A study on the vertical transmission of arthropathic and amyloidogenic Enterococcus faecalis.

Ten brown layer parent hens were injected intravenously with arthropathic and amyloidogenic Enterococcus faecalis at 27 weeks of age to assess its vertical transmission during the subsequent 6-week production period. All inoculated hens developed chronic bacteraemia and arthritis, four died due to septicaemia and two of the remaining six showed amyloid arthropathy. The egg production was maintained at a lower level than the controls.