Occurrence: Worldwide. Species affected: Turkeys, geese, chickens, quail, peafowl. Age affected: Growing (4-7 months).

Causes: Soil-borne, gram positive bacterium- Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae.

Effects: The incubation period is 2-3 days. Diarrhoea, emaciation, weakness, anaemia, skin haemorrhage and necrosis can be seen. Fever, cyanotic toes and head, drop in egg production and/or fertility and embryonic mortality can occur. In turkeys, swollen snoods and hocks are seen.

Growing turkeys, ducks, geese, chickens, quail, peafowl are all susceptible to erysipelas. This acute to chronic disease is caused by the Gram positive rod-shaped bacterium Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae. It is non spore-forming, non acid-fast and non-motile.

It can be transmitted via a break in the skin or mucous membranes or fighting between males, It is a soil-borne organism and can also be spread by cannibalism or biting flies. Contaminated fish-meal is also a source of infection.

It occurs more in males. It is necessary to wear gloves when performing a necropsy examination with turkeys since it will infect humans, and causes diamond skin disease in pigs. It will also cause dermatitis in sheep, fish, mice and chipmunks.

Signs include swollen snoods (turkeys) and hocks. The incubation period is 2-3 days. Diarrhoea, emaciation, weakness, anaemia, skin haemorrhage and necrosis can be seen.

Fever, cyanotic toes and head, drop in egg production and/or fertility, and embryonic mortality can occur.

Enlarged, friable, purple-black spleen, breast muscle haemorrhage, oral mucous. Haemorrhage in muscles, spleen, lungs, fat and small intestine and endocarditis may be seen.

Fibrinopurulent exudate in the joints, thickening of walls of proventriculus, ulceration of gizzard and yellow nodules in the caeca can occur.

Laboratory isolation from lesions is important and can show smooth colonies colourless to a bluish grey, or pin-point size with smooth edges. Haemorrhagic, swollen red spleen and snood lesions are diagnostic.

It simulates cholera, Salmonella, gangrenous dermatitis, aspergillosis, and E. coli.

Vaccinate birds twice, one at 10-12 weeks and again at 14-16 weeks. Debeak and desnood poults at day one to prevent fighting.

No pigs should be reared near poultry and rotation of the turkey range to reduce bacteria.

Gallimycin and penicillin can reduce signs. Disinfect premises with aerosol phenols or iodine.

Back to "E" Health & Diseases page

Back to main Health & Diseases page