Objective: The study was done to detect possible causes of arthritis in turkey flock with emphasis on molecular detection of bacterial pathogens direct from samples and estimation of their pathology pattern.
Procedure: A total of 100 arthritic legs from 125 French turkey birds were collected from different farms in Sharkia Governorate. Specimens from joint capsule, tendon, and synovial fluid of leg joints were subjected to bacteriological and direct PCR examinations. Moreover, skin, cartilage of articular surface and epiphysis were undergone pathological examination. Blood samples were collected before scarification for both hematological and biochemical examinations. Postmortem examinations revealed joints swelling, hyperkeratosis, erosions, and/or ulcerations. Results: Forty percent (40%) bacterial incidence rate including Staphylococcus spp., E. coli, Salmonella spp., Klebsiella spp., and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were recorded. Molecular detection of these pathogens revealed rapid and more accurate results reach 46%.A high prevalence of multidrug resistance was detected and all isolates were susceptible to amikacin and florfenicol. Genotyping of isolates revealed the presence of strong virulence markers. Further investigations on positive infected samples revealed a significant decrease in RBCs, Hb, PCV %, lymphocytes, total protein, and albumin in addition to a significant increase in the leucocytic count and heterophile, CRP, ALT, AST, uric acid, creatinine, and total globulin. Epidermal leucocytic cells infiltrations, tendonitis, synovium fibrosis, erosions, and/or ulcerations of articular surface cartilage were recorded.
Conclusion: Multiplex real-time PCR assay offered an effective alternative to traditional typing methods for the identification and simultaneous detection of pathogens involved in arthritis in turkey.