Jung Arne, Teske Lydia, Rautenschlein Silke
Avian Dis. 2014 Dec;58(4):654-8. doi: 10.1637/10834-040114-Case.1.
Until now, Enterococcus cecorum (EC) has been known as a pathogen for broilers, broiler breeders, and Pekin ducks. In the present report, we describe a fatal systemic EC infection in a young racing pigeon (Columba livia forma domestica). EC was isolated from the heart, liver, spleen, and intestine of the bird in pure culture. In the pathologic examination, the pigeon showed enteritis and an ulcerative gastritis, which may have been predisposing factors for the development of the generalized EC infection. An accumulation of gram-positive cocci in spleen tissue was found in the histopathologic examination and confirms the presence of a systemic EC infection in the pigeon. Additionally, EC was isolated from cloacal swabs of other pigeons in the same loft, but no additional pigeons were submitted for necropsy. All EC isolates tested were negative by PCR for the enterococcal virulence factors cytolysin, enterococcal surface protein, aggregation substance, hyaluronidase, and gelatinase. Therefore, the reason for the enhanced virulence of the EC isolate remains unknown. Our report confirms EC as a disease-causing agent in pigeons and presents the first data concerning the analysis of EC for virulence factors.
到目前为止，鹑鸡肠球菌（EC）一直被认为是肉鸡、肉种鸡和北京鸭的病原体。在本报告中，我们描述了一只幼龄赛鸽（家鸽变种）发生的致命性全身性EC感染。从该鸟的心脏、肝脏、脾脏和肠道中分离出纯培养的EC。病理检查显示，这只鸽子患有肠炎和溃疡性胃炎，这可能是全身性EC感染发展的诱发因素。组织病理学检查发现脾脏组织中有革兰氏阳性球菌聚集，证实该鸽子存在全身性EC感染。此外，从同一鸽舍其他鸽子的泄殖腔拭子中分离出了EC，但没有其他鸽子进行尸检。所有检测的EC分离株经PCR检测，其肠球菌毒力因子细胞溶素、肠球菌表面蛋白、聚集物质、透明质酸酶和明胶酶均为阴性。因此，EC分离株毒力增强的原因仍然未知。我们的报告证实EC是鸽子的致病因子，并提供了有关EC毒力因子分析的首批数据。
