COLIBACILLOSIS

Localized or systemic infection of chickens of all ages.

Mainly affects broiler chickens between the ages of 4 and 6
weeks
Economically important disease, causes reduce weight
gain, Poor FCR, Poor growth and condemnation of carcass
Colibacillosis is a broad term that refers to any infection or
disease caused by the bacteria Escherichia coli
Mostly seen as
Colisepticaemia
Coligranuloma (granulomas in adults)
Omphalitis / Mushy chick disease (chicks)
Air sac disease (CCRD complex)
Avian pathogenic E.coli (APEC)
• Normal inhabitant of digestive & respiratory
tract
• Most strains are non-pathogenic.
• 10-15% are pathogenic
Characteristics
 G –ve, size and shape variable (Rod)
 Many strains are motile & have peritrichous
flagella.
 Serotypes are identified by
• O (somatic) antigen ------- 154 serotypes, Endotoxin
• K ( capsular) antigen ------ 89 serotypes
• H (flagellar) antigen -------- 49 serotypes
• F (Pilus) antigen ( involved in attachment to cells)
 Commonly E. coli infection is seen
following upper respiratory tract disease
such as Infectious Bronchitis or
Mycoplasmosis

 It is frequently associated with

immunosuppressive diseases such as
Infectious Bursal Disease

 Disease mostly occurs as secondary

infection when host defense is impaired
 Poor navel healing
 Mucosal damage due to viral infections
(ND,IB) and bacterial infections
(mycoplasmosis, hemorrhagic enteritis)
 Immunosuppression
 Exposure to poor air quality
 Environmental stresses
 Rarely true ovarian transmission.
Contamination through feces via egg
shell may infect embryos
 Never bird to bird transmission occurs
 Contaminated feed and water
 Inhalation of contaminated dust
 Contaminated hatchery
 Non specific and vary with
- Age of bird
- Duration of infection
- Organs involved
- Concurrent infections
 Drop in feed consumption
 Severe depression
 Laboured rapid breathing
 Snicking & gurgling noises particularly in the
dark.
 Poor growth
 After clinical signs have subsided, the
affected birds remain uneven.
 Invade the bird’s body from respiratory tract
(especially air sac)
 E. coli endotoxins cause increase vascular
permeability
 Fluid and protein accumulate in tissue
 Serous membranes become wet and edematous
and liquid accumulates in body cavities
 Between 6-12 hrs soft gelatinous foamy exudate
becomes grossly visible
 Finally a firm, dry, yellow cheesy mass is seen on the
surface of organs
 Bacteraemia followed by Air sacculitis and
pericarditis occur within 6 hours.
 Lesions well develop in 48 hours.
 Most mortality occurs during first 5 days.
Gross lesions are striking & characteristic;
 Septicemic carcass --- Liver, spleen, lungs, &
kidneys dark and congested
 Air sacculitis, peritonitis, perihepatitis &
pericarditis
 Cloudy and thick air sacs containing
caseous deposits
 Fibrinous covering around liver & heart
 Granulomas in liver, ceca, duodenum and
mesentery (Coligranuloma)

 Panophthalmitis if infection localizes in eye

 Salpingitis due to ascending infection from

cloaca
 Omphalitis (Yolk sac and navel infection)
discoloured and misshapen yolk

 Synovitis & osteomyelitis

Hock joint is commonly involved
 Typical lesions & gram stained specimen
examination
 Isolation & identification of organism
› Samples from internal organs(heart,
liver) or typical visceral lesions or
blood from fresh carcasses
› Primary isolation
a. Inoculation on MacConkey’s agar
b. Incubation aerobically for 18-24 hours at
37 C
c. 1-2 mm diameter pink colonies
 Joint infection : Mycoplasma, Staph. &
Salmonella
infection
 Yolk sac infection : Salmonella, Staph.
& Strept. infection
 Peritonitis : Pasteurella & Streptococcus
infection
 Pericarditis : Chlamydia infection
 Oxytetracycline 20%(1g/1-2lit)
 Chlotetracycline 20%(1g/5lit)
 Enrofloxacin 10%(1ml/lit)
 Colistin 3000000(1g/5l)5-7days
 Flumequine 20%(1ml/2-4lit)
 Florfenicol 10%(1ml/lit)
 Lincomysin+Spectinomycin(1g/lit)
 Sulphadiazine+Trimethoprim(1ml/2-3lit)
 Gentamycin Injection
 Proper sanitation & disinfection of the farm
and hatchery
 Control of predisposing factors and infections
 Proper ventilation
 Good quality feed
 Chlorination of water (3 to 5 ppm) and use
nipple drinkers to reduce transmission in water
 Focus on eggs hygiene
 Use of antibiotics
 POULVAC® E. COLI
 Only commercially available modified-
live vaccine designed for proactive
prevention of disease caused by Avian
Pathogenic E. coli (APEC).
 A broad-spectrum vaccine, Poulvac E.
coli protects against infection early and
decreases mortality to optimize bird
performance and production.