Studies on crows as a source of pathogens to poultry

Abstract EN

Internal organs from 25 hunted Crows were subjected to bacterial isolation, 20 (80 %) were positive for E.

coli, 13 (52 %) for Klebsiella, 8 (32 %) for Shigella, 6 (24 %) for both Enterobacter and Citrobacter, 5 (20 %) for Staph.

aurus and 3 (12 %) for pseudomonas.

The highest isolation was detected from heart blood, lung and liver.

These isolates were highly sensitive to Norfloxacin, Enrofloxacin and Lincospectin.

Pathogenicity of E.

coli, pseudomonas, and Klebsiella at one day old chicks within 24-72 hours post inoculation was 80 %, 50 % and 30 %, respectively.

Two Cestodes and one trematode were detected at the gastrointestinal tract of some cases.

Histopathological examination showed hepatitis with multifocal areas of necrosis and degeneration of hepatocytes.

Hemorrhage and congestion were observed in brain, lung and spleen which showed characteristic lymphoid depletion and necrosis of the spleenic lymphocytes.

Severe enteritis was observed with characteristic mononuclear cell infiltration, degeneration and necrosis of lamina epithelialis.

This study revealed a relationship between the incidence of some pathogens in Crows and the probable susceptibility of domestic birds to these pathogens.