Isolation of Bacterial Pathogens Associated with Broiler Mortality in Kolar

Tissue samples (livers and ovaries) were collected from thirty birds suffering from dehydration, pyrexia and outbreak of sudden death in a local poultry farm situated at Kolar, India. The outbreak had taken a toll of 180 broiler parent stock birds. Main symptoms and lesions were sudden death and air sacculitis. In order to investigate the causative agents, microbiological examination confirmed 15 samples positive Escherichiaceae coli, 10 (33%) for Salmonella spp. 3 (10%) for Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 2 (6.6%) for Klebsiella spp. On the basis of antibiotic sensitivity tests, Gentamicin showed 100% sensitivity and Doxycycline showed 36.6% sensitivity for the growth inhibition of E.coli isolates. However, Ciprofloxacin and Enrofloxacin shown 100% resistant, which raise serious concerns. This resistance might be due to indiscriminate use of these antibiotics irrespective of etiological agents. Salmonella spp. isolates are highly sensitive to Gentamicin followed by Doxycyclline. Due to involvement of E. coli and Salmonella in public health significance, findings propose control use of antibiotics and only after antibiotic screening.