Clostridial Infections of Growing Chickens

Abstract

A review of the literature indicates that, with the possible exception of botulism, clostridial diseases of poultry are uncommon. In 1930 Niemann (4) isolated Clostridiumn welchii (Cl. perfringens) from the heart blood and liver of 2 chickens. In the following year the Dutch workers DeBliek and Jansen (1) reported the deaths of 66 of 304 chickens from infection by anaerobic bacteria following the collection of blood samples for pullorum testing; Cl. perfringens, Cl. septicum, and Cl. novyi were isolated from the wounds. In 1939 Fenstermacher and Pomeroy (2) reported fatalities of 2% of 1,000 turkey breeder hens as a result of wound infections at the time of mating. Cl. septicum, Cl. perfringens, Cl. sordellii and gram-positive cocci were isolated from the 2 turkeys examined. In 1950, Israeli workers (6) isolated Cl. perfringens and cocci from subcutaneous emphysema of chickens, 4 to 16 weeks of age, and attributed the condition to wound infections. Since 1963, 3 reports (8,3,5) of gas gangrene in chickens in the U.S.A. have been published. In one case, Weymouth et al. (8) recorded mortality reaching 35% in a flock of chickens following caponization. Cl. perfringens type A was isolated. Frazier et al. (3) reported a gangrenous dermatitis in 20 flocks of chickens. Cl. septicum, staphylococci, coliforms, and miscellaneous bacteria were isolated from the lesions. In 1964 Peterson (5) isolated Cl. novyi type A from commercial broilers afflicted with an arthritis and/or septicemia. During 1963 and 1964 a gangrenous cellulitis (GC) was observed in 6-to-16-week-old chickens from 6 flocks in Indiana. The