Pathology of chicken infectious anemia (CIA) with concurrent infections

Abstract

Poultry is constantly exposed to various immunosuppressive agents such as viruses, mycotoxins and environmental stress. Chicken Infectious Anemia (CIA) caused by a Circovirus a DNA virus is one of the very important viral diseases. Out of 100 clinically suspected outbreaks of immunosuppressive diseases in the current investigation, 11 outbreaks of CIA were diagnosed. The pathological parameters such as clinical signs, gross, microscopic and ultrastructural lesions were studied and characterized. All eleven cases were confirmed using PCR employing VP2 specific genes. Among the 11 confirmed outbreaks, based on necropsy findings, histopathology and bacterial culturing, 7 outbreaks showed concurrent infection with one or more secondary infections such as E.coli, Salmonellosis, Pasteurellosis, Gangrenous dermatitis, Cecal coccidiosis and aflatoxicosis.