluorescent antibody staining. Infected and noninfected tracheal rings were examined by phase-contrast microscopy for cytotoxicity (ciliostasis, blebing of the cell membrane, and sloughing of the ciliated epithelium). Alcaligenes faecalis adhered to the tracheal rings of all species examined. Cytotoxicity was apparent in the tracheal rings of turkeys, quail, and chickens. Cytotoxicity was not detected in tracheal rings from the mammalian species. Alcaligenes faecalis colonization of turbinates and tracheas of intact turkeys and quail was detected. Clinical signs of alcaligenes rhinotracheitis were observed and histopathologic characteristics of the disease were detected. Chickens, guinea pigs, hamsters, and mice were refractory to infection with this isolate of A faecalis.     

Evidence for plasmid DNA in Alcaligenes faecalis

A 10.6 megadalton plasmid was isolated from a virulent strain (NC-D) of Alcaligenes faecalis. Virulence and antibiotic sensitivity of this strain were compared with those characteristics of a mutant plasmid-free derivative, strain NC-D1. Strain NC-D1 was avirulent and lacked the streptomycin and sulfonamide resistances of the parent strain.     

Antibiotic aerosolization: the effect on experimentally induced Alcaligenes rhinotracheitis in turkeys

Oxytetracycline hydrochloride was delivered by aerosol twice daily for 3 days to uninfected turkeys and to turkeys experimentally inoculated with Alcaligenes faecalis. The clinical, microbiological, and histological changes in the upper respiratory tracts were studied. No lesions were observed in the tracheas of uninoculated poults exposed to the aerosol. In experimentally infected poults, clinical signs included ocular and nasal discharges and open-mouthed breathing. Histologic lesions included progressive bacterial colonization of ciliated epithelium, loss of cilia, depletion of mucin from goblet cells, and accumulation of inflammatory cells within the tracheal lumen. Aerosolization of oxytetracycline effected a temporary decrease in bacterial colonization and a delay in clinical signs and histologic lesions in infected treated poults compared with untreated infected poults. Bacterial colonization and histologic lesions in the tracheas of both treated and untreated infected poults were similar by 4 days after the treatment was discontinued. This study indicates additional research with bactericidal antibiotics is needed to further evaluate antibiotic aerosolization as a treatment for alcaligenes rhinotracheitis.     

Partial characterization of the hemagglutinin of Alcaligenes faecalis

The hemagglutinin of Alcaligenes faecalis was partially characterized. Hemagglutination (HA) was blocked by enzymes inactivating proteins, by heat, and by antisera but not by sugar-blocking substances. Pili were not determined to be a factor in HA activity. There was no connection between virulence and HA activity.     

Pathogenicity of various isolates of Alcaligenes faecalis for broilers

Day-old broilers or specific-pathogen-free chickens were inoculated intranasally with approximately 1 X 10(8) organisms of eight different field isolates of Alcaligenes faecalis. Major differences in the pathogenicity of isolates and their ability to colonize the trachea were found. Only two isolates (Wilson and Lockamy) produced mild clinical signs of respiratory disease ("snicking," dyspnea). The same two also colonized the respiratory tract, especially the trachea, in large numbers; they persisted for 31 days. Of the remaining six isolates, five were also able to colonize the respiratory tract but did so to a lesser degree and less persistently, without causing clinical signs. Only one isolate (CS) was incapable of becoming established in the respiratory tract of chicks after intranasal inoculation.     

Pasteurella anatipestifer infection in turkeys

In a case of excessive mortality in seven-week-old turkeys, the primary lesion at necropsy was severe fibrinous pericarditis and epicarditis. After 48 hours of incubation at 37 C, Pasteurella anatipestifer was isolated. The infection responded to antibiotic therapy with a combination of neomycin and oxytetracycline in the drinking water. The lesions suggested chlamydial infection, but cultural procedures for chlamydia were negative.     

Evidence for adherence-dependent cytotoxicity of Alcaligenes faecalis in turkey tracheal organ cultures

A virulent isolate of Alcaligenes faecalis was examined in turkey tracheal organ cultures (TTOC) for adherence using immunofluorescent staining and for cytotoxicity using light microscopic observation. Treatment of the bacterial culture with trypsin, antiserum specific for A. faecalis, and N-acetylneuraminic acid inhibited the ability of the organism to adhere to TTOC. Treatment of the bacterium with D-galactose partly decreased adherence of the bacterium. Those treatments that inhibited the adherence of A. faecalis also inhibited the cytolytic activity in TTOC. Treatment of the bacterial culture with D-galactose only partly decreased the cytolytic activity. These data indicate that adherence of the organism to TTOC is necessary for the cytolytic activity characteristic of A. faecalis isolates capable of causing alcaligenes rhinotracheitis in turkeys.     

Campylobacter infection and Campylobacter excretion in turkeys

Five turkey poults at an age of 27 days were infected with Campylobacter jejuni strain. Additional five poults were infected by contact. Turkeys infected by contact and artificially were necropsied 1 and 3 months later, respectively. The histological examination of the liver revealed degenerative changes in contact birds and a proliferation of the connective tissue and bile-ducts in two of the oral infected poults. Campylobacter spp. were excreted daily during the first two weeks and afterwards with interruptions of several days. The excretion lasted until the end of the experiment between day 86 and 98. The excretion period, which is prolonged compared with that of chickens may be of particular importance under aspects of epizootiology and food hygiene.