Egg transmission of Chlamydia psittaci in turkeys
Lublin, A.; Shudari, G.; Mechani, S.; Weisman, Y.
Veterinary Record 139(12): 300
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 8890470 Document Number: 467929
During 1995, impression smears of the lungs and spleens from dead embryos and day-old chicks from one turkey hatchery and originating from 12 breeding flocks, were examined for chlamydia by the direct immunofluorescence (DIF) technique (Chlamydia-Cell Vet IF test, Cell labs. Diagnostics, Australia); 89% (168 of 188) were positive. Samples of cloacal swabs, semen, testes, ovaries and oviducts from the breeding flocks were also chlamydia positive. All the flocks and day-old chicks that were examined serologically for chlamydial antibodies by ELISA (ImmunoComb, Bio-Galed Laboratories, Israel) were positive. Enlarged livers, displaced sternums and skeletal malformations such as polydactylia were seen in some dead embryos. The results suggest that C. psittaci may be disseminated in turkey flocks by egg transmission.