A case of unilateral periorbital cellulitis and mandibular osteomyelitis in a turkey flock.

Jun 2012

**Editor's opinion: The last two articles have discussed cellulitis infection in two birds that constitute a major portion of protein intake for people throughout the world. My thought is that perhaps if these birds were not crowded/packed into spaces that really don't even give them a space to turn around in, if the situation were more humane, clean and healthy, perhaps there would not be such a need for the massive antibiotics that are being given to to chickens and turkeys. In my humble layperson's opinion, there must be a correlation between the living conditions and the incident of infections and disease. Pat O'Connor**

Corrand L, Lucas MN, Douet JY, Etienne CL, Albaric AO, Cadec A, Guérin JL.

Source

Universite de Toulouse, INP, ENVT, 31076 Toulouse, France.

Abstract

A farm of meat turkeys was affected by a condition, clinically characterized by unilateral inflammation of the orbital region and progressive crossing of the beak, observed in three successive flocks in 2010. While no toxic, genetic, technical, or diet causes could be found, pathologic and bacteriologic analyses were conducted to investigate the case. Pathologic analyses of the heads of affected birds showed blepharitis and exudative sinusitis as well as severe chronic osteomyelitis of all skull bones and mandibula. Staphylococcus aureus was consistently isolated from these lesions. It is supposed that the severe bacterial osteomyelitis induced deviation of some bones, thereby leading to deviation of the beak. Further investigations remain to be carried out to explain these successive outbreaks of staphylococcal osteomyelitis in skull bones.

PubMed