OMPHALITIS (MUSHY CHICK DISEASE)

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Causative Agent(s)

It is a noncontagious that occur in newly hatched chicks when the navel is not completely closed predisposing to entry of opportunistic pathogens that results infection.

Clinical Presentation and Epidemiology

Infection is more likely in unclean environment and associated with excessive humidity and marked contamination of hatching incubators. When infection occur, the navel will remain unhealed and may result in a scab forming or continue to remain wet. Abdominal yolk may remain unabsorbed often resulting in extensive peritonitis.

Affected chicks appear normal until a few hours before death when the birds begin to show depression, drooping of the head and huddling near heat source.

Diagnostic Consideration

Opportunistic bacteria are often recovered (Coliforms, Staphylococcus spp., Pseudomonas spp., Proteus spp). Proteolytic anaerobes may also be seen. Pseudomonas colonies form a green sheen on blood agar.

Management and Treatment

There is no specific treatment for omphalitis in poultry; antibiotic use is based on the bacteria involved as recovered from culture.