CASE 1
A Case of Hepatotoxicity in Broilers
SUMMARY
A sudden rise in morbidity and mortality was seen in a single house of 35 day old broilers within an integrated company. Post mortem and histopathological examination revealed an hepatotoxic insult. Investigations did not conclusively identify the causal agent.
THE COMPLAINT
The initial complaint was an increase in mortality from 29 days old in house 6 on an eight house broiler site. This was reported verbally. Considering the previous site and current company disease history of necrotic enteritis, a 3 day course of 16 mg/kg water soluble amoxycillin (Amoxypen SP;Intervet) was prescribed.
SITE HISTORY
Placement Details
The birds were placed on 16-17/8/99.
| |
H.1 | H.2 | H.3 | H.4 | H.5 | H.6 | H.7 | H.8 |
| Bird Numbers | 27500 | 28447 | 28000 | 28500 | 27500 | 28500 | 28395 | 30000 |
| Parent
Flock Codes |
32,14 | 10,14,28 48 |
33,48 | 20,28 40 |
20,32 | 10,15 | 10,20,23 33,46 |
20 |
Production
H.6
Production
Age (days) |
Weight (kg) |
Cumulative Mortality (%) |
7 |
0.175 |
1.01 |
14 |
0.406 |
1.53 |
21 |
0.791 |
1.97 |
28 |
1.219 |
2.34 |
35 |
ND |
6.62 |
ND=Not done
Mortality
|
Last 7 days Total Mortality |
||||||
|
T (35d) |
T-1(34d) |
T-2 |
T-3 |
T-4 |
T-5 |
T-6 |
H.6 |
259 |
229 |
157 |
81 |
63 |
35 |
21 |
Site Production
Age (days) |
Bodyweights (kg) |
|||||||
|
H.1 |
H.2 |
H.3 |
H.4 |
H.5 |
H.7 |
H.8 |
Target |
7 |
0.153 |
0.135 |
0.153 |
0.145 |
0.135 |
0.154 |
0.123 |
0.150 |
14 |
0.390 |
0.375 |
0.395 |
0.352 |
0.380 |
0.383 |
0.360 |
0.400 |
21 |
0.760 |
0.740 |
0.730 |
0.735 |
0.707 |
0.752 |
0.660 |
0.800 |
28 |
1.198 |
1.136 |
1.147 |
1.150 |
1.074 |
1.123 |
1.096 |
1.200 |
35 |
ND |
ND |
ND |
ND |
ND |
ND |
ND |
|
Age (days) |
Mortality (%) |
||||||
|
H.1 |
H.2 |
H.3 |
H.4 |
H.5 |
H.7 |
H.8 |
7 |
0.90 |
1.37 |
0.98 |
0.81 |
0.77 |
2.50 |
1.30 |
14 |
1.36 |
1.76 |
1.32 |
1.08 |
0.99 |
3.25 |
1.71 |
21 |
1.81 |
2.25 |
1.71 |
1.44 |
1.32 |
3.54 |
2.26 |
28 |
2.10 |
2.48 |
1.97 |
1.75 |
1.67 |
4.16 |
2.63 |
35 |
2.58 |
2.82 |
2.28 |
2.08 |
1.95 |
4.52 |
2.95 |
INVESTIGATIONS
Post
Mortem Examinations
Post
Mortem Ref: P1059
Examined
20.9.99
| Pm
Ref. |
Age
(days) |
Weight
(kg) |
PM
lesions |
Bacteriology |
Swab |
| P1059 H.6 12
dead |
35 |
1.28-1.57 |
Congested
lungs Fatty,
pale livers Nasal
exudate Mucopus
in the trachea Tracheitis
and splenomegaly Catarrhal
enteritis Large
numbers of weed seeds in gizzards |
E.coli |
Liver Air
sac |
Comments
and Recommendations:
Mortality had continued to rise, despite antimicrobial medication. There was no evidence of Gumboro disease or necrotic enteritis in the submitted birds.
There was no report of respiratory symptoms in the birds on site, and it was apparently not possible to identify sick birds. The significance of the weed seeds in the gizzards was not known. These can be seen in small numbers in broilers fed on whole wheat diets, but not to the extensive quantity seen in some of these birds. Due to the increasing nature of mortality on the farm, and the inconclusive post mortem findings live birds were requested for further post mortem examinations to clarify the picture.
Post
Mortem Ref: P1062
Examined
21.9.99
| P |