Synovitis, osteomyelitis, and green liver in turkeys associated with Escherichia coli

Birds in seven commercial meat turkey flocks ranging in age from 8 to 11 weeks experienced lameness with swollen joints. In addition to synovitis, the most frequent lesions were swollen liver, green liver, and osteomyelitis. Different serotypes of Escherichia coli were isolated from lesions. Histopathology revealed the absence of respiratory lesions in five flocks and the presence of enteritis in at least five flocks. Hemorrhagic enteritis virus infection was implicated in six flocks by positive serology, diagnostic histopathology, and/or clinical history. Three E. coli serotypes, isolated from different types of lesions in turkeys, were inoculated intravenously into 7-wk old poults and produced synovitis and swollen livers 3 days postinoculation. These findings suggest that the synovitis, osteomyelitis, and green liver complex is a distinct form of disease associated with E. coli, which may result from hematogenous spread of the bacteria following hemorrhagic enteritis virus infection.