In a flock of 12,000 bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) and 7200 chukar partridge (Alectoris chukar), the owner had 100% morbidity and 40%-50% mortality in birds between the ages of 2 and 4 wk. Affected birds were stunted and anorexic and had yellow/green diarrhea. Two- and 4-wk-old birds submitted for necropsy all had slight nasal discharge. Histopathologic examination revealed mild (bobwhite) to severe (chukar) rhinitis. Immunohistochemistry was positive for Chlamydia psittaci in all birds. Chlamydia psittaci organisms were demonstrated histopathologically in hematoxylin and eosin and Gimenez-stained slides. Management sanitation and treatment with chlortetracycline stopped further excessive losses. The owners were also infected. Treatment by their local physician with tetracycline alleviated symptoms.

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PubMedDate not supplied

Pullorum disease with unusual signs in two backyard chicken flocks.

Atypical pullorum disease in two backyard chicken flocks occurred as sudden death of many adult birds in one backyard chicken flock and chronic wasting with high mortality in a second flock. Chicks had been added to both flocks for several months before losses occurred. The chicks, which were not affected, came from a previously infected hatchery that did not totally depopulate.

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PubMedDate not supplied

Isolation of Georgia variant (Georgia isolate 1992) infectious bronchitis virus but not Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale from a Kentucky broiler complex.

Integrated broiler production operations in western Kentucky have been very successful. The reason for this success includes the fact that flocks are free of many endemic diseases for a period of time, often years, because birds are raised in virgin, disease-free territory. This case report documents that importation of birds from an area with endemic Georgia variant (GA-92) infectious bronchitis virus and Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale (ORT) bacterial infection resulted in introduction of GA-92, but not ORT, to Kentucky farms. As more broiler production units locate in western Kentucky, in the early phases of operation, they may not experience the "virgin territory," disease-free advantage.

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