Ornithobacterium Rhinotracheale Pathogenesis in Avian Hosts
Summary
Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale is a Gram-negative, pleomorphic bacterium within the family Flavobacteriaceae that causes respiratory disease in poultry worldwide. Following inhalation or direct contact, the organism adheres to the tracheal epithelium and migrates into the air sacs, where it induces airsacculitis, pneumonia and systemic inflammation. Key virulence factors include surface adhesins, secreted protein toxins and mechanisms for evading host immunity. Disease severity varies with serotype, host species and co-infection status, often exacerbated by viral agents or environmental stress. Histopathological changes include epithelial disruption, lymphocytic infiltration and vascular damage in respiratory tissues, while systemic spread can lead to lesions in heart, liver and spleen. Genomic analyses have defined a core and pan-genome, revealing genetic diversity tied to geographic distribution and host range. Control measures combine improved diagnostics, targeted antimicrobial therapy and vaccine development, reflecting the global economic impact of ornitobacteriosis on chicken and turkey production.
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Ornithobacterium Rhinotracheale Pathogenesis in Avian Hosts publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in ornithobacterium rhinotracheale pathogenesis in avian hosts across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Airsacculitis: Inflammation of the avian air sacs caused by bacterial infection, leading to respiratory distress.
Pleomorphic: Describes bacteria that exhibit variable shapes or sizes under different conditions.
Quantitative PCR (qPCR): A molecular technique that amplifies and quantifies target DNA sequences in real time for diagnostic purposes.
Nanopore sequencing: A genomic method that determines DNA sequences by measuring changes in electrical current as molecules pass through a nanoscale pore.
Pan-genome analysis: Comparative study of the full complement of genes within a species, encompassing both core and accessory genomes.
References
- Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale: An Update Review about An Emerging Poultry Pathogen. Veterinary Sciences (2019).
- Development and Validation of a New TaqMan Real-Time PCR for the Detection of Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale. Microorganisms (2022).
- Complete Genome Sequences of Three Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale Strains from Avian Sources, Using Hybrid Nanopore-Illumina Assembly. Microbiology Resource Announcements (2023).
- Microscopic changes in the organs of broiler chickens with Ornithobacterium rhinotra-cheale infection. Regulatory Mechanisms in Biosystems (2021).
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