Alcaligenes faecalis Rhinotracheitis in Manitoba Turkeys

Abstract

An outbreak of alcaligenes rhinotracheitis occurred on one premises housing five turkey flocks totaling 25,000 poults. Prominent findings were severe respiratory difficulty resulting from excess mucus in the nasopharynx, lachrimation, and tracheal collapse. Sinus and tracheal cultures consistently yielded Alcaligenes faecalis. An adenovirus was isolated and four flocks became positive for CELO virus by agar-gel-precipitin (AGP) tests. Mortality by flocks ranged from 4% to 48%. Treatment was unsuccessful and appeared to increase the mortality rate. The course of the disease was about 6 weeks, and recovered turkeys were marketed 1 week later than the usual date.