Studies on 'Air-Sac' Infection in Poultry

KNOWLEDGE of the bacterial flora of the respiratory system of poultry artificially affected with aerosaccitis (air-sac infection) is incomplete. More information concerning organisms associated with avian PPLO (pleuropneumonia-like organisms) may be important in better understanding aerosaccitis and may lead to more effective methods of treatment. Price et al. (1957) isolated members of the genera Escherichia, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, and Bacillus from the trachea of chickens with artificially induced aerosaccitis. Escherichia, pseudomonas, streptoccoci, staphylococci, bacilli, and corynebacteria were isolated from the pleural cavity (lungs and air sacs). Gram-negative organisms, mainly coliforms, were isolated more frequently from chickens with aerosaccitis than were gram-positive bacteria. Gram-positive organisms were isolated more frequently from normal birds. In addition, there was a great increase in the number of bacteria in the respiratory organs of infected birds. The purpose of this work was to investigate the nature and time of the changes in the respiratory flora of turkeys …