EXPERIMENTAL-INFECTION IN TURKEYS AND CHICKENS WITH ORNITHOBACTERIUM-RHINOTRACHEALE

Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale was found to cause growth retardation in both turkeys and chickens after experimental intra-air sac administ ration and to cause growth retardation together with airsacculitis and pneumonia after aerosol administration. Both turkey and chicken isola tes of O. rhinotracheale were able to induce the same kind of respirat ory inflammations and weight-gain losses in chickens as well as turkey s. Turkey rhinotracheitis virus was found to have a triggering effect on the O. rhinotracheale infection in turkeys, and Newcastle disease v irus and to a lesser extent infectious bronchitis virus showed trigger ing effects on the O. rhinotracheale infection in chickens. Ornithobac terium rhinotracheale could be rt isolated from affected organs of exp erimentally infected birds.