AUTHOR: Joe G. Berry (Extension Poultry Specialist) and Delbert Whitenack (Pathologist, Veterinary Medicine) – Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension Fact Sheets (VTMD-9109) – Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources
Bacteria are microscopic living organisms. All bacteria are not detrimental to animal health. In fact, many bacteria are beneficial and necessary for such processes as food digestion, manufacturing of some dairy products, etc. Classification of bacteria into species is done so disease producing organisms may be separated from those that are harmless or beneficial.
Successful control of bacterial diseases entails isolating and identifying disease-producing species, if present, and preventing multiplication and spread of the organism within the animal’s body or to other animals.
