الفهرس 
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Abstract
1-In the present study, a total of 59,000 birds representing 12 broiler chicken farms and one hatchery were distributed on different localities at Kaluobia Province. Only 4930 birds showing arthritis of one or more joints. Morbidity rate in baby chicks was 0.5% while in broiler chickens of 18 to 45 days age ranged from 1.8-20% with an overall average of 8.35%. 2-The collected birds showing symptoms mainly of lameness (100%), swollen joints (100%), off food (100%),paleness of the comb the (77%), respiratory signs (46%) and xudates (30.8%). 3-Gross lesions mainly of swollen joint with xudates (100%), congested lungs (77%), necrosed liver and congested kidney (69.2%), enteritis (61.5%), pericarditis (46.2%), periphepatitis (38.4%), necrosed spleen (38.4%), swelling under the skin around joints (38.4%) and unabsorbed yolk sac (if present) (8%). 4-Two hundred and fifty five arthritic birds were examined bacteriologically, of which fourty seven (18.4%) yielded bacterial colonies on different media.
A total of 129 bacterial isolates were recovered from the 255 examined arthritic birds (on 5-10% blood agar, MacConkey agar and PPLO agar). Twenty five (53.2%) isolates were lactose fermenting gram negative coccobacilli, 32 (68%) isolates were non lactose fermenting gram negative coccobacilli, 37 (78.7%) isolates were gram positive cluster like cocci (only 7 induced hemolysis on blood agar); 11 (23.4%) isolates were gram positive short chain like cocci, one isolate (2.13%) was gram positive Chinese letter like arrangement bacilli, and 23 (48.9%) mycoplasma like colonies on mycoplasma agar plates and were coccoid in Giemsa stained smears. 5- The percentage of different bacterial isolates from the examined organs per bacteriologically positive birds. – Lactose fermenting gram negative coccobacilli were isolated
in 28% from liver and joints, 24% from spleen and 12% from heart blood and yolk sac (8%). –Non lactose fermenting gram negative coccobacilli were isolated in 37.5% from liver, joint (31.2%),spleen (21.9%), heart blood 9.4% and non from yolk sac. –Gram positive Chinese letter like arrangement bacilli was isolated in 100% from joint of one bird. –Gram positive cluster like cocci were isolated in (32.4%) from joint, (21.6%) from liver and heart blood, (19%) from spleen and (5.4%) from yolk sac. – Gram positive short chain like cocci were isolated in (27%) from liver, heart blood and joint, (18.2%) from spleen and non from yolk sac.
-Microscopic mycoplasma like colonies were isolated in (56.5%) from lungs and air sacs, (39.1%) from joints and (4.4%) from liver and spleen emulsion. 6- Biochemical tests : `- Lactose fermenting microorganisms : All the examined colonies gave positive results toward methyl red,indole, nitrate reduction and lysine decarboxylase tests. Glucose, lactose, maltose, mannitol, sorbitol and arabinose were fermented with production of acid and gas. Variable results obtained toward ornithine decarboxylase test and fermentation of sucrose, dulcitol and salicin. All the examined isolates were negative towards voges proskauer, citrate utilization, urease, oxidase tests and fermentation of dextrin and inositol. – Non lactose fermenting organisms : All the examined colonies were positive toward methyl red, H2S production, citrate utilization and ornithine decarboxylase tests. Dextrose, dulcitol, mannitol, maltose and sorbitol sugars were fermented with production of acid and gas. Variable results were obtained towards arginine decarboxylase test and fermentation of inositol. All the isolates were negative toward voges proskauer, indole, urease, lysine decarboxylase tests and fermentation of lactose, salicin and sucrose. – Gram positive Chinese letter arrangement bacilli : The isolate fermented glucose and D-mannitol. Negative results obtained toward indole, H2S production, methyl red, voges proskauer, citrate utilization, urease tests, sucrose and salicin sugars were not fermented. – The suspected mycoplasma colonies :
The colonies gave digitonin positive, fermented glucose and reduced tetrazolium chloride. While were negative toward arginine test. – Gram positive cocci arranged in clusters (suspected staphylococci) : All isolates were positive toward catalase and fermenta-tion of glucose and sucrose. Variable results toward nitrate reduction, growth on 6.5% sodium chloride, coagulase and fermentation of D-mannitol, D-maltose and salicin. All were negative toward oxidase and fermentation of arabinose. – Gram positive cocci arranged in short chain (suspected streptococci) All the examined isolates were positive toward glucose and sucrose fermentation. Variable results toward D-mannitol
fermentation. All isolates were negative toward catalase and indole tests. The most prevalent bacterial isolates were staphylococci (28.7%) followed by salmonellae (24.8%), E. coli (19.4%), mycoplasma (17.8%), streptococci (8.5%) and corynbacterium (0.78%).