TY - ABST

T1 - Investigations of the pathogenesis of Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis in an experimental footpad infection model in broiler breeders

AU - Thoefner, Ida

AU - Olsen, Rikke Heidemann

AU - Poulsen, Louise Ladefoged

AU - Christensen, Henrik

AU - Bisgaard, Magne

AU - Christensen, Jens Peter

PY - 2016/10

Y1 - 2016/10

N2 - In broiler breeder flocks an increase in mortality due to septicaemic infections may be observed over time, with sepsis, endocarditis and arthritis asthe major manifestations. Additionally footpad integrity is seen to decline throughout the production period with suboptimal litter quality and heavybreeds as predisposing factors. Although the pathogenesis of these infections is not fully elucidated, the aetiology is often Gram positive cocci, suchas Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus spp. It is hypothesized that footpad lesions serve as port of entry for systemic or localised bacterialinfections.In the present study experimental infections with S. aureus and Enterococcus faecalis was made using footpads as port of entry in old broilerbreeders. Two different clinical S. aureus isolates and one E. faecalis isolate where used as inoculum at different doses, by intradermal applicationin the central foot pad. Birds underwent full post mortem and bacteriological investigation 3, 7 and 14 days after infection.Inoculation of the S. aureus resulted in systemic lesions (sepsis, endocarditis and arthritis) as well as injection site abscesses. The lesions andbacterial re-isolation in the birds receiving the S. aureus originating from bumble foot were restricted to the footpad only. Similar to the S.aureus the E. faecalis infected birds contracted both systemic and local lesions. Bacterial re-isolation was demonstrated in a pattern similar to thepathological findings.Both systemic and local experimental infections were successfully established. Inoculation resulted in systemic lesions (sepsis, endocarditis andarthritis), corresponding to natural cases under field conditions, as well as injection site abscesses. Apparently, both strain, dose and timedependent bacteriological and pathological responses in relation to the experimental infection occur.

AB - In broiler breeder flocks an increase in mortality due to septicaemic infections may be observed over time, with sepsis, endocarditis and arthritis asthe major manifestations. Additionally footpad integrity is seen to decline throughout the production period with suboptimal litter quality and heavybreeds as predisposing factors. Although the pathogenesis of these infections is not fully elucidated, the aetiology is often Gram positive cocci, suchas Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus spp. It is hypothesized that footpad lesions serve as port of entry for systemic or localised bacterialinfections.In the present study experimental infections with S. aureus and Enterococcus faecalis was made using footpads as port of entry in old broilerbreeders. Two different clinical S. aureus isolates and one E. faecalis isolate where used as inoculum at different doses, by intradermal applicationin the central foot pad. Birds underwent full post mortem and bacteriological investigation 3, 7 and 14 days after infection.Inoculation of the S. aureus resulted in systemic lesions (sepsis, endocarditis and arthritis) as well as injection site abscesses. The lesions andbacterial re-isolation in the birds receiving the S. aureus originating from bumble foot were restricted to the footpad only. Similar to the S.aureus the E. faecalis infected birds contracted both systemic and local lesions. Bacterial re-isolation was demonstrated in a pattern similar to thepathological findings.Both systemic and local experimental infections were successfully established. Inoculation resulted in systemic lesions (sepsis, endocarditis andarthritis), corresponding to natural cases under field conditions, as well as injection site abscesses. Apparently, both strain, dose and timedependent bacteriological and pathological responses in relation to the experimental infection occur.

M3 - Conference abstract in proceedings

SP - 5

EP - 5

BT - Vetpath 2016 conference abstracts

CY - Prato

Y2 - 11 October 2016 through 14 October 2016

ER -