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By Dr. Ibne Ali, IMN PyrophosUpdated October 20264 min read
Lameness in Broilers

Infectious Lameness in Poultry

Enterococcus cecorum and Bacterial Chondronecrosis with Osteomyelitis (BCO) in Broilers: An Emerging Poultry Health Challenge

Introduction

Modern broiler farming has achieved remarkable success in terms of fast growth and feed efficiency. A broiler chicken can now reach 2–2.5 kg in just 35–40 days — a huge leap compared to the 1960s.

But this success comes at a cost. One of the biggest challenges facing the poultry industry today is lameness in broilers, particularly caused by Bacterial Chondronecrosis with Osteomyelitis (BCO), often linked to Enterococcus cecorum infection.

This blog explores the economic impact, causes, clinical signs, pathogenesis, and prevention of this growing threat, with practical solutions for poultry producers.

Economic Losses from Lameness in Broilers

  • In the United States, lameness due to BCO costs more than $100 million annually.
  • In India, with an annual production of nearly 5 billion broilers, even a 1% rise in lameness could result in massive financial losses running into hundreds of crores.
  • Beyond economics, broiler lameness raises serious poultry welfare concerns, affecting consumer trust and meat quality.

Enterococcus cecorum: An Emerging Poultry Pathogen

  • Enterococcus cecorum is normally a commensal gut bacterium in chickens.
  • Since the 2000s, certain pathogenic strains have emerged globally, causing spondylitis (kinky back), femoral head necrosis, and septicemia.
  • Outbreaks have been reported in Europe, USA, Asia, and Africa.
  • In India, published epidemiological data is lacking, but risk factors strongly suggest underreporting.

High Growth Rates: A Key Predisposing Factor

  • Modern broilers grow 400% faster than their counterparts from the 1950s.
  • Skeletal growth lags behind muscle growth, creating excessive stress on bones.
  • Weight-bearing bones such as the femur, tibia, and free thoracic vertebra (FTV) are especially prone to microfractures, which bacteria exploit.

Etiology (Cause)

The main agent is Enterococcus cecorum, but other bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus agnetis, and E. coli may also be involved in BCO in poultry.

Epidemiology

  • Global outbreaks since the early 2000s.
  • Risk factors include:
  • High stocking density.
  • Hatchery contamination.
  • Poor litter and ventilation management.
  • Rapid growth pressure.
  • India: No published large-scale studies but high production scale = high risk.

Clinical Signs of BCO in Broilers

  • Reluctance to walk, sitting on hocks.
  • Support on wings when moving.
  • Paralysis of both legs in spondylitis (“kinky back”).
  • Sudden death in severe spinal cord compression cases.

Anatomical Locations Affected

  • Femoral Head – Femoral Head Necrosis (FHN).
  • Tibia – Tibial Head Necrosis (THN).
  • Free Thoracic Vertebra (FTV) – A hotspot for E. cecorum infections.

Pathogenesis of Enterococcus cecorum in Poultry

  1. Mechanical stress → microfractures in growth plates.
  2. Vascular compromise → necrotic zones.
  3. Bacteremia → bacteria spread from gut into bloodstream.
  4. Colonization → necrotic cartilage becomes colonization site.
  5. Lesion development → necrosis, osteomyelitis, abscess.
  6. Clinical signs → lameness, paralysis, or mortality.

How Bacteria Travel from Gut to Bone (Stepwise)

  • Colonization in the gut of young chicks (week 1).
  • Gut leakage allows bacteria into circulation.
  • Stress (transport, overcrowding) worsens bacteremia.
  • Bacteria target growth plates and FTV.
  • Colonization + necrosis = BCO lesions.

Prevention and Control Strategies

✅ General Poultry Health Practices

  • Maintain biosecurity in hatcheries and farms.
  • Ensure optimum litter quality & ventilation.
  • Control early chick growth rates.
  • Balance diet with calcium, phosphorus, zinc, copper, manganese.
  • Conduct regular flock surveillance.

🧪 Supportive Solutions (Treatment of Lameness in Broilers)

  1. Pyrocal-B
  • Multimineral + multivitamin calcium supplement.
  • Provides Zn, Cu, Mn, Se, I, Ca, P, and B-complex vitamins.
  • Enhances nerve health and helps in healing microfractures.
  1. Remipro
  • Probiotic formula.
  • Reduces gut leakage and prevents bacteria from entering the bloodstream.
  1. Easy Brood
  • Electrolytes + amino acids.
  • Optimizes calcium metabolism by stabilizing blood pH.
  • Improves early brooding performance and skeletal development.
  1. Septima
  • Antimicrobial supportive therapy.
  • Reduces bacteremia and prevents bacterial colonization in bones.

Interesting Poultry Facts

  • Broilers spend 90% of their life indoors, making biosecurity and gut health critical.
  • The Free Thoracic Vertebra (FTV) is the most common site of E. cecorum infection — often referred to as the "Achilles’ heel" of broilers.
  • Within just two decades, E. cecorum has shifted from a harmless commensal to a clonal, multidrug-resistant pathogen.

Conclusion

Lameness in broilers caused by Enterococcus cecorum is a serious threat to poultry health and farm profitability. The disease leads to economic losses, welfare concerns, and reduced productivity.

While antibiotic options are limited due to resistance, prevention through biosecurity, nutritional management, probiotics, and supportive products like Pyrocal-B, Remipro, Easy Brood, and Septima can significantly reduce the risk.

👉 Key Message: Proactive management and gut health optimization are the strongest defenses against BCO and lameness in poultry.

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Contact for consultation 9871584101

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WhatsApp: 98715 84101

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