Molecular Typing of Strains of Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Bone and Joint Lesions in Lame Broilers by Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA

ABSTRACT A study was conducted to investigate the relationship between the presence of localized bacterial infection and lameness in broiler fowl (Gallus gallus domes-ticus). Isolation of bacteria from the proximal femur, prox-imal tibia, and tibiotarsus from broilers with lameness revealed a probable association between lameness and the presence of Staphylococcus aureus. Other potential pathogens, including Escherichia coli and DNase-negative staphylococci, were also isolated from sound and lame birds, and their association with pathologies causing (Key words: broiler, lameness, leg weakness, random amplification of polymorphic DNA, bacterial chondronecrosis