Isolation and characterization of Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale from chickens in Brazil

• Published in: Research in veterinary science 2005-06, Vol.78 (3), p.225-230
• Main Authors: Canal, C.W., Leão, J.A., Rocha, S.L.S., Macagnan, M., Lima-Rosa, C.A.V., Oliveira, S.D., Back, A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: air sacs; Animals; Avian pathology; Bacteria; bacterial antigens; bacterial pneumonia; Birds; Brazil; Chicken; chickens; Chickens - microbiology; Disease; disease diagnosis; egg production; growth retardation; Indentification; inflammation; Isolation; microbial genetics; Microbiology; Mortality; Ornithobacterium - classification; Ornithobacterium - isolation & purification; Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale; pathogen identification; pleura; poultry diseases; Respiratory disease; Respiratory diseases; respiratory tract diseases; Vaccines; Veterinary medicine
• ISSN: 0034-5288; 1532-2661
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2004.10.003

Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale (ORT) is a recently described species of bacterium associated with respiratory disease, growth retardation, mortality, and decreased egg production in chickens and turkeys. Pneumonia, pleuritis, and airsacculitis characterise the infection. ORT has been isolated in many countries but it is still considered exotic in Brazil. Up to date it is prohibited to import and produce reagents for diagnostic and vaccination control. The aim of this study was to isolate and identify the bacteria in chickens. Four isolates were obtained from tracheal swabs of broilers. They were isolated in blood agar with gentamicin and showed biochemical, morphological, antigenic and genetic characteristics of ORT. The results confirm that ORT is present in Brazil.