An overview on riemerellosis: A worldwide emerging disease of ducks

Riemerella anatipestifer (R. anatipestifer) is the bacterial cause of an economically important and serious disease of ducks and other poultry species. Extensive reports showed that this disease condition is widely distributed in different countries since 1904. Horizontal and mechanical transmissions are important routes of R. anatipestifer dissemination. The disease is characterised by respiratory, nervous and locomotor disturbance with high mortality rates especially in ducklings. Affected birds showed generalised polyserositis or localised lesions in different organs. The clinical picture of R. anatipestifer is similar to and confused with other bacterial infections, so diagnosis of the disease relies mainly on laboratory techniques. At least 21 serotypes of R. anatipestifer have been identified. Control of R. anatipestifer infection mainly depends on using of the suitable antibiotics according to the antibiogram results. Due to the extensive and hazardous uses of antibiotics, development of multi-drug resistance strains of R. anatipestifer is common. Prevention of the disease can be achieved though application of good management practice and vaccination. Different types of vaccines are commercially available. There are autogenous polyvalent live or inactivated bacterins as well as subunit and recombinant vaccines. The vaccines give protection only for the specific serotypes present in the used vaccines. Therefore, this review article gives an overview on R. anatipestifer infections regarding the distribution all over the world, susceptibility and infection, clinical picture, laboratory diagnosis as well as prevention and control methods.