COMPARISON OF THE PATHOGENICITY FOR CHICKENS OF ERYSIPELOTHRIX-RHUSIOPATHIAE AND ERYSIPELOTHRIX-TONSILLARUM

Twenty-two strains of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, 14 strains of Erys ipelothrix tonsillarum, and four other strains representing two serova rs were examined for virulence in 30- to 40-day-old specific pathogen- free chickens. Some of the chickens that were given strains of serovar s la, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 15 or 21 of E. rhusiopathiae showed signs of dise ase, lesions, bacteraemia or recovery of the bacterium. In contrast, t here were no clinical signs, pathological lesions or bacterial isolati ons in chickens inoculated with the E. tonsillarum or other strains. T he study thus confirmed that strains of some serovars of E. rhusiopath iae are pathogenic for chickens, but that E. tonsillarum strains are n ot pathogenic and should be omitted from potential causes of erysipela s in chickens.