DOSE STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS INDUCE EYE LESIONS IN CHICKENS

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Dept. Poultry Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary medicine, Cairo University, Giza 12211- Egypt.

2 Dept. Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary medicine, Cairo University, Beni Suef, Egypt.

Abstract

An outbreak of acute conjunctivitis and seropurulent blepharitis were observed in two different cage-reared laying flocks aged 6 and 7 weeks old. Pathogenic Staph aureus was isolated from both cases with no evidence of any complicating infections. The isolated organism was found sensitive to penicillin and ampicillin, that later was used successfully in controlling the outbreaks. Experimental conjunctivitis and blepharitis were induced by eye inoculation with isolated Staph. aureus strain in chicks at the same age. The histopathological examination of affected eyes showed marked epithelial hyperplasia and necrosis as well as heterophilic exudation into epithelial covering which were prominent features in all cases. Natural skin microflora, stress, cage-rearing, contamination of vaccination instruments and dust infection were incriminated as predisposing factors in such outbreaks. It was concluded that Staph. aureus is one of poultry pathogens that might induce eye lesions in chickens.

Main Subjects