भाषा:
By Dr. Ibne Ali, IMN PyrophosUpdated October 20265 min read

Colibacillosis is caused by E.coli and is characterized by various syndromes like colisepticemia, air sacculitis, coligranuloma, and omphalitis in birds depending on the age and type of strain of E.coli involved. It is also responsible for early chick mortality.

Reason for colibacillosis

• Escherichia coli • G- Coccobacilli • Pink colony on MLA and white colony on BGA

Colibacillosis - E.coli in Poultry

1. Colisepticemia

Colisepticemia is a disease of young broilers due to bad management and stress and is characterized by fibrinous pericarditis and hepatitis. Faecal contamination of the eggs may result in the penetration of E. coli through the shell due to the creation of negative pressure inside the eggs. This is considered the most important source of infection. Bacteria may be found in litter, dust and faecal matter. Feed is often contaminated with excreta. The bacteria is a typical inhabitant in the digestive tract of poultry. Birds with intact defence are resistant to E. coli. Still, when the defence system is compromised due to bacterial, viral, parasitic infections, toxins, poor ventilation, dust conditions etc., this infection may cause disease. Exposure to dust and ammonia results in the removal of cilia of the upper respiratory tract which permits the bacteria to colonize and cause respiratory infection. On entry, the bacteria multiply in the blood and produce septicemia.

Characteristic symptoms

• Diarrhoea

• Soiling of cloaca with a cheesy semisolid material

• Dyspnoea Macroscopic features

• Milky fluid in the pericardium

• Presence of whitish pseudo membrane over pericardium.

• Fibrinous covering over the liver.

Microscopic features

• Fibrinous pericarditis with infiltration of heterophils, macrophages and lymphocytes.

• Necrosis in the liver with a fibrinous and purulent exudate.

2. Coligranuloma (Hjarre’s Disease)

Coligranuloma is a sporadic chronic disease of adult birds characterized by the presence of nodules in the intestines. The bacteria enter the intestines through penetration and settle there to cause chronic inflammation characterized by the formation of nodules in the intestines. These nodules are composed of cheesy material and fibrosis.

Characteristic symptoms

• Diarrhoea

• Soiling of cloaca with cheesy semisolid material Macroscopic features

• Presence of nodules on the intestine.

• Small millet size or large nodule on duodenum, caecum and liver.

• Sporadic occurrence, a chronic disease seen in adults or age-old birds.

Microscopic features

• Caseous necrotic area in the centre covered by macrophages, lymphocytes and giant cells.

• Organisms can be demonstrated on Gram’s staining in the central necrotic area.

Colibacillosis - E.coli in Poultry

3. Air sacculitis

Air sacculitis is a disease of growers and adults and occurs along with Mycoplasma gallisepticum infection as Chronic Respiratory Disease. This organism is a normal inhabitant of the gut and is continuously excreted in droppings which contaminate the litter and environment of the poultry house. Adverse weather conditions and accumulation of ammonia and poor ventilation in dusty environment predisposes birds to E.coli infection as there is a loss of cilia in the upper respiratory tract that facilitates the entry of organisms to cause disease.

Characteristic symptoms

• Generally occurs in birds of 5-12 weeks of age

• Common in an overcrowded environment

• Gasping • Dyspnoea Macroscopic features

• Cloudiness in air sacs.

• Increased thickening of air sacs.

• Milky fluid in the pericardium.

Microscopic features

• Fibrinous pericarditis.

• Suppurative air sacculitis.

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Anti-diarrhoeal combination with herbal bioenhancers in a dextrose base. Corrects loose droppings and is helpful in sudden mortality from intestinal Salmonella and E. coli, in early chick mortality, and against coccidiosis and necrotic enteritis.

Dose: 1 g per 6 kg body weight or 1 g per litre for moderate cases; 1 g per 4–5 kg body weight or 2 g per litre in high mortality. In E. coli infection, use after the antibiotic course. Do not mix with other drugs, sanitizers or acidifiers.

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4.Omphalitis (Yolk Sac Disease)

Omphalitis (also known as yolk sac disease / mushy chick disease) is a disease of newly hatched chicks and characterized by thin, watery, coagulated unabsorbed yolk. This infection is generally associated with inflamed naval or bacteria that can multiply in the hatching eggs following faecal contamination of the shell. Some other bacteria also cause yolk sac infections like staphylococcus, pseudomonas, proteus and clostridia. The bacteria rapidly multiply in the intestine of newly hatched chicks and the infection spreads from chick to chick in hatcheries and brooders.

Characteristic symptoms

• Sleepiness

• Aggregation near the source of heat Macroscopic features

• Presence of unabsorbed yolk

• Yolk becomes thin and watery with precipitates

• Yolk sac membrane becomes thickened due to congestion and exudate

• Intestines congested Microscopic features

• Focal necrotic hepatitis.

• Congestion and infiltration of heterophils in the yolk sac membrane.

Colibacillosis - E.coli in Poultry

Diagnosis

• Symptoms and lesions

• Isolation of E.coli from heart blood.

• Gram’s staining of impression smears made from nodules in coligranuloma.

Treatment

Numerous antimicrobials have been utilized for treatment. These have included tetracyclines, neomycin, sulfa drugs and others but E. coli has developed resistance to many of these commonly used antimicrobials. Antibiotic sensitivity testing is therefore strongly suggested as well as record keeping of treatment history by the farm. Alcaeu & Septima reduces the severity of disease and helps controlling mortality.

Contact our technical team for treatment plan.

Control

Measures should be taken to minimize eggshell contamination of newly laid hatching eggs. Eggs should be disinfected on the farm prior to storage and should be stored under ideal conditions.

Scrupulous hatchery sanitation, disinfection, and/or fumigation procedures should be practised.

A vigorous sanitation program should be followed in raising poultry. Diseases, parasitism, and other stresses on a flock should be minimized as much as possible. Dust should be controlled.

Only feeds free of faecal contaminations should be fed to poultry. Pelleted feeds are more likely to be free of contamination.

Treatment of water with halogens and related compounds as well as conversion to nipple drinkers has greatly decreased the incidence of septicemic forms of colibacillosis.

Note: Treatment without a proper sanitation plan is not much successful. Contact us to develop a proper sanitation plan. WhatsApp here.

Problem in your flock? Send photos of the birds and droppings on WhatsApp for a first opinion from Dr. Ibne Ali.

WhatsApp: 98715 84101
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