National Institute of Animal Health (NIAH)

Topics in Animal Health Research 2007

04. Identification of an avian emerging disease, Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. gallolyticus infection, in Japan

Japanese

  Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. gallolyticus (SGG) is known to cause endocarditis in humans and acute septicemia in domestic birds. We have identified a subclinical infection of SGG in broilers at two abattoirs in Japan. The chickens were clinically healthy but were claimed at the time of inspection by some organ disorders characterized by vegetative valvular endocarditis as well as focal necrosis in heart, liver, and spleen. Molecular epidemiological study of the bacteria isolated from diseased and healthy chickens suggests that healthy chickens may carry SGG in their flora and the bacterium occasionally infects their host as an opportunistic pathogen.
(Research Team for Bacterial/Parasitic Diseases, TEL +81-298-7708)

Reference:

Sekizaki et al. (2008) Avian Dis. 52 : 183-186.

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