Avibacterium and Ornithobacterium

Question 1

Which bacterium is responsible for Coryza in hobby chickens?

Answer 1

Avibacterium paragallinarum

Question 2

What are the virulence factors of Avibacterium paragallinarum?

Answer 2

Capsule
Adhesins
Endotoxins
Fe++ acquisition

Question 3

What clinical signs are expected in the acute form of A. paragallinarum infection in chickens?

Answer 3

General signs
Anorexia
Conjunctivitis

Question 4

What clinical signs are expected in the subacute form of A. paragallinarum in chickens?

Answer 4

sinusitis
pus
edema head/neck

Question 5

You arrive at a client’s home to discover their hobby chickens haven’t been eating, are lethargic, and have eye infections. You suspect infection with Avibacterium paragallinarum. How do you proceed?

Answer 5

Treat ASAP and eliminate carriers from the flock

Question 6

What is a special consideration when culturing A. paragallinarum?

Answer 6

NAD dependent

Question 7

Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale is a facultative pathogen of many bird species that will cause infection under what conditions?

Answer 7

Stress
Respiratory infections
Increased density
Poor ventilation
High NH3 concentration

Question 8

What are the clinical signs of Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale infection?

Answer 8

General, dyspnea, nasal exudate, sneezing, coughing, sinus swelling, facial edema

Question 9

T/F: O. rhinotracheale infections have a high mortality rate.

Answer 9

FALSE - pretty low mortality rate

Question 10

What are the limitations of laboratory testing to diagnose O. rhinotracheale?

Answer 10

Difficult to culture - slow, needs CO2, overgrown by other bacteria.

ELISA only works on serotype A

Question 11

T/F: Because O. rhinotracheale has natural and acquired antibiotic resistance, prevention, including climate control and vaccination, is the best way to deal with the bacterium.

Answer 11

TRUE - avoid predisposing factors