Enterobacteria isolation in ostrich eggs (Struthio Camelus)

Enterobacteria isolation in ostrich eggs (Struthio Camelus)

Knöbl T^I; Cappellete CP^II; Vigilato MAN^II

^IFaculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo

^IIFaculdade de Medicina Veterinária - Complexo Educacional FMU

^{Mail Adress}

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to determine the presence of enterobacteria in the eggs of ostriches reared on a farm with a history of reproductive failure. Ninety samples from twenty eggs were submitted to bacteriological tests. The results showed Enterobacteria growth in 100% of the eggs. The microorganisms isolated were Hafnia alvei in 50% (10/20), Serratia spp. in 20% (4/20), Escherichia coli in 15% (3/20), and Citrobacter freundii in 15% (3/20). All eggs presented poor eggshell quality, which favored enterobacteria contamination. Hafnia alvei was present only in the internal egg structures (albumen and yolk sac), suggesting the possibility of vertical infection.

Keywords: Enterobacteria, Hafnia alvei, ostriches, reproduction, Struthio camelus.

INTRODUCTION

Reproductive failure in ostriches often results from poor eggshell quality, allowing egg contamination by bacteria present in the gut flora. Eggshell thickness, high pore density, deficient cuticle deposition and low eggshell strength are associated with low hatchability and high embryonic mortality during artificial incubation (Perelman, 2009). Eggshell quality may be affected by several factors, such as nutritional calcium and vitamin imbalances, presence of mycotoxins in feeds, and bacterial and viral infections (Almeida, 2007).

In chickens, changes in lay and eggshell quality are related to viral infections, mainly by coronavirus (Infectious Bronchitis virus) (Cubillus, 2009). Cadman et al. (1994) suggested that ostriches may be infected with the Chicken Infectious Bronchitis virus, but were not able to isolate it. Villareal et al. (2007) reported the detection of avian coronavirus by RT-PCR and suggested the virus transmission transmission to ostriches breeders, due to reproductive tract infection.

High eggshell porosity favors the contamination of the eggs by microorganisms present in the feces and by the gut flora. De Reu et al. (2006) made an experimental trans-shell egg contamination study with seven selected bacterial strains: Staphylococcus warneri, Acinetobacter baumannii, Alcaligenes sp., Serratia marcescens, Carnobacterium sp., Pseudomonas sp. and Salmonella Enteritidis. The results showed that all these strains were able to penetrate the eggshell after four to five days and the authors concluded that the Gram-negative, motile and non-clustering bacteria penetrated the eggshell most frequently. The contamination of eggs by Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella spp. and Salmonella spp. can result in embryonic death (Perelman, 2009).

The objective of this study was to detect the presence of enterobacteria in ostrich eggs from a commercial breeding farm located in the São Paulo state, and to discuss the possible infectious causes of reproductive failure in female ostriches (S. camelus).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Twenty embryonated eggs from ostriches with reproductive disorders were transported to the laboratory for bacteriological examination. Thirteen eggs were in the first half of the incubation period (1-21 days) and seven eggs were in the second half of the incubation period (22-42 days). All eggs presented stress lines (Figure 1), and the quality of the eggshells was poor, with deformities and high porosity, resulting in embryonic death (Figure 2). The eggs were produced by ostriches housed in farms with no history of health, nutritional or management failures that might justify those symptoms.

Eggs were transported under refrigeration and their gross examination was performed under aseptic conditions. Each part (eggshell, shell membrane, albumen, yolk and intestinal contents of developing embryos) was separated. Samples were transferred to BHI broth, incubated at 37 ºC for 18 hours. Bacterial isolation was performed by cultivation on MacConkey agar and blood agar at 37 ºC for 24 hours.

Samples used for Salmonella spp identification were cultivated in 1% peptone water at 37 ºC by 24 hours, transferred to sodium tetrathionate broth, incubated at 37 ^oC for 24 h (selective enrichment), and then cultured XLT4 agar (Difco, Detroit, ML, USA), for 24 h at 37 ºC.

The identification of the infecting agent was performed by biochemical tests, according to the information of Bergey's Manual of Bacteriological Identification (Holt et al., 1994).

RESULTS

Culture results showed Hafnia alvei growth in 50% (10/20) of the eggs, Serratia spp in 20% (4/20), Escherichia coli in 15% (3/20) and Citrobacter freundii in 15% (3/20) (Table 1). Hafnia alvei and Serratia spp. were isolated in eggs with early embryonic mortality, while infections by E. coli and Citrobacter freundii affected embryos in later stages of development until immediately after hatching. Half of the eggs (50%) presented yolk sac and albumen contamination, but no bacterial growth was detected in the eggshell or eggshell membrane, whereas in the other half (50%), the contamination affected both the internal and external egg structures (Table 1).

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Cabassi et al. (2004) reported a high prevalence of Escherichia coli and Enterobacter spp. in eggs from ostriches with reproductive disorders. The authors analyzed 534 eggs, but the presence of Hafnia alvei was not detected. In chickens, Hafnia alvei infection was described in layers, which presented decrease in egg production and death (Real et al., 1997; Proietti et al., 2004). The presence of Hafnia alvei in the yolk sac of chickens was described by Cox et al. (2006). This is possibly the first report of Hafnia alvei infection in ostriches. It is likely that the infection was vertically transmitted, because the agent was isolated from the internal egg structures and was absent in the shell and the shell membrane (Table 1).

None of the eggs analyzed were contaminated with Salmonella spp. Species of the genus Salmonella are the most prevalent and hazardous agents associated with egg products. Food-poisoning by Salmonella has been reported in many countries. In Brazil, a Salmonella control program was implemented in 1994 by the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture (MAPA). Since 1998, ostriches are monitored for S. pullorum test, and those infected are sacrificed to prevent vertical transmission (BRASIL, 2010).

Citrobacter spp and Serratia spp. contamination is also a public health concern, since these agents are associated with resistance to antimicrobials and disinfectants. There are several reports of localized and systemic diseases caused by these bacteria in humans with immunodeficiency syndromes or due the nosocomial infections (Zúñiga et al., 1991; Drinka et al. 2003; Hess et al., 2004). In ratites, citrobacteriosis is a rare and highly fatal disease, primarily caused by Citrobacter freundii infection that affects ostrich chicks (Rupley, 1999).

Pelerman (2009) reported egg contamination by pathogenic E. coli (APEC) during incubation. Colibacillosis clinical signs emerge between 24 hours after hatch until 15 days of age, and include omphalitis, neurological disorders, septicemia and death. In the present study, the three ostrich embryos from E. coli-contaminated eggs presented omphalitis (Figure 2).

The results of the present study suggest that Escherichia coli, Citrobacter freundii and Serratia liquefaciens infected the eggs by fecal contamination due to eggshell deformity. However, Hafnia alvei was the most frequent agent detected and may be associated with salpingitis in ostriches. Doneley (2006) reported that the presence of stress lines in the eggshells is associated with copper deficiency or salpingitis. There are few reports on reproductive diseases of ostrich hens. Further studies are needed to confirm the vertical transmission of enterobacteria, such as Hafnia alvei, and the possible impacts of the contamination by these agents on ratite reproduction.

Mail Adress

Terezinha Knöbl

Departamento de Patologia

Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia da Universidade de São Paulo

Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, Cidade Universitária

05.508-000. São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

E-mail: [e-mail]

Submitted: March/2011

Approved: January/2012

Acknowledgement

The authors thank FAPESP for funding this study under grant 05/57500-9.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  23 Apr 2012
• Date of issue
  Mar 2012

History

• Received
  Mar 2011
• Accepted
  Jan 2012