Ulcerative enteritis is caused by infection with Clostridium colinum. It primarily affects bobwhite quail, but several other bird species can also be infected. Clinical signs include sudden death and hemorrhagic enteritis but are less severe in chickens and game birds other than quail. Diagnosis is by histopathology, bacterial culture, and PCR. Streptomycin and furazolidone are effective treatments, and bacitracin in feed can be used as a preventive.
Ulcerative enteritis was first diagnosed in bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus). It also affects chickens, turkeys, pheasants, grouse, and other gallinaceous birds. The disease has also been reported in pigeons, psittacine birds, and Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Ulcerative enteritis–like disease is caused by Clostridium perfringens in Coturnix quail. Ulcerative enteritis occurs worldwide and may be acute or chronic.
Etiology, Epidemiology, and Pathogenesis of Ulcerative Enteritis in Poultry
Clostridium colinum is the etiologic agent of ulcerative enteritis. It is an anaerobic, fastidious to culture, gram-positive, spore-forming, slightly curved rod, ~1 × 3–4 mcm wide, with subterminal, oval spores. In chickens, the disease is a complex that is linked to stress, coccidiosis, infectious bursal disease, and other predisposing factors. To induce experimental disease in bobwhite quail, >106 viable bacterial cells must be administered PO; chickens inoculated at the same levels are not affected.
Birds that develop chronic ulcerative enteritis or that have recovered from the disease remain carriers. Infection can be introduced by flies feeding on contaminated fecal material or by recovered carrier birds. Infected birds shed the bacterium in their droppings. Bobwhite quail are the most susceptible to this highly contagious disease. Most cases are reported in captive populations of bobwhite quail, suggesting that management plays a role in the incidence. C colinum spores can survive in the premises for months. Clostridium spp have been isolated from water samples obtained from drinker pipes in which biofilm and mineral deposits were present.
After oral infection, the bacterium adheres to the intestinal villi, producing enteritis and ulcers in portions of the small intestine and upper large intestine. Bacilli migrate to the liver via portal circulation, producing necrotic foci that later coalesce into extensive hepatic necrosis. Infarcts of the spleen are common. Stained smears of the lesions reveal the rod-shaped C colinum microorganism. Although toxigenicity tests in mice have been negative, the role of an in situ-produced toxin in the pathogenesis has been suggested but not demonstrated.
Clinical Findings of Ulcerative Enteritis in Poultry
In susceptible bobwhite quail, sudden death from ulcerative enteritis occurs without signs or weight loss and with up to 100% mortality in just 2–3 days. Acute lesions include hemorrhagic enteritis of the duodenum. In chickens and other game birds, the course of the disease is less severe and is accompanied by anorexia. Signs are similar to those seen in coccidiosis: depressed, listless birds with humped backs, ruffled feathers, diarrhea, and sometimes bloody or watery white droppings, especially in quail in the prolonged course. Chickens recover within 2–3 weeks, and mortality rarely exceeds 10%.
Lesions
Ulcerative enteritis lesions, quail
Image
Courtesy of Dr. Raul Otalora.
Ulcerative enteritis lesions, Coturnix Quail
Image
Courtesy of Dr. Raul Otalora.
In early disease stages, the most common lesions include small, round ulcers surrounded by hemorrhages in the small intestine, ceca, and upper large intestine. Small ulcers later coalesce to form larger, sometimes perforating ulcers, producing local or diffuse peritonitis. The presence of blood in the gut resembles coccidiosis. Characteristic yellow to gray necrotic foci are the predominant lesions in the hepatic parenchyma. Splenomegaly with hemorrhages and necrotic areas may be present.
Diagnosis of Ulcerative Enteritis in Poultry
Gross postmortem lesions, including intestinal ulcerations and yellow to gray necrotizing lesions in the liver, assist in diagnosis of ulcerative enteritis. C colinum can be seen in gram-stained smears of the liver and intestinal lesions. In bacteremic birds, the microorganism can also be found in blood and spleen smears. In chickens, differentiating ulcerative enteritis from coccidiosis may be difficult, because both diseases may be present simultaneously. Necrotic enteritis and histomoniasis may also present a diagnostic problem, but the hepatic lesions of ulcerative enteritis help differentiate it from these diseases. C colinum can be isolated from liver samples cultured in strict anaerobic conditions in prereduced blood glucose-yeast horse plasma medium. A fluorescent antibody test has been used to accurately diagnose ulcerative enteritis. PCR assay has also been reported as an effective diagnostic test.
Prevention, Treatment, and Control of Ulcerative Enteritis in Poultry
Bacitracin in the feed at 200 g/ton is used for prevention of ulcerative enteritis in quail. Streptomycin (0.006%) and furazolidone (0.02%) in the feed are effective to treat the disease. Prevention must start with good management practices (eg, avoiding the introduction of new birds into existing flocks). High population density is a predisposing factor. The use of cages is recommended in quail breeding. Sick and dead birds should be removed immediately. Total cleanup between flocks, pest control in and around the premises, and periodic treatment of watering systems with innocuous chemicals that dissolve mineral and or biofilm build-up are good preventive measures.
Key Points
Key signs of ulcerative enteritis include a sudden increase of mortality without a significant drop in egg production.
In acute cases, necropsy does not reveal lesions.
Prompt removal of dead birds is an important control measure.
Ulcerative enteritis propagates rapidly throughout a colony. Treatment must start promptly to avoid large loss of birds.
FAQs
Streptomycin and furazolidone are effective treatments, and bacitracin in feed can be used as a preventive. Ulcerative enteritis was first diagnosed in bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus). It also affects chickens, turkeys, pheasants, grouse, and other gallinaceous birds.
What is the best medicine for enteritis in poultry? ›
Treatment. Aggressively targeting the predisposing factors, in addition to Clostridium itself, will ensure the efficacy of the treatment. Antibiotics such as bacitracin, lincomycin, oxytetracycline, virginiamycin, and others have been proven useful in treating necrotic enteritis.
What is the difference between necrotic enteritis and Ulcerative Enteritis? ›
Necrotic enteritis and ulcerative enteritis (UE) are similar diseases, although they are caused by different organisms. UE usually affects gamebirds—quail in particular—and is caused by the bacterium Clostridium colinum. Necrotic enteritis affects chickens and turkeys and is caused by Clostridium perfringens.
What are the symptoms of Ulcerative Enteritis? ›
Patients with small intestinal ulcers usually present with chronic abdominal pain, diarrhea, a positive fecal occult blood test, intermittent hemafecia or melena, and a variety of types of malnutrition, including iron deficiency anemia, hypoalbuminemia, and weight loss.
What are the lesions of Ulcerative Enteritis? ›
In early disease stages, the most common lesions include small, round ulcers surrounded by hemorrhages in the small intestine, ceca, and upper large intestine. Small ulcers later coalesce to form larger, sometimes perforating ulcers, producing local or diffuse peritonitis.
What antibiotics are used for necrotic enteritis in poultry? ›
Antimicrobials to treat necrotic enteritis are usually administered in drinking water. The most commonly used antimicrobials are bacitracin (52.8 mg/L for 5–7 days), penicillin (400,000 U/L for 5 days), and lincomycin (17 mg/L for 7 days). In each case, the medicated drinking water should be the sole source of water.
What is the best treatment for enteritis? ›
How is enteritis treated? Treatment for enteritis is focused on managing symptoms. Rest and rehydration are usually enough. If the cause is infection, your body will usually fight it without help.
What is the mortality rate for IBD in poultry? ›
IBD lesions undergo various stages of serous haemorrhagic to severe haemorrhagic inflammation. The morbidity rate is very high and could reach 100%, whereas the mortality rate: 20 - 30%. The course of the disease is 5-7 days and the peak mortality occurs in the middle of this period.
How to prevent enteritis in chickens? ›
Management for necrotis enteritis prevention
- Reduce early fast growth.
- Brood the birds warmer.
- Keep the birds eating, especially during necrotic enteritis challenges.
- Decrease density.
- Use litter acidification or build up litter.
- Avoid animal by-products.
- Litter management.
Clostridium perfringens type A and C are the primary etiological agents associated with necrotic enteritis (NE) in poultry.
Soda crackers, toast, plain noodles, gelatin, eggs, applesauce, and bananas are good first choices. Avoid foods that are acidic, spicy, fatty, or fibrous (such as meats, coarse grains, vegetables). Also avoid dairy products. You may start eating these foods again in 3 days or so, when all signs of illness have passed.
What is the main cause of enteritis? ›
Enteritis is most often caused by eating or drinking things that are contaminated with bacteria or viruses. The germs settle in the small intestine and cause inflammation and swelling. Enteritis may also be caused by: An autoimmune condition, such as Crohn disease.
How to treat coccidiosis in chickens? ›
The most popular treatment for coccidiosis is Amprolium, which blocks the parasite's ability to uptake and multiply. Treatment is usually administered by adding Amprolium to the chickens' water supply, however in some cases, where sick chickens aren't eating or drinking enough, the medication is given orally.
What are the signs of Newcastle disease in poultry? ›
Newcastle disease
- loss of appetite, coughing, gasping, nasal discharge, watery eyes, bright green diarrhoea and nervous signs such as paralysis and convulsions.
- combs and wattles may look swollen, enlarged and discoloured (purple or blue)
Long-term outlook for enteritis
For most people, symptoms go away within a few days. Recovery can take two to three weeks in more severe cases depending on the cause.
How long does it take for inflamed intestines to heal? ›
Acute colitis that is caused by a temporary infection, food intolerance or radiation exposure typically goes away by itself. Some types of infections may need treatment to go away, especially parasite infections. Most infections take about a week to go away, while radiation colitis takes a few months.
What is pullorum disease in chickens? ›
Pullorum disease of chickens is a bacterial infection caused by Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Gallinarum biovar Pullorum (Salmonella pullorum). In its acute form, Pullorum disease is almost exclusively a septicaemic disease of young chickens.
How do you treat ulcerative enteritis? ›
Penicillin-streptomycin, bacitracin methylene disalicylate, zinc bacitracinm, soluble bacitracin methylene disalicylate, streptomycin (25%) and spectinomycin were used as prophylactic and therapeutic treatments for ulcerative enteritis in bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus).
Is enteritis contagious? ›
Enteritis is a common occurrence characterized by temporary inflammation, or swelling, in your small intestine. Norovirus, a common and contagious virus, is responsible for 19-21 million cases of enteritis every year in the United States.
What does enteritis look like? ›
Share on Pinterest Symptoms of enteritis can include nausea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps. Infectious enteritis is the most common type and includes bacterial and viral enteritis. Eating or drinking contaminated food or water causes bacterial enteritis.
Treatment is by antimicrobial-medicated drinking water. Necrotic enteritis is an acute enterotoxemia. The clinical signs are usually very short-lived, and often the only sign is a severe depression followed quickly by a sudden increase in flock mortality.
Is coccidiosis the same as necrotic enteritis? ›
maxima. In the case of coccidiosis, these will be characterised by being small and deep lesions (petechiae), of a dotted type that can even be observed through the intestinal wall (as previously mentioned). In the case of necrotic enteritis, the bloody lesions will be more extensive and superficial (haemorrhages).
Which antibiotic is best for enteritis? ›
Fluoroquinolones are often empirically used in adults, and cephalosporins are used to treat children with suspected bacterial AGE. Fluoroquinolones are effective against a wide variety of enteric infections in adults, including shigellosis, salmonellosis, typhoid fever, cholera, and Campylobacter infections.
What is a good anti inflammatory for chickens? ›
Meloxicam- Meloxicam is widely used in other pets and can be used in birds too. As with the other NSAIDs discussed above the dose rate and frequency varies between 0.1mg/Kg and 0.5mg/Kg every 12-24 hours.
How do you treat IBD in poultry? ›
There is no treatment for IBD but support therapies such as vitamin and electrolyte supplements and antibiotics to treat any secondary bacterial infections may reduce the impact of the disease. Depopulation and rigorous disinfection of contaminated farms have achieved some limited success in preventing disease spread.
