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Poultry Health Science Module 5 Enterococci and Streptococci
Infections with Enterococci or Streptococci may cause disease in poultry varying in age from day-old to adult chickens. Species of emerging importance in commercial poultry are Streptococcus zooepidemicus, S. gallinaceus, Enterococcus faecalis, E. hirae, E. durans, and E. cecorum. Infection with either of these bacteria can lead to a diversity of pathological changes, such as endocarditis, arthritis, and osteomyelitis of vertebra T6 which may result in poor flock uniformity, mortality and high condemnation rates in the slaughterhouse.
Therefore, infections with Enterococci and Streptococci have an important economic impact on poultry production. In this module, we will focus on the specific role of several of the causative bacteria, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and prophylaxis, with emphasis on production systems which avoid the use of antibiotics.