COLLIBACILLOSIS: A PREVENTABLE POULTRY DISEASE Collibacillosis is one of bacterial diseases of poultry caused by E.

coli that normally resides in the digestive tract of many birds and mammals. This disease is usually found in birds as a sequel of stress, immunesupression (Infectious Bursal Disease) and extreme environmental influences. This infection is common following upper respiratory tract infections (Infectious Bronchitis or Mycoplasmosis). This disease has been called by different names e.g. coligranuloma (Hjarre's disease) in adults and yolk sac infections in young chickens. However, collibacillosis is an acute septicemic disease that may cause variable morbidity and mortality upto 5-20%. E. coli is a G -ve, flagellated and non-spore forming rod. It's antigenic structure consists of O (Somatic antigen), K (Capsular antigen) and H (Flagellar antigen). It is transmitted through Egg contamination of feces and subsequent penetration into the eggs. It has very low vertical (transovarian) and horizontal (bird to bird) transmission. The infection is most commonly found at early age with an incubation period of 3-5 days. The birds may show generalized signs of off feed, septicemia and ruffled feathers. They may also show signs of respiratory distress and labored breathing. Gross lesions are usually characteristic showing peritonitis, pericarditis and perihepatitis. Septicemic carcass with airsacculitis is also often seen. White adherent caseous deposits are found on peritoneal cavity and pericardium is often adherent to the liver. Omphalitis and synovitis are also of usual findings. Initially heterophil and then mononuclear infiltration may be found on histopathology. Diagnosis can be made confidently on the basis of gross lesions and by Gram staining of the tissue sample. This may be further followed by the isolation of the agent and culture on EMB agar. It produces green metallic sheen on EMB agar. The most important of any disease for the farmers is the prevention of the disease through the control of the predisposing factors. One should know the predisposing factors of the disease in order to prevent it. The most important factor is to control undue stress on the birds as E.coli is an opportunistic pathogen. Maintain intensive farm management and biosecurity (especially rodents and wild animals). Proper and routine vaccination schedule of the prevailing diseases at the farm (Infectious Bronchitis, Infectious Bursal Diseas etc.). Obtain chicks from well known Mycoplasma-free breeding stock hatcheries. Proper sanitization and hatchery disinfection to avoid fecal contamination of eggs. Use pelleted feed as it has very low load of microbial contamination. Avoid mycotoxins contaminated feed as it causes immunosupression in the feeding birds. Proper ventillation of the farm house in order to avoid dust contamination. Good litter managemant may also help controlling E.coli infections. Disinfect the farm properly after every flock by Formaline (1:) Use cholrinated water (3-5 ppm) to reduce transmission through water. Drug sensitivity test must be performed to select the suitable antibiotic. However a number of antibiotics are suitable. Chlortetracycline (CTC) @ 600 mg/ 5 L of water for 5-7 days. Furazolidone @ 0.04 % in feed for 10 days. Gentamycin through S/C injection at DOC. Ceftiofur sodium if problem at hatchery level. Potemtiated Sulfonamides can also be given. Thus proper management, biosecurity and stress control are helpful in the prevention of collibacillosis. Our farmer is usually not aware of it and he only rush after the treatment without prior prophylaxis. I

hope this article may help in the information of the farmer and help in the confidence of the farmer that it is a preventable disease quiet easily with little care.