Consequences of concurrent Ascardia galli and Escherichia coli infections in chickens

Permin A, Christensen JP, Bisgaard M. Consequences of concurrent Ascaridia gain and Escherichia col/ infections in chickens. Acta vet. scand. 2006, 47, 43-53. - Three experiments were carried out to examine the consequences of concurrent infections with Ascaridia gall/ and Escherichia colt in chickens raised for table egg production. Char­acteristic pathological lesions including airsacculitis, peritonitis and/or polyscrositis were seen in all groups infected with E. coll. Furthermore, a trend for increased mortal­ity rates was observed in groups infected with both organisms which. however. could not he confirmed statistically. The mean worm burden was significantly lower in combined infection groups compared to groups infected only with A. gall/. It was also shown that combined infections of E. call and A. gnlti had an added significant negative impact on weight gain.