Isolation of Enterococcus cecorum from bone lesions in broiler chickens
Wood, A.M.; MacKenzie, G.; McGiliveray, N.C.; Brown, L.; Devriese, L.A.; Baele, M.
Veterinary Record 150(1): 27
2002
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 11822370 Document Number: 541796
This paper describes the association between E. cecorum and bone lesions in broiler chickens. E. cecorum was previously isolated from lesions of the free thoracic vertebra (T4) of chickens that died after presenting with lameness and paresis. Histopathology showed bacterial chondronecrosis and osteomyelitis of T4 and adjacent vertebrae, often with partial collapse and merging of adjacent vertebral bodies with marked proliferation of cartilage around the lesion. The organism was also isolated from the femurs of broilers with so-called femoral head necrosis (or bacterial chondronecrosis and osteomyelitis of the femoral head). It is suggested that E. cecorum may be an unrecognized pathogen of broiler chickens.