Staphylococcosis in Poultry

• Staphylococcosis -Chronic debilitating bacterial disease

• Referred by several names: staphylococcus, staph infection, staph septicemia,
staph arthritis, bumblefoot and plantar pododermatitis.
• Staphylococcus is found in the soil, and outbreaks often occur after rains
• All age birds - in contact with wet litter and ammonia burns, cuts, scratches -
becomes infected with bacteria.
• Seen worldwide affecting wide range of poultry
• Staphylococcus aureus is most commonly isolated
• Other species S hyicus - causative agent of osteomyelitis in turkey poults.
• Disease conditions associated with staphylococcosis vary with the site and route
of inoculation and can involve the bones, joints, tendon sheaths, skin, sternal
bursa, navel, and yolk sac.
• Economic losses may result from decreased weight gain, decreased egg
production, lameness, mortality, and condemnation at slaughter.
Etiology
• S aureus - is a gram-positive, catalase-positive, coccoid bacteria
• Appears in grape-like clusters on stained smears.
• S aureus is the most commonly isolated from clinical cases. Other
pathogenic strains have been coagulase-positive; however, coagulase-
negative Staphylococcus, including S hyicus, S epidermidis, and S
gallinarum .
• Recently, S. agnetis has emerged as the primary pathogen causing bacterial
chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis (BCO) of the proximal tibiae and
femora in broiler chickens.
Phage typing has been used to distinguish among the different strains.
• Staphylococcus toxins can enhance the pathogenicity of a strain.
Transmission and Pathogenesis
• Staphylococcus is part of the normal skin and mucosal flora,
• many infections are the result of a wound, mucosal damage, or both.
• Infection can also occur in the hatchery as a result of contamination of an open
navel.
• Birds that are immunocompromised are also more prone to staphylococcal
infections.
• Transmission modes include transovarian, soiled eggs (black rot), secondary
infection through wound, contaminated hatchery, and wet litter, which cause
ammonia burns. Staph readily contaminates burnt skin.
• Once in the host, S aureus invades the metaphyseal area of the nearest joint, which
leads to osteomyelitis and localization within that joint.
• Alternatively, the bacteria can invade the bloodstream and lead to a systemic
infection in multiple organs.
 Signs
• Omphalitis, or infection of the yolk sac, caused by S aureus has been
reported in young chicks and poults
• Its prevalence depends on its presence in the breeder flock and the
hatchery environment. Navel infections can occur in young hatchlings if
the navel becomes infected with Staphylococcus.
• Gangrenous dermatitis can occur after skin trauma and subsequent
contamination with Staphylococcus. Immunocompromised birds have a
higher prevalence of gangrenous dermatitis. Because Staphylococcus is
found on the skin, skin injuries can also lead to localized abscesses, such
as on the foot (bumblefoot).
• Staphylococcus can be dispersed systemically and can cause arthritis,
synovitis, osteomyelitis, and endocarditis.
• Most Staphylococcus infections in poultry cause synovitis, with lameness
being the most common clinical presentation. The bones and associated
joints most frequently affected are those of the leg, especially the stifle
and tibiotarsus, livers with multifocal necrosis and/or granulomas.
• In acute infections, a sudden increase in mortality may be noted.
Lesions
• Chicks with omphalitis have navels that are moist and dark, and
affected birds are often lethargic.
• Infected yolk sacs are retained longer than uninfected yolk sacs, which
are normally resorbed by the developing chick within the first week of
life.
• Infected yolks are abnormal in color (dark green to brown), have a
doughy consistency, and are odorous.
Lesions
• Gangrenous dermatitis is often reported in
immunocompromised chickens and is often
due to a combination
of S.aureus and Clostridium
septicum and/or Escherichia coli.
• Affected areas are usually hemorrhagic and
crepitant.
Lesions
• Lesions associated with septicemia are most common.
• Within the musculoskeletal system, affected bones often have focal
yellowish areas of necrosis, while lesions in the joints contain purulent
exudate.
• At the processing plant, green liver has been reported in turkeys that
have had osteomyelitis and synovitis. Liver spots and granulomas
resulting from septicemia have been a cause of liver condemnation.
• In acute infections, necrosis and vascular congestion are seen in the
liver, spleen, kidneys, and other internal organs.
• Vegetations on the heart valves have been reported.
Bumblefoot in foot pad of chicken
Diagnosis
Although some lesions may be suggestive
of Staphylococcus infection, diagnosis is confirmed by
a) identifying the organisms from stained smears of the lesion
and
b) by culture on blood agar plates. Staph isolation on blood
agar produces white to orange smooth colonies.
• Phenotyping and genetic techniques have been used to
classify strains of poultry S aureus.
• Differential diagnoses include Mycoplasma synoviae, viral
tenosynovitis, Salmonella, E. coli, Pasteurella, and
Streptococcus. Swollen, localized abscesses are characteristic
for this disease.as well as other septicemic diseases of poultry.
Treatment and prevention
• Staphylococcosis can be successfully treated with antibiotics, but an antimicrobial
susceptibility test should be performed because antibiotic resistance is common.
• Penicillin, erythromycin, lincomycin, and spectinomycin.
• Proper management to prevent injury and immunocompromised poultry helps
prevent staphylococcosis.
• Because wounds are the primary route by which Staphylococcus can enter the
body, it is important to reduce all potential sources of injury to the bird.
• Wood splinters in litter, protruding wires from cages, and fighting/cannibalism
have been associated with skin wounds and staphylococcosis.
• Because beak and toe trimming procedures in young chickens and turkeys could
result in a staphylococcal septicemia, ensuring that equipment is sanitary will help
to prevent outbreaks.
• Good litter management is important in controlling foot-pad injuries to prevent
bumblefoot.
• Hatchery sanitation and good egg management practices are also important to
reduce navel infections and omphalitis.
 • S aureus can cause food
Zoonotic risk poisoning in people.
• Enterotoxin-producing
strains are found on
clinically healthy poultry,
and proper precautions
should be taken during the
handling and cooking of
poultry products.
• Methicillin-resistant S
aureus (MRSA) has been
isolated from poultry meat
in a number of countries,
but the prevalence and
significance for human
health are incompletely
understood.