[Respiratory problems, growth retardation and arthritis in turkeys and broilers caused by a Pasteurella-like organism: Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale or 'Taxon 28'].

Since August 1993 moderate to serious respiratory problems with necrotic pneumonia, growth depression and fast increasing mortality are seen in commercial turkeys (2-8 weeks of age) and broilers (4-6 weeks of age). An unidentified pleiomorphic Gram-negative rod was isolated from affected tissues. This Pasteurella-like organism, with yet unknown taxonomy, is recently named Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale gen. nov. sp. nov. or 'Taxon 28'. Experimentally severe growth depression and arthritis could be evoked in commercial turkeys and chickens. Respiratory signs caused by O. rhinotracheale could not (yet) be reproduced experimentally. This is the first report of the isolation of this organism in poultry in the Netherlands findings.