Exploring the pathobiology of colibacillosis in broiler chickens reared in Ganderbal district of North Kashmir

Abstract

The aim of the study was to examine the Pathomorphological changes in the naturally occurring Colibacillosis in broiler chickens reared in commercial broiler farms at Ganderbal district of Kashmir. During this study, a total of 200 cases of Colibacillosis were identified at 10 different broiler farms and the dead birds were sent to the Division of Veterinary Pathology for a thorough postmortem investigation. Colibacillosis is a complex disease mainly occurring in the age groupof 3-4 week age of age and is characterized by air sacculitis, pericarditis, peritonitis, salpingitis, synovitis, osteomyelitis or yolk sac infection. The pathological changes occurring in Escherichia coli infection were studied in natural cases of avian Colibacillosis. The samples were collected from different poultry farms of Ganderbal district of Kashmir. During postmortem examination, fibrin deposition on the liver and heart, as well as congestion in different organs were observed in the affected birds. The histopathological examination revealednecrosis and the depletion of lymphocytes in the spleen, interstitial pneumonia, fibrinous pericarditis, myocarditis, fibrinous perihepatitis, hepatitis and fatty degeneration in the hepatocytes. It is concluded that the pathogenic E. coliin poultry led to systemic lesions and immunosuppression in birds.