Prevalence and pathogenicity of Aeromonas hydrophila.

A field survey to determine the prevalence of Aeromonas hydrophila revealed a recovery rate of 8% in 141 specimens derived from a range of live, companion, and exotic avian species. The prevalence rate was similar in 240 sequential postmortem submissions during 1984. Studies on the pathogenicity of A. hydrophila showed that 2-to-4-day-old chicks and turkey poults were highly susceptible to exposure via the subcutaneous, yolk-sac, and intracerebral routes, and mortality of 80-100% occurred within 48 hours of inoculation. Ducklings aged 4 days were generally refractory to exposure.