BACTERIAL AGENTS AFFECTING THE HATCHABILITY RATE OF TURKEY EMBRYOS

Document Type : Research article

Authors

Abstract

Decrease of hatchability rate represents till now an economic problem in turkey breeding farms, one of the most important factors is that of bacteriological origin. Infected embryoes through bacteriologically contaminated egg- sheel was responsible for a high incidence of unhatched eggs. The present investigation was carried out to point the bcterial agents which would interfere with hatchability, as well as the sources and reservoir of egg-shell contamination.
Non-hatched eggs samples of fluffs and swabs from litters of the hatcheries were collected and examined bacteriologically.
E.coli, Proteus, Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, Mycoplasma, Salmonella, Staphy lococci and Streptococci were isolated and identified, among which E.coli represents the main isolate.
Cleaning and disinfection of eggs for hatching as well as the hatcheries are recommended to decrease hatching losses.