Ceva veterinarian Kelli Jones presented a presentation titled, “An Overview of Gallibacterium anatis in US Commercial Poultry.” Flocks with an infection of this kind fail to peak, or hold peaks in egg production, have egg loss through wrinkled eggshell deformities, and experience a persistent mortality issue.
Outlining the bacteria’s preferences Jones stated, “it likes to be a secondary organism,” often hitting after the immunity of the flock is already affected by something else. It typically likes to form biofilms in drinking lines and persists in a bird’s respiratory and reproductive tracts. “We have evidence to suggest there is some form of vertical transmission,” stated Jones.
Jones stated the organism is highly resistant to most antimicrobials. Therefore, the best options for protection are waterline sanitation to reduce biofilm, fortification of the flocks immune system, and custom vaccine development which protects the pullets and prevents vertical shed.
Jones elaborated on the specifics of the disease by indicating that usually infections in hens can be seen in both the sinuses and elsewhere, but in pullets, the sinusitis can be the only sign. She indicated that most often the disease is unilateral showing up on the left side of the respiratory system in the lung and airsac, and can end up as pneumonia. Often a tracheal plug forms which virtually renders half of the hen’s respiratory system as non-functional. This bacterium used to be called Pasteurella haemolytica but has had its name changed.