Enterococcus cecorum
Discription of the disease
The bacteria Enterococcus Cecorum causes lameness, arthritis and osteomyelitis in broilers. Enterococcus cecorum, formerly Streptococcus cecorum, in chickens has been occasionally described in relation with bone and joint lesions. (3) Broilers suffering from an Enterococcus cecorum infection, usually have an inflammation of a joint and/or bone tissue. Often this takes place around the large joints such as the hip, knee or heel. In some cases, Enterococcus cecorum can cause an infection of the sixth thoracic vertebra, in that case abscesses in the spine will occur. Enterococcus infections often have the be treated with antibiotics.
In addition, Enterococcus cecorum causes an inflammation of the pericardium. Because other bacteria can also cause this disease, it is of great importance that bacteriological tests are carried out. Infected chicks will have pain on the leg that is affected and taxing the leg hardly when walking. Often the chicks will use their wings to stay in balance. Infected chicks should be deselected to prevent animal suffering. If many chicks suffer from the infection, treatment should be initiated. (1)
In addition, Enterococcus cecorum causes an inflammation of the pericardium. Because other bacteria can also cause this disease, it is of great importance that bacteriological tests are carried out. Infected chicks will have pain on the leg that is affected and taxing the leg hardly when walking. Often the chicks will use their wings to stay in balance. Infected chicks should be deselected to prevent animal suffering. If many chicks suffer from the infection, treatment should be initiated. (1)
Pathogenesis
The primary cause of the enterococcus infection is not known yet. The Enterococcus Cecorum bacteria is a normal inhabitant of the intestine in poultry. Other species that are common are Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium. These bacteria are the first bacteria which inhabit the intestinal tract of a chicken. Not all species of Enterococcus are pathogen. In poultry there are three important groups, Enterococcus faecalis group, Enterococcus faecium group and the Enterococcus cecorum group. The Enterococcus faecalis group is an indicator of faecal pollution. The Enterococcus faecium group consists of Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus durans and Enterococcus hirae. The Enterococcus cecorum group consist of Enterococcus cecorum and Enterococcus columbae. (4) Those three groups are all associated with disease. (2)
Enterococcus hirae can cause cardiac valve inflammation and Enterococcus faecalis can cause spinal meningitis. Chickens with spinal meningitis are also called ‘stargazers’. (1)
Enterococcus hirae can cause cardiac valve inflammation and Enterococcus faecalis can cause spinal meningitis. Chickens with spinal meningitis are also called ‘stargazers’. (1)
Cause
The actual route of infection of Enterococcus cecorum is not known yet. The bacteria can be transmitted through the air/inhalation, the beak, skin wounds, sole lesions, or through the yolk. However, the most likely route is through the beak. It is stated that the bacteria from the intestinal tract can enter the bloodstream during the first days of life of the chick. In this period, the intestinal wall is still somewhat permeable to bacteria. In the body, the Enterococcus bacteria spread through the bloodstream. The bacteria can adhere to the wall of the blood vessels. This happens in the small blood vessels of, for example, cardiac valves and joints. (1,2)
Symptoms
It is not possible to generate clinical symptoms via a natural route of infection, because there is no infection model. (4)
The first symptoms of the course of disease between 10-14 days of age are:
The reason that the best-growing animals, largely roosters, are affected by Enterococcus cecorum is because these animals have a higher gastro-intestinal tract charge.
The symptoms of the course of disease between 14-40 days of age are;
Symptoms of injury autopsia;
The damage Enterococcus cecorum causes is a morbidity of 20%, mortality up to 10% which is mainly by selection, and a substantially increased rejection percentage in slaughter. (4)
The first symptoms of the course of disease between 10-14 days of age are:
- Suddenly lame, usually unilateral
- From some animals to a few percent of a litter
- Mostly roosters and the heaviest animals
The reason that the best-growing animals, largely roosters, are affected by Enterococcus cecorum is because these animals have a higher gastro-intestinal tract charge.
The symptoms of the course of disease between 14-40 days of age are;
- Number of unilaterally lame animals increases
- Increasing paralysis: ‘kinky backs’
- Chickens are sitting on their hind feet facing forward
- Are only able to move backwards
- Next phase is lateral recovery position
- Chickens will die due dehydration and exhaustion
Symptoms of injury autopsia;
- Purulent arthritis, mainly form the knee and sometimes hock joints.
- Purulent inflammation of bone and bone marrow (osteomyelitis)
- Neck and head of the femur
- Top of the shank, at the knee
- In ‘kinky back’, at the T4-T7 vertebra
- Sometimes an inflammation of the pericardium
The damage Enterococcus cecorum causes is a morbidity of 20%, mortality up to 10% which is mainly by selection, and a substantially increased rejection percentage in slaughter. (4)
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List of sources
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3. Patrick Boerlin, et all. (2012). Diversity of Enterococcus cecorum from chickens. Veterinary Microbiology. - (-), 7
4. Johan van Erum. (2014). Enterococcen-infectie bij vleeskuikens. Zijn er mogelijke oplossingen?. Available: -. Last accessed 14 May 2014.
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10. European Food Safety Authority (2007). Safety and efficacy of Calsporin®, a preparation of Bacillus subtilis, as a feed additive for chickens for fattening in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003, Opinion of the scientific panel on additives and products of substances used in animal feed. The EFSA Journal 543, 1-8.
11. TATIANA RUGEA, R. TRIF, E. TIRZIU, ILEANA NICHITA, C. CUMPĂNĂŞOIU, R. V. GROS, MONICA SERES . (2009). IMMUNOMODULATOR AND NUTRITIONAL EFFECTS OF BIO-MOS. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Timisoara. - (-), 399-403.
2. -. (19/6/2012). Enterococcen bij pluimvee. Available: http://www.boerderij.nl/directories/product/524d356b48e43c20d492ecf2. Last accessed 12 May 2014.
3. Patrick Boerlin, et all. (2012). Diversity of Enterococcus cecorum from chickens. Veterinary Microbiology. - (-), 7
4. Johan van Erum. (2014). Enterococcen-infectie bij vleeskuikens. Zijn er mogelijke oplossingen?. Available: -. Last accessed 14 May 2014.
5. S.C. SOCODE C.V.. (Unknown). Prebiofeed 88. Available: http://users.telenet.be/nubiss/fibroFOS/prebiofeed.htm. Last accessed 26-05-2014.
6. SPEERSTRA. (Unknown). Prebiofeed 95. Available: http://www.speerstra.com/product/prebiofeed-95.html. Last accessed 26-05-2014.
7. A. Y.-L. Teo & H.-M. Tan. (2006). Effect of Bacillus subtilis PB6 (CloSTAT) on Broilers Infected with a Pathogenic Strain of Escherichia coli. Available: http://japr.oxfordjournals.org/content/15/2/229.abstract. Last accessed 26-05-2014.
8. W. van der Sluis. (2010). CloSTAT. Available: http://www.kemin.com/products/clostat. Last accessed 26-05-2014.
9. M. Groot, T. van Asseldonk, I. Puls-van der Kamp. (2011). Stalboekje Melkvee natuurlijk gezond met kruiden en andere natuurproducten.Available: http://edepot.wur.nl/161911. Last accessed 26-05-2014.
10. European Food Safety Authority (2007). Safety and efficacy of Calsporin®, a preparation of Bacillus subtilis, as a feed additive for chickens for fattening in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003, Opinion of the scientific panel on additives and products of substances used in animal feed. The EFSA Journal 543, 1-8.
11. TATIANA RUGEA, R. TRIF, E. TIRZIU, ILEANA NICHITA, C. CUMPĂNĂŞOIU, R. V. GROS, MONICA SERES . (2009). IMMUNOMODULATOR AND NUTRITIONAL EFFECTS OF BIO-MOS. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Timisoara. - (-), 399-403.