Preliminary investigation of

hemorrhagic proliferative
Proventriculitis and gizzard
erosion in commercial broiler
and layer in Kathmandu valley

Dr.Kedar Karki
 Background
• A new condition has emerged in
replacements pullets,comercial broilers.
• It affects the birds between 2 to 10 weeks of
age.
• The mortality rate varies between 1 to 10%
and ultimately the flock is left with creation of
several small poorly feathered and pale
chicks.
• Though it has not been possible to establish
the exact cause of this condition,
 Background
• The response to the treatment is often
poor .
• Condition has been widely reported in
broilers under various names like
• malabsorption syndrome,
• Infectious Proventriculitis,
• Infectious runting syndrome, pale bird
syndrome .
• Stunting syndrome. Feed Passage,
 Observation of flock
Flock size Age/week Morbidity Mortality

100-500 4-6 25-100 2-10

(7)
500-1000 4-6 100-200 10-20
(5)
1000-1500 4-6 200-300 20-30
(3)
1500-2000 4-6 300-350 30-35
(2)
 Post-mortem lesions
• Anemic appearance, poor growth, pale
skin
• Mucous in URT.
• Distorted shape of
proventriculus,gizzard.
• Swollen large ,small intestine.
• Liver pale, enlarged with white spate.
• Enlarged spleen.
Intestines of a young broiler
chick
suffering from malabsorption
syndrome
Severe
haemorrhagic and
necrotic lesions in
proventriculus
Haemorrhages in the proventriculus.
Extensive destruction of the gizzard epithelium.
(Replacement pullets – 5 weeks of age
 Intestines of a young broiler chick
suffering from malabsorption syndrome
liver with white necrotic
fociHaemorrhages in th
proventriculus.
Haemorrhages in th
proventriculus.
 Post-mortem lesions
• Emphymatouse lung.
• Ascites.
• Milky fluid oozing from P.gland.
• Hemorrhage in p.muscle.
• Yellow tinge with white ulceration
in gizzard.
 Mycology Laboratory Examination
S.N. Species Total positive negative Isolate fungus no

1 Avian 37 31 6 Penicillium spp. 27

Candida spp.
4
 Result-Discussion
• Frequent report and presence of
gizzard erosion in broiler/commercial
layers.
• Types of lesion common in countries,
environmental condition favorable for
mould growth.
• Associated with N.D/M.D/ Reo virus
infection
 Proventriculitis

• Naturally occurring disease of broiler.

• Inflamation,dilation,thinning of organ.
• Decrease in feed passage.
 Cause of Gizzard
Erosion.Proventriculitis
• Mycotoxins.
–T2 Toxin.
–Monoacetoxy
scirpenol(MAS)
–Diaacetoxyscirpenol (DAS
 Mycotoxins.
• Most Caustic.
• Gizzard erosion by caustic effect on
organ wall.
• More pronounce in tongue, beak
,palate.
• Saliva facilitates adherence of
mycotoxins.
• After absorption in intestine passes to
blood-saliva.
 Copper sulfate
• Copper sulfate in higher dose also
causes Gizzard Erosion,.
 Biogenic Amines,

• Byproducts of degradation of
amino acids of feed ingredients of
animal origins.
 Biogenic Amines,
MOST COMMON ARE:
• Cadaverine
• Tryptamine.
• Histamine.
 Biogenic Amines,
• Putrescine.
• Agmatine.
• Tyramine.
• Phenylalamine.
 Bacterial infection
• Streptococcus,
• Salmonella,
• Shigella,
• Lactobacillus,
• Escherichia
• Clostridium,:-Transform amino acid
Histadine into Histamine.
 Histamine
• Histamine stimulates receptor in
proventriculus glands.
• Increases in hydrochloric acid
secretion.
• Causes superficial Gizzard Erosion.
 Gizzerosine in Fishmeal
• Fishmeal potential for causing gizzard
erosion.
• Lesions, Small cracks in gizzard, severe
erosion hemorrhage destruction of organ.
• Histadine or Histamine combine Lysine at
high temperature Gizzerosine formed.
• Ten time more potent than histamine to
stimulate acid production.
 Lethal effect of Gizzerosine
• Lethal effect of Gizzerosine when
feed contaminated with
mycotoxins
 Vit-B-6 deficiency
• Unusual of Deficiency.
• Supplementation corrects
the Gizzard Erosion.
 Infectious cause
• Adenovirus.
• Velogenic/Viscerotropic strain of
N/D Virus.
• Reo virus.
• Avian encephalomyelitis.
• IBD Virus
 Other factors
• STARVATION
• DEFICIENCY OF SULPHER
AMINO ACIDS.
 Causes of Feed Passage
Syndrome
• Heat Stress
• Dietary Salt Intake
• Coccidiosis
• Ascarids and Cestodes
• Viral Infections
• Bacterial Infections
 Causes of Feed Passage
Syndrome
• Mycotoxins
• Biogenic Amines
• Gizzerozine
• Water Quality
• Litter Quality
 DIAGNOSIS
• Postmortem Examination.
• Microbiological culture
isolation.
• Histopathological
examination.
 Differential Diagnosis
• Differentiate microscopically
lesion caused by microbial
agent from those by non
microbial aetology.
• Lymphoid infiltration in viral
causes.(muscle,gland,serous
layer)
 Treatment
• Antibiotic.
• Liver tonics.
• Vitamin B-Complex.
• Immunomodulaters.
 Conclusion

• Identifying the specific cause(s) of feed

passage in an integration may be
difficult, as many complex factors need
to be considered.
• In some cases, several factors work in
concert and limit the broiler's ability to
digest and/or absorb feed, resulting in
the passage of undigested nutrients.
 Conclusion

• Investigation of the cause's requires

gross examination of the affected
poultry, examination for presence of
• intestinal parasites,
• bacterial culture,
• virus isolation,
• histopathology,
• toxicological testing.