Outbreak of septicaemic colibacillosis in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

We hal-e carried out an aetiological and pathological study of an outbreak of septicaemia caused by; the O165 serogroup of Escherichia coil in Japanes e quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) which resulted in high mortality (90%) . After treatment with amoxicilin in drinking water (200 mg/I), morbility a nd mortality rates dropped markedly. Microbiological studies showed th;it t he organism responsible was an atypical E. coli strain, on the basis of thr non-fermentation of lactose (ONPG-), which belonged to the O165 serogroup and was highly virulent for 1-day-old chickens.