Prevalence of beak and shank necrosis in cross-bred chickens

Abstract EN

The anaerobic, Gram negative, filamentous bacteria associated with severe beak and shank necrosis in chickens was identified as Fusobacterium necrophorum (Fnecrophorum).

Bacteriological isolation from affected beak, liver and shank revealed a single morphological type of Gram negative, filamentous bacterium within the dermis of the affected beak and shank of the fowl.

A haemagglutination test for identification of F.

necrophorum was described.

The antibiogram of the isolated strains was investigated.

Beak and shank necrosis occur in 56% of chickens.

The mortality was 13-2 %.

Characterestic gross lesions of affected chickens were swelling and necrosis of the beak, curvature of the upper mandible with necrosis of the lower mandible and shanks.

Histopathologically, there were hyperkeratosis and keratolysis in epidermis of the beak with infiltration of rod-shaped microorganisms in dermal regions suffered from coagulative necrosis.

The epidermis of the affected shanks showed hyperkeratosis, hyperplastic changes and coagulative necrosis of the underlying tissue intangled with bacteria.