Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale

Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale is a gram negative bacillus, unique registered specie of Ornithobacterium genus. It causes respiratory troubles by several bird species, especially by chickens and turkeys. Clinical signs are nasal discharge, sneezing, coughing and sinusitis.

Clinical diagnosis is of poor interest because it is not specific. Serological diagnosis is made using ELISA tests. However, these tests don’t allow to diagnose an acute infection because antibodies appears late. Moreover, their production is decreased by antibiotical treatment. Differential diagnosis (especially with Riemerella anapestifer, Haemophilus paragallinarum, Pasteurella multocida and Coenonia anatina) is currently achieved on bacteriological criteria.