title: Outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes in an urban poultry flock.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Listeria monocytogenes infection is most commonly recognized in ruminants, including cattle, sheep, and goats; but it is rarely diagnosed in poultry. This report describes an outbreak of L. monocytogenes in a backyard poultry flock. Also, it points out the importance of collaboration between veterinarians and public health departments and the possible implications of zoonotic diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Depression, lack of appetite, labored breathing, and increased mortality were noted for 5 months in several affected birds within the flock. The pathologic changes in the internal organs of infected birds included severe myocarditis, pericarditis, pneumonia, hepatitis, and splenitis. No lesions were noted in the brain. Gram-positive organisms were seen in histologic sections of the heart and spleen. Listeria monocytogenes was detected by real time PCR from formalin fixed heart and spleen, and was isolated from fresh lung, spleen, and liver. This isolate was identified as L. monocytogenes serotype 4b by 16S rDNA sequencing and by PCR-based serotyping assay.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first report describing outbreak of L. monocytogenes in backyard poultry flock in Washington State and use of molecular methods to confirm L. monocytogenes infection from formalin fixed tissues.
authors.affiliation: Avian Health and Food Safety Laboratory, Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Washington State University, 2607 West Pioneer, Puyallup, WA 98371, USA. crespor@wsu.edu.
authors.forename: Rocio
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Crespo
authors.forename: Michael M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Garner
authors.forename: Sharon G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Hopkins
authors.forename: Devendra H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Shah
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002645:Chickens; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary*; D000077422:Enrofloxacin; D024841:Fluoroquinolones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008088:Listeriosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D024841:Fluoroquinolones; D000077422:Enrofloxacin