CURRENT STATUS ON THE ROLE OF ORNITHOBACTERIUM-RHINOTRACHEALE (ORT) IN RESPIRATORY-DISEASE COMPLEXES IN POULTRY

Respiratory disease conditions are continuing to cause heavy economic losses in the poultry industry. Since Dec. 1991 respiratory manifestat ions with different clinical courses have been observed in poultry flo cks in different countries. Bacteriological examinations have resulted in isolation of pleomorphic gram-negative rods (PGNR). The detected b acteria were designated as Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale gen, nov., sp. nov. in the rRNA-Superfamily V. The present paper reviews the lite rature related to ORT aetiology clinical signs and diagnosis in broile r, broiler breeder and meat turkey flocks.