Identification, differentiation and antibiotic susceptibility of Gallibacterium isolates from diseased poultry

Abstract

BackgroundGallibacterium anatis is an opportunistic pathogen of intensively reared poultry causing oophoritis, salpingitis, peritonitis and enteritis. Gallibacterium anatis infection often remains undiagnosed. Recently multi-drug resistant isolates have been described.MethodsA newly developed PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism assay targeting the 16S rRNA gene was used to identify and differentiate Gallibacterium isolates from chicken, turkey and partridge samples originating from 18 different geographical locations in Thuringia, Germany. Antimicrobial susceptibility to 19 compounds of different classes was assessed.ResultsNineteen Gallibacterium isolates were investigated. In 9 birds (47.4%) Gallibacterium species were isolated exclusively while in 10 birds (52.6%) other bacterial or viral agents could be detected in addition. In one chicken a mixed infection of Gallibacterium anatis and Gallibacterium genomospecies was identified. All isolates were susceptible to apramycin, florfenicol and neomycin and resistant to clindamycin, sulfathiazole and penicillin. Resistance to sulfamethoxim, spectinomycin, tylosin and oxytetracycline was observed in 93.3%, 93.3%, 86.7% and 80.0% of the field strains, respectively.ConclusionsThe PCR-RFLP assay allows specific detection and differentiation of Gallibacterium spp. from poultry. Antimicrobial resistance of Gallibacterium spp. is highly significant in Thuringian field isolates.

Isolation of Drug-Resistant Gallibacterium anatis from Calves with Unresponsive Bronchopneumonia, Belgium

“…Because antimicrobial susceptibility testing indicated susceptibility for only cephalosporins, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, or both in all isolates, the isolates can even be defined as extensively drug-resistant (40). Also, for G. anatis isolated from poultry, a high prevalence of multidrug resistance has been demonstrated (37). However, the isolates retrieved in our study also demonstrated acquired resistance against fluoroquinolones, ampicillin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, florfenicol, and gentamicin.…”

“…Like other Pasteurellaceae species, G. anatis most likely acts as an opportunistic bacterium, infecting an already damaged respiratory tract caused by co-infections with viruses or bacteria, as observed in poultry (37). Unfortunately, viral involvement in the reported outbreaks in our study cannot be confirmed because we did not perform any viral diagnostics.…”

“…The presence of the bacterium in cattle might have been underestimated in the past, and availability of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry might have improved detection rates for G. anatis, as seen in poultry (36) and humans (11). Nevertheless, finding this bacterium in pneumonic animals on multiple farms suggests the possible emerging nature of this pathogen, as suggested in poultry (37).…”

Etiology, epidemiology, pathology, and advances in diagnosis, vaccine development, and treatment ofGallibacterium anatisinfection in poultry: a review

“…G. anatis became known as an intriguing agent when it was isolated from clinically affected broiler and breeder flocks. This pathogen has the ability to colonize the upper respiratory tract of broilers and cause no symptoms or mild respiratory signs like rales, coughing, cold, dyspnea, shaking heads, mild swelling of head, and nasal discharge, whereas other signs like diarrhea, anorexia, and general emaciation have also been reported (Bojesen et al 2008;El-Adawy et al 2018;Elbestawy et al 2018). G. anatis causes a 3-18% decrease in egg production (Jones et al 2013).…”

“…Despite enormous growth in the poultry sector, poultry production is still being hampered by numerous factors, with disease being a major one, causing high morbidity and mortality. Undiagnosed diseases cause heavy losses that go unnoticed due to the appearance of general clinical signs and/or pathological changes common to various pathogens (El-Adawy et al 2018). Septicemia is an important cause of death in poultry, especially chicken, causing substantial economic loss to the poultry industry across the globe.…”