Streptococcosis occurs worldwide in poultry of all ages. It is caused by gram-positive facultatively anaerobic bacteria Streptococcus. Species include S. zooepidemicus, S. gallinarum, S. Avian, S. faecalis and S. Duran.
- Causes of Streptococcosis >
- Effects of Streptococcosis >
- Diagnosis of Streptococcosis >
- Treatment & Control of Streptococcosis >
Causes of Streptococcosis
All species of bird of all ages are susceptible to this acute to chronic disease. The agent involved in the aetiology of this disease is Strephococcosis sp, which includes S. zooepidemicus, S. gallinarum, S. Avian, S. faecalis and S. Duran. It is a gram-positive, spherical, non-motile, non-spore-forming, facultative anaerobic which occurs in short chains.
Mode of transmission
The organism can be spread by oral transmission and aerosol and with soiled eggs. Secondary infections through wounds, contaminated hatcheries and wet litter are also important.
Effects of Streptococcosis
Signs include depression, lethargy, Lassitude, pale combs and Wattles, tremors, drop in egg production, lame ness and reduced body weight. Also nervous signs in young chickens, torticollis.
Post mortem lesions
Lesion include spleenomegaly, hepatomegaly (swollen liver), enlarged kidneys, peritonitis, omphalitis (swollen belly), tenosynovitis, arthritis, salpingitis and myocarditis.
Encephalomyelitis in young chickens.
Diagnosis of Streptococcosis
Laboratory isolation of the organism from yolk, blood and lesions on blood agar. Colonies are small and usually greyish in 24 hours. They may be rough to mucoid.
It Simulates Staphylococcus, Mycoplasma synoviae, Salmonella and E. coli. No diagnostic signs or lesions exists.
Treatment & Control of Streptococcosis
Prevention
Prevention methods include egg hatcheries and sanitation, remove sharp objects from the house and use clean, dry litter.
Treatment
Penicillin, erythromycin, novobiocin, nitrofurans and tetracyclines.
