ISOLATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF ORNITHOBACTERIUM-RHINOTRACHEALE FROM COMMERCIAL BROILER FLOCKS ON THE DELMARVA PENINSULA

The growth and biological characteristics of isolates of Ornithobacter ium rhinotracheale (ORT) from commercial broiler chickens in the mid-A tlantic region of the U.S.A. appear to be identical co chose previousl y reported in the literature. The clinical disease and lesions are als o similar to those reported from other poultry growing regions includi ng South Africa and Europe. The diagnostic cases included in this repo rt were often associated with known respiratory pathogens, namely, len togenic Newcastle disease virus, and infectious bronchitis virus, and Escherichia coli bacteria. The role of ORT in the disease cases presen ted in this report is unclear.