title: Cellulitis in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica).
abstract: A case of cellulitis was observed in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) reared for commercial meat production. This condition in Japanese quail has not been reported in the literature. This incident was the first, and to date only, occurrence of cellulitis in this processing plant. The cellulitis lesions were localized to the subcutis overlying the breast and inner thigh. Carcasses of processed birds and live birds from the affected farm were presented to the Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center, University of Georgia. Escherichia coli was cultured from the lesion. The affected live birds displayed lameness and had osteomyelitis. Pasteurella multocida serotype 3,4 was cultured from the liver and bone marrow of affected birds. Approximately 4.61% of the processed carcasses from the flock were condemned because of cellulitis. This represented a 10fold increase from the typical condemnation rate. Further investigation revealed birds were placed in higher than normal density; therefore, we theorize that the concurrent pasteurellosis and increased placement density resulted in the cellulitis condition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Avian Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
authors.forename: Karen E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.forename: Raul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Otalora
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Glisson
authors.forename: Charles L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Hofacre
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002481:Cellulitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003370:Coturnix / Q000382:microbiology*; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D008099:Liver / Q000382:microbiology; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D010326:Pasteurella Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents