PMI of poultry Flashcards
Causes of emaciation in poultry
○ Immuno-suppressive diseases (IBD)
○ Lymphoid diseases (Marek’s)
○ Bacterial disease (avian TB)
○ Septicaemia
○ Airsacculitis
○ Parasitic diseases
○ Parasitic diseases
○ Mixed infections (egg peritonitis)
Judgement for contact dermatitis
Affected areas rejected
Could indicate welfare issues
Judgement of septicaemia
Dark soft dehydrated carcase
Generalised condition may be accompanied with petechial haemorrhage in red offal and muscle
Incidence of condition is a good indication of overall health of flock
Reject whole carcase
Joint lesions in poultry
Infections
○ Mycoplasma synoviae
○ Reovirus
○ Opportunistic bacteria
Trauma
Angular limb deformities
○ Growth plate trauma
○ Nutritional imbalances
○ Slipped tendon
Green leg disease in poultry
- Rupture of gastrocnemius tendon
- Green colouration, resolving bruise
- Causes
○ Tenosynovitis
○ Viral or bacterial infection
○ Trauma
○ Genetic susceptibility
Skin tumours in poultry
Squamous cell carcinoma
○ Crater-like lesions coalesce to form large ulcerated areas
○ Uneven or localised thinning of skin, often torn by pluckers
Marek’s disease (skin form)
○ Lymphomas of feather follicles and skin
Dermatitis in poultry
Inflammation of the skin
Usually secondary infected
○ Staphylococci, streptococci, clostridia, erysipelas
Commonly presents as
○ Breast burns
○ Blisters
○ Hock burns
○ Pododermatitis
○ Scabby hip dermatitis
○ Gangrenous dermatitis (clostridium septicum infection)
Caused by contact with irritants
○ Wet litter
○ Scratches from toes of other birds
High incidence associated with poor management on farm
Uncut or badly bled poultry
Possible welfare implication in stun only systems
○ Potential of live bird entering the scald tank alive
Can be due to
○ Flocks of uneven size
○ Poorly adjusted and maintained equipment
○ Failure of back-up slaughtermen
○ Bleeding times insufficient
White muscle disease in poultry
White striping in the breast muscle, becomes stiffer
Vitamin E/selenium deficiency
○ Usually caused by inability to use nutrient
○ Rather than an absolute deficiency
Congenital abnormalities in poultry
Polydactylia
○ Extra digits or limbs are common in poultry
○ Usually associated with mutation of the vents
Can cause problems with automated evisceration machines
Airsacculitis in poultry
Inflammation of the airsacs
○ Usually accompanying lesions in the bronchi and lungs
Acute cases (less common)
○ Small haemorrhages
○ Serosanguinous exudate
Chronic lesions
○ Airsacs are thicker and opaque
○ Containing caseous material or mucopurulent exudate
○ Adhesions and fibrosis
Caused by many agents
○ Mycoplasma spp., E. Coli, aspergillosis, and avian cholera (Pasteurella multocida)
Environmental conditions predispose
○ Ammonia levels, poor ventilation, excessive stocking density, poor hygiene
A high flock incidence may be indicative of suboptimal health and welfare on the farm
Avian tuberculosis
- Nodules can be found in all organs, mainly in:
○ Lungs
○ Liver
○ Spleen- Caused by
○ Mycobacterium avium - Chronic infection affecting older birds
- Usually in contact with wild birds
- Caused by
Pericarditis in poultry
Changes to pericardium
○ Increased opacity
○ Cloudy or turbid fluid in pericardial sac
○ Dense white inflammatory tissue
○ In chronic cases it becomes adhered to the heart
Bacterial infection is the most common cause with infections occurring
○ Early in life as a chick
○ During the growing period
○ E. Coli and Salmonella spp, usually following viral infection
○ Mycoplasmas have been implicated
High incidence may indicate
○ Disease problems in breeder flock
○ Poor egg hygiene
○ Poor farm hygiene
○ Presence of respiratory viruses
Hepatitis in poultry
In hepatitis the liver
○ Enlarged has round edges and a smooth surface
○ Often with necrotic foci or a reticular pattern
In the acute phase
○ Liver tends to be cherry red
Chronic the liver becomes pale brown, bronze, or green
High levels in a flock may indicate
○ Feed related problems
○ Proliferation of enteric bacteria
§ Cl. Perfringens
§ Campy spp.
§ Salmonella spp.
○ Viral infections (adenovirus)
Jaundice in poultry
Excess levels of bilirubin tinges body tissues yellow
This occurs less frequently in avians than in mammals
○ Bilirubin only forms 6% of bile in birds
Usually accompanied by liver disease
○ Cholangiohepatitis
○ Hepatitis
○ Cirrhosis
Can be
○ Post-hepatic (obstructive)
○ Hepatic
○ Pre-hepatic
Peritonitis and perihepatitis in poultry
Peritonitis
○ Inflammation of the membranes lining the abdominal cavity and organs
Perihepatitis
○ Inflammation of the liver capsule
Often dry caseous or mucopurulent exudates in the abdominal cavity
May be secondary to previous conditions
○ Trauma
○ Salpingitis
○ Enteritis
○ Hepatitis
Commonly isolated bacteria
○ E. Coli
○ Salmonella
○ Pasteurella
Possible causes:
○ Immunosuppression caused by IBD
○ Marek’s disease
○ Respiratory disease
○ Poor farm hygiene
Salpingitis
- Inflammation of the oviducts
- Often with purulent material present
- Various infectious causes:
○ Mycoplasma
○ E. Coli
○ Salmonella - Infections may spread
○ Infected abdomens abdominal airsacs
○ Ascending from cloaca - There may be distension of the abdomen present
Marek’s disease
Marek’s disease can present in four forms
○ Ocular form - pearl eye
○ Neural form - enlargement of peripheral nerves causing paralysis
○ Skin form - lymphomas of feather follicles and skin
○ Visceral form - organ enlargement and soft grey lymphomas
Affects birds from 6 weeks
○ Caused by a herpes virus
○ Preference for peripheral nerves
○ Virus replicates in feather follicle cells
Tumours in poultry
Avian leucosis
○ Similar to visceral form of Marek’s
Haemangioma
○ Benign congenital overgrowth of blood capillaries
Fibrosarcoma
○ Virus induced
Fibromyoma
○ Virus induced
Gout
Abnormal deposition of uric acid in tissues
○ Associated with high protein diets
Generally affects individual birds
Possible genetic defect in uric acid metabolism
Found in 2 forms
○ Visceral gout, form of peritonitis
○ Articular gout, affects joints
Erysipelas in poultry
Primarily a disease of turkeys
Affected birds listless
○ Rarely with swelling of the snood
Typical signs
○ Septicaemia
○ Liver becoming
§ Enlarged
§ Congested
§ Friable
○ Intestines congested
§ Catarrhal enteritis
○ Valvular endocarditis
§ Present in chronic cases
