Bacillus cholerae gallinarum is a bacterial species belonging to the genus Bacillus. It is commonly referred to as the avian or chicken cholera bacterium due to its association with a highly contagious and fatal disease in birds, particularly domestic poultry.
This bacterium is gram-positive, aerobic, and rod-shaped (bacillus) in structure. It is characterized by the production of spores, which enable its survival in various environments, including soil and contaminated poultry premises. Bacillus cholerae gallinarum is primarily transmitted through direct contact with infected birds, ingestion of contaminated food or water, or exposure to contaminated equipment or materials.
In poultry, infection with Bacillus cholerae gallinarum leads to severe cholera, a systemic and hemorrhagic disease. The symptoms include depression, anorexia, increased thirst, diarrhea, greenish-yellow droppings, and high mortality rates. The disease can spread rapidly within a flock or between poultry houses, causing significant economic losses and posing a threat to commercial poultry production.
Control and prevention of avian cholera caused by Bacillus cholerae gallinarum involves strict biosecurity measures, including proper sanitation, disinfection, and isolation of infected birds. Vaccination, using appropriately attenuated strains or killed vaccines, may also be employed to reduce the risk of disease outbreaks.
It is important to differentiate Bacillus cholerae gallinarum from the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, which is responsible for the well-known human disease cholera. These two pathogens, despite their similar names, are distinct entities causing different diseases in different hosts.
