Ulcerative Enteritis / Quail Disease (Clostridium colinum) Guide
Veterinary reference covering Clostridium colinum endospores, button ulcers in ceca, hepatic yellow necrosis, and Bacitracin therapy.
Scientific Overview
Ulcerative Enteritis (Quail Disease) is an acute, infectious bacterial enteritis caused by Clostridium colinum. Affecting quail, young broilers, and poults, it causes severe hemorrhagic-to-ulcerative enteritis, deep circular button ulcers in the intestine and ceca, and liver necrosis with high mortality (up to 100% in quail).
Etiology & Endospore Persistence
Ulcerative Enteritis is defined as an enteric infection caused by Clostridium colinum, an anaerobic, spore-forming, Gram-positive rod bacterium.
Spores are shed in droppings and persist indefinitely in soil and litter. Flies act as mechanical vectors transferring spores between pens.
Necropsy Pathology: Button Ulcers & Liver Necrosis
Pathognomonic post-mortem lesions:
- Intestinal & Cecal Ulcers: Deep, rounded, raised 'button-like' necrotic ulcers throughout the ileum and ceca, often perforating the gut wall to cause fatal peritonitis.
- Hepatic Yellow Necrosis: Liver is enlarged with yellow-white necrotizing lesions or large pale yellow areas along organ borders.
- Splenomegaly: Spleen is dark red, congested, and enlarged.
Treatment & Prophylaxis
Treatment requires water-soluble Bacitracin, Tetracyclines, or Erythromycin. Prevention relies on maintaining dry litter, wire floor housing for game birds, and fly control.
All scientific data, diagnostic criteria, and performance benchmarks presented on this page are derived from published peer-reviewed journals and official veterinary codes:
- Avian Pathology & Diagnostics: World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH, 2023). Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals. Paris, France.
- Poultry Diseases & Histology: Swayne, D.E., et al. (2020). Diseases of Poultry (14th ed.). Wiley-Blackwell / American Association of Avian Pathologists.
- Nutrition & Feed Chemistry: Leeson, S. & Summers, J.D. (2001). Commercial Poultry Nutrition (3rd ed.). University Books, Guelph, Ontario.
- Commercial Breed Standards: Aviagen (2024). Ross 308 & Cobb 500 Broiler Performance Objectives. / Lohmann Breeders (2024). Lohmann Brown Management Guide.