Conference 6 - 2016 Case: 1 20161005

Signalment:

20-day-old domestic duck (Anas platyrhynchos). The outbreak site was a duck farm with 4000 ducks in Japan. In January 2014, an increased mortality in the 14- to 21-dayold duck flock was reported to veterinary officials by the owner. The mortality rate was 16%, i.e. 316 out of 2020 birds. Clinical signs of some ducks included reduced movement, ataxia, and dorsal recumbency with leg paddling.

Gross Description:

The surface of the heart and liver was covered by white fibrinous exudate.

Histopathologic Description:

The epicardium is thickened due to the edema, hemorrhage, and abundant fibrinous exudate surrounded by heterophils, macrophages, and multinucleated giant cells. Heterophilic and fibrinous serositis are also observed in the liver, air sac, and intestine. Gramnegative stained bacterial colonies are rarely found in the fibrinous exudates in the body cavity.

Morphologic Diagnosis:

Heterophilic, granulomatous and fibrinous pericarditis with rare gram-negative bacterial rods.

Lab Results:

Bacteria were isolated from the brain, heart, liver, and spleen. Total DNA was extracted from the bacterial colonies, and PCR was performed for bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA. The genetic sequence of the PCR product revealed that isolates were 99.9% identical to Riemerella anatipestifer (RA) type strain.

Condition:

Granulomatous pericarditis/Riemerella anatipestifer

Contributor Comment:

Riemerella anatipestifer (RA) is a non-spore forming, non-motile, gram-negative rod.¹⁴Riemerella anatipestiferinfection is a bacterial disease that primarily affects domestic ducks.10 Young ducklings are more susceptible to the disease than adults.^10,14 Riemerella anatipestifer infection occurs as an acute or chronic form, characterized by fibrinous pericarditis, perihepatitis, air sacculitis, and meningitis.^10,14 Riemerella anatipestifer transmission can occur horizontally via the respiratory tract and skin wounds,¹⁰ whereas vertical transmission of RA via eggs is controversial.^7,8,11 Interestingly, some studies document that RA can be a part of the normal flora in the throat of some domestic and wild duck species.^3,15 At least 21 serotypes have been reported for RA, although there is some confusion regarding its classification.^12,13,14 Serotyping RA can be useful for epidemiological analyses and a vaccination strategy.^12,13

Characteristic pathological findings, such as pericarditis and perihepatitis observed in the present case, are highly suggestive of RA infection. However, a definitive diagnosis of RA infection requires isolation and identification of RA from ducks suspected to be infected.^9,10,14 There are difficulties associated with the identification of RA.^9,10 Riemerella anatipestifer is characterized by the absence of species-specific biochemical properties.⁵ Genetic sequencing of bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry are currently considered useful for the identification of RA.^4,8,13,16

Other bacterial infections such as colibacillosis may cause gross lesions similar to those seen in RA-infected ducks.6 The differential diagnosis also include salmonellosis, pasteurellosis, streptococcosis, and Coenonia anatina infection.¹⁴

JPC Diagnosis:

Heart: Epicarditis, heterophilic and granulomatous, diffuse, severe with mild multifocal subepicardial necrotizing myocarditis, domestic duck, Anas platyrhynchos.

Conference Comment:

Riemerlla anatipestifer (RA), also known as new duck disease or duck septicemia, is the causative agent of epizootic infectious polyserositis, a major problem of domestic ducks worldwide. It is also reported to be pathogenic for turkeys, chickens, pheasants, geese, and other waterfowl.11 In geese, RA has been called goose influenza or septicemia anserum exsudativa.⁵ This agent causes major economic loss in the duck industry due to high mortality rates of up to 75%, weight loss, and condemnations in ducklings under eight weeks old. Stress from adverse environmental conditions is the main predisposing factor for this disease.^4,10

As mentioned by the contributor, fibrinous pericarditis and epicarditis are the most characteristic lesions of RA. This case represents the chronic form of the disease, with progression from fibrinous to granulomatous epicarditis with abundant granulation tissue on the epicardial surface. The pericardium was likely removed prior to tissue processing and is not present in the microscopic sections submitted for evaluation.

Many conference participants had little experience with this entity histologically, which led to a discussion of the differential diagnosis for epicarditis and polyserositis in avian species. While not a typical presentation for Pasteurella multocida, fowl cholera can cause similar lesions in poultry, chickens, and waterfowl. ⁴ Salmonella pullorum causes peritonitis and death in hatchling chicks; and peritonitis, arthritis, and pericarditis in adults, and is often characterized by large hetrophilic granulomas in the myocardium. Escherichia coli and other coliform infections also can lead to fibrinous and heterophilic rmyocarditis, and should be considered as a differential in most avian species.⁴ Coenonia anatine, described by the contributor and briefly discussed during conference, also causes exudative serositis in ducks and geese.¹²Riemerella columbina causes similar disease as RA in pigeons.¹² While not mentioned during conference, West Nile Virus, an arbovirus of the family Flaviviridae, should also be considered as a differential for necrotizing myocarditis of many avian species, with young chickens and geese being most likely to develop clinical disease and mortality. ¹

Participants also discussed the three main rule-outs for polyserositis, pneumonia, and polyarthritis in pigs; among these include Haemophilus parasuis, Mycoplasma hyorhinis, and Streptococcus suis. ⁵ In horses, the most likely etiologies for polyserositis are Streptococcus equi and Streptococcus zooepidemicus. ²

References:

1. Capua I. Arthropod-borne viruses. In: Pattison M, McMullin PF, Bradbury JM, Alexander DJ, eds. Poultry Diseases. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elseveier; 2008:421-422.

2. Caswell JL, Williams KJ. Respiratory System. In: Maxie MG, ed. Jubb Kennedy and Palmer's Pathology of Domestic Animals. Vol 2. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:578.

3. Cha SY, Seo HS, Wei B, Kang M, Roh JH, Yoon RH, Kim JH, Jang HK. Surveillance and characterization of Riemerella anatipestifer from wild birds in South Korea. J Wildl Dis. 2015; 51:341-347.

4. Christensen H, Bisgaard M. Phylogenetic relationships of Riemerella anatipestifer serovars and related taxa and an evaluation of specific PCR tests reported for R. anatipestifer. J Appl Microbiol. 2010; 108:1612-1619.

5. Christensen JP, Bojesen AM, Bisgaard M. Fowl Cholera. In: Pattison M, McMullin PF, Bradbury JM, Alexander DJ, eds. Poultry Diseases. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier; 2008:149-154.

6. Craig LE, Dittner KE, Thompson KG. Bones and Joints. In: Maxie MG, ed. Jubb Kennedy and Palmer's Pathology of Domestic Animals. Vol 1. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:151- 152.

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8. Hess C, Enichlmayr H, JandreskiCvetkovic D, Liebhart D, Bilic I, Hess M. Riemerella anatipestifer outbreaks in commercial goose flocks and identification of isolates by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Avian Pathol. 2013; 42:151-156.

9. Hinz KH, Ryll M, Kohler B, Glunder G. Phenotypic characteristics of Riemerella anatipestifer and similar micro-organisms from various hosts. Avian Pathol. 1989; 27:33-42.

10. Leibovitz L. A survey of the socalled "anatipestifer syndrome". Avian Dis. 1972; 16:836-851.

11. Mavromatis K, Lu M, Misra M, Lapidus A, et al. Complete genome sequence of Riemerella anatipestifer type strain (ATCC 11845). Stand Genomic Sci. 2011; 4:144-153.

12. Pathanasophon P, Phuektes P, Tanticharoenyos T, Narongsak W, Sawada T. A potential new serotype of Riemerella anatipestifer isolated from ducks in Thailand. Avian Pathol. 2002 31:267-270.

13. Rubbenstroth D, Ryll M, Knobloch JK, Köhler B, Rautenschlein S. Evaluation of different diagnostic tools for the detection and identification of Riemerella anatipestifer. Avian Pathol. 2013; 42:17-26.

14. Ruiz JA, Sandhu T. Riemerella anatipestifer infection. In: Swayne DE, ed. Disease of poultry, 13th ed. Ames, IA; Wiley Blackwell publishing, 2013:823-828.

15. Ryll M, Christensen H, Bisgaard M, Christensen JP, Hinz KH, Köhler B. Studies on the prevalence of Riemerella anatipestifer in the upper respiratory tract of clinically healthy ducklings and characterization of untypable strains. J Vet Med B Infect Dis Vet Public Health. 2001; 48:537- 546.

16. Tsai HJ, Liu YT, Tseng CS, Pan MJ. Genetic variation of the ompA and 16S rRNA genes of Riemerella anatipestifer. Avian Pathol. 2005; 34: 55-64.