The symptomatology depends on the type of evolution. In the general form is appreciated a decay general that coincides with the appearance in the liver and in the spleen of some points as red as a bleeding surface.

In these cases, the birds show, in addition to anorexia, pallor of the crest and the chins and appearance of stool yellow.

When the process is subacute, it can cause pericarditis, peritonitis, salpingitis, arthritis, and ongoing presence of masses fibrinosas on the digestive organs and the peritoneum.

In the estreptococias chronicles can be detected foci of necrotic in some tissues such as heart, liver, and spleen, caused by toxins produced by Streptococcus.

The strep infection in birds is not very frequent, but it is widely spread in the world. It is presented in the form of an acute or chronic, with losses that can reach up to 50 %.

Etiology:

The Streptococcus genus consists of Gram-positive, non-spore-forming, immobile bacteria that group together in pairs or chains, are facultatively anaerobic, catalase-negative, and attack sugars.

Among the most common we have the Streptococcus zooepidemicus, sometimes called Streptococcus gallinarum, belongs to the antigenic group C, Streptococcus faecalis, Streptococcus faceium and Streptococcus durans and belong to the group D (enterococci).

These enterococci can be differentiated from Streptococcus zooepidemicus for their ability to grow at pH 9.6 in the presence of 6.5 % of Nacl and, in addition, for the fermentation of arabinose and sorbitol. The Streptococcus faceium fermented arabinose, the Streptococcus faecalis fermented sorbitol and the Streptococcus durans does not ferment any of the two.

Susceptible species:

Streptococcus zooepidemicus affects in the primary chickens adults, In contrast, the Streptococcus faecalis affect birds of any age and can be a serious problem in chickens.

Routes of transmission:

The routes of infection Streptococcus zooepidemicus are unknown, although there are asymptomatic carriers for a long time, even months.

Streptococcus faecalis is a normal inhabitant of the digestive tract of mammals and birds. Many of the isolates from healthy birds are pathological when they are administered intravenously.

The Streptococcus faecalis and other enterococci are isolated from the air of the poultry houses of the birds.

The transmission through the aerosol in the case of the Streptococcus zooepidemicus and the Streptococcus faecalis it has been shown to produce an acute septicemia in chickens.

It has also been reported transmission through the egg of the Streptococcus faecalis from chickens infected.

Clinical manifestations:

Among the symptoms most significant produced by the infection due to the Streptococcus zooepidemicus we have lassitude, crest, and wattles pale, wasting, anorexia, and the region of the head, may appear haemorrhagic fever, the temperature may be normal or be on top of 42.8 °C.

When the infection is caused by Streptococcus faecalis, the temperature may be below normal or between 41.7 and 42.2 °C. Bacteremia tends to persist with wide variation in the number of bacteria.

The heterophils can increase up to 120 000 per cubic millimeter. Usually, the birds visibly ill die.

Pathologic lesions:

The lesions produced in the acute infection by Streptococcus zooepidemicus are splenomegaly, hepatitis, not very marked, with or without haemorrhagic spots.

It is appreciated in peritonitis and pericarditis containing hemorrhagic fluid. This can also occur under the skin of the sternum. Arthritis, salpingitis, endocarditis, pericarditis, and perihepatitis are less frequent.

Many isolates. Streptococcus faecalis they have been made from endocarditis.

Microscopically, they appear to areas of necrosis in the liver, spleen and myocardium, there is often a small cell reaction, but in some regions there is a massive infiltration of heterophils and macrophages.

Diagnosis:

Presumptive field cannot arise due to the similarity of symptoms with other diseases, for which the diagnosis should be aimed at the isolation of streptococci that can be easily isolated from blood, liver, spleen, and other organs are affected.

Stains Gram of sections microscopic in infected tissues and in extensions of blood, usually reveal a streptococcus. For routine diagnosis of these agents can be identified as streptococci based in the colonies, microscopic morphology, Gram reaction and the test of catalase.

Measures against epizootic:

Zoo hygiene measures and proper management contribute to disease prevention.

As therapeutics have been used antibiotics, such as penicillin, oleandomicina, tetracycline, nitrofurans between the chemotherapy, especially in acute cases.

To have a better success, the isolates should be completed with sensitivity of these therapeutic products.