Staphylococcus simulans associated with endocarditis in broiler chickens |
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| Authors: | D. Stępień-Pyśniak J. Wilczyński A. Marek A. Śmiech U. Kosikowska T. Hauschild |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Veterinary Prevention and Avian Diseases, Institute of Biological Bases of Animal Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Lublin, Poland;2. Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Lab – Vet, Tarnowo Podgórne, Poland;3. Department of Pathological Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Lublin, Poland;4. Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology with Laboratory for Microbiological Diagnostics, Medical University in Lublin, Lublin, Poland;5. Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biology, University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland |
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| Abstract: | This report suggests a strong association between coagulase-negative Staphylococcus simulans and endocarditis in broiler chickens of a single flock. Clinical signs included increased mortality and lameness, and some dead chickens were found on their backs. Lesions included cauliflower-like, fibrinous vegetative lesions on the left atrioventricular valve; cream-coloured, necrotic foci of varying size in the liver; and necrosis of the femoral head. Histopathological examination of the heart revealed multifocal conglomerates of bacterial colonies attached to the valvular endocardium, threads of fibrin, and inflammatory cells with the presence of heterophils. S. simulans strains were first identified by API ID32, and then confirmed with Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry and by partial sequencing of the rpoB and dnaJ genes. These bacteria were resistant to methicillin but sensitive to vancomycin and characterized by slime production and protease activity. |
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| Keywords: | Staphylococcus simulans infection endocarditis broiler chickens poultry disease coagulase-negative staphylococci |
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