Septicemia in vaccinated and nonvaccinated turkeys inoculated with Pasteurella multocida serotype A:3,4.
Sixty-four, 10-week-old turkeys were inoculated with a highly virulent field isolate (86-1913) of Pasteurella multocida serotype A:3,4 by an oculo-nasal-oral route. Inoculated turkeys were examined at 4, 8, 16, 20, and 24 hours post-inoculation for bacteremia and histologic lesions. Bacteremia was detected in one of six turkeys 8 hours after inoculation and in four of six turkey poults at 16 hours post-inoculation. Pasteurella multocida was isolated from the spleens of two turkeys at 8 hours and from the spleens of all six poults 16 hours after inoculation. Peak concentrations of P. multocida reached 10(9) colony forming units per ml of blood. At 4 to 8 hours post-inoculation, isolate 86-1913 produced a fibrinopurulent bronchopneumonia followed by severe pulmonary necrosis, pleuritis, vasculitis; and, at 16 to 24 hours post-inoculation numerous extracellular bacteria were observed. Hepatic lesions included focal heterophil aggregates 8 hours after inoculation; these progressed to hepatic necrosis. Numerous extracellular bacteria within sinusoids were present 16 to 24 hours after inoculation. At 16 to 24 hours post-inoculation, there was degeneration of periarteriolar reticular cells in the spleen; these cells progressed to coalescing coagulative splenic necrosis with extracellular bacterial colonies. A second group of 41, 10-week-old turkeys, previously vaccinated with the Clemson University strain of P. multocida serotype A:3,4, were challenged with isolate 86-1913.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Prantner
M M
MM
Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens.
Harmon
B G
BG
Glisson
J R
JR
Mahaffey
E A
EA
D000818:Animals; D008099:Liver / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D010325:Pasteurella / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010326:Pasteurella Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D018805:Sepsis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D013154:Spleen / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D014422:Turkeys; D014611:Vaccination / Q000662:veterinary*