EXOone Riemerella anatipestifer

Description

Riemerella anatipestifer is a Gram-negative bacterium (family Flavobacteriaceae) that causes exudative and septicaemic diseases in domestic and wild waterfowl, as well as in a variety of other bird species, including turkeys and chickens. It causes the so-called anatipestifer syndrome in ducks characterized by diarrhoea, lethargy, respiratory and nervous symptoms, which can lead to high mortality and consequently to great economic losses.

Traditionally, diagnosis of this agent is based on microbiological isolation, followed by a biochemical identification of the strain that often has been hampered by the relatively low fermentation on this bacterial family. Recently, use of real-time PCR techniques has offered an increase in the sensitivity and specificity for the identification of this pathogen.