Colonization and persistence of Escherichia coli in axenic and monoxenic turkeys.
Sites of colonization and persistence of virulent (O78) and avirulent (O2) Escherichia coli were determined in 3-week-old axenic turkeys. Colonization of O78 in turkeys infected with Streptococcus faecalis was also determined. Colonization and persistence of E coli in the intestinal tract and lung were not correlated with virulence. Both serotypes persisted in high titer in crop, ileum, ceca, colon, and lung. Persistence of E coli in the liver was positively correlated with virulence, although both serotypes were recovered from the liver in the absence of bacteremia, indicating possible intestinal translocation of E coli to the liver. A reduction in intestinal colonization and translocation of O78 was determined in monoxenic turkeys infected with S faecalis. In contrast, S faecalis had no effect on lung titers of O78. Air sacculitis, pericarditis, and pneumonia were observed in axenic and monoxenic turkeys infected with O78. Bacteremia was detected in a turkey exposed to O78.
D000818:Animals; D000898:Antibiosis; D004064:Digestive System / Q000382:microbiology; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000254:growth & development*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005856:Germ-Free Life; D008099:Liver / Q000382:microbiology; D008168:Lung / Q000382:microbiology; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D014422:Turkeys / Q000382:microbiology*; D014774:Virulence