Colibacillosis

INTRODUCTION
Localized or systemic infection of chickens of all ages. (very
common) 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. Disease mostly occurs as secondary infection when
host defense is impaired. Commonly E. coli infection is seen
following respiratory disease such as Infectious Bronchitis or
Mycoplasmosis.
Mostly seen as
Colisepticaemia
Coligranuloma (granulomas in adults)
Omphalitis / Mushy chick disease (chicks)
Air sac disease (CRD complex)
 Colibacillosis
ETIOLOGY
Escherichia coli + Precipitating factor
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)
 Colibacillosis
TRANSMISSION
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
 Colibacillosis
PATHOGENESIS
 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.
 Colibacillosis
DEPRESSED AND FEVERISH BIRD
 Colibacillosis
CLINICAL SIGNS
 Non specific and vary with
- Age of bird - Duration of infection
- Organs involved - Concurrent infections
 Poor navel healing, mucosal damage due to viral
infections and immunosuppression are other
predisposing factors
 Drop in feed consumption
 Severe depression
 Laboured rapid breathing
 Snicking & gurgling noises particularly in the dark.
 After clinical signs have subsided, the affected birds
remain uneven.
 Colibacillosis
POSTMORTEM LESIONS
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
 Colibacillosis
POSTMORTEM LESIONS
 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
 Colibacillosis
Swollen and inflamed navel in a
case of omphalitis
 Colibacillosis
Omphalitis (navel infection)
 Colibacillosis

The delayed absorption of the yolk sac is a prerequisite

for E. coli infections and peritonitis
 Colibacillosis
Congested carcass
 Colibacillosis
PERIHEPATITIS & PERICARDITIS
 Colibacillosis
WHITE FIBRIN LAYER
 Colibacillosis
SALPINGITIS
 Colibacillosis
Subacute pericarditis and peri-hepatitis with
fibrinous coverings
 Colibacillosis
FIBRINOUS COVERINGS ON LIVER
 Colibacillosis

An acute inflammation will be

Air sacs are normally thin, characterized by the presence of
glistening and transparent. mucous exudate in the air sacs.
Colibacillosis
Chronic airsacculitis: caseous
Colibacillosis

exudate and thickened air sacs.

 Colibacillosis

Subacute pericarditis and perihepatitis

 Colibacillosis
Salpingitis with pus in lumen of
oviduct
 Colibacillosis
Oviduct is distended with caseous
exudate.
 Colibacillosis

Salpingitis (inflammation of the oviduct)

 Colibacillosis
(Inflammation of the ovary) consequently to a
salpingitis due to ascendant E coli infection.
Nodules (granulomas) along the
Colibacillosis
intestinal tract, and mesentery, and
in the liver.
 Colibacillosis
Coligranuloma (Cauliflower-like nodules
on viscera)
 Colibacillosis
COLIGRANULOMAS
 Colibacillosis
Coligranuloma (Hjarre's disease). It is characterized by
multiple granulomas in the intestinal tract, the
mesentery and the liver
 Colibacillosis
Panophthalmitis (inflammation of all tissues of the
eyeball). Generally, it develops secondary to E. coli
septicaemia and is usually unilateral.
 Colibacillosis
DIAGNOSIS
 Typical lesions & gram stained specimen
examination

 Isolation & identification of organism

– Samples from internal organs 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
 Colibacillosis
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS

 Joint infection : Mycoplasma, Staph. &

Salmonella infection

 Yolk sac infection : Salmonella, Staph.

& Strept. infection

 Peritonitis : Pasteurella & Streptococcus

infection

 Pericarditis : Chlamydia infection

 CONTROL Colibacillosis

 Proper sanitation & disinfection of the farm

and hatchery
 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