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Ascites in hens: swollen abdomen

Diseases andsporadic in chickens:

Síndrome ascitis

Ascites syndrome.

Fluid accumulation in a hen's abdomen (ascites):

Ascites syndrome it is a disease of the circulatory system, which can be defined by a pathologic manifestation, as a accumulation of trasudados that occurs in the body cavity of the chickens, and more specifically in the abdomen (accumulation of fluid that contains proteins, ascitic fluid), as well as increased blood pressure in the lungs.

Definition of syndrome: A set of symptoms that occur together and are characteristic of a disease or medical condition.

Sometimes reach high volume, affecting the abdominal viscera and producing hepatosis (degenerative lesions of the liver), pulmonary edema, and congestion of the overall channel.

It is characteristic of the birds, the presence of a belly bulging, difficulty in walking, posture, penguin, and pallor or cyanosis of the crest and wattles.

On palpation, the abdomen feels soft. In advanced stages, affected birds exhibit severe dyspnea and pre-agonal cyanosis.

Symptoms:

  • Water in the abdomen by palpation.
  • Distended Abdomen.
  • Panting.
  • Dyspnea, or shortness of breath.
  • Cyanosis (bluish discoloration of crest and wattles).
  • Crest atrophied.
  • Head pale.
  • Eyes closed.
  • Lethargy (drowsiness long-term).
  • Feathers ruffled.
  • Affected birds walk with difficulty.

This ascites syndrome has become more prevalent in recent years due to genetic improvements in breeding stock and broiler breeds, driven by the need for increased weight gain and faster growth rates.

As a result, birds have a greater need for oxygen and must speed up their body’s chemical reactions (metabolism) to convert food into energy.

Ascites occurs most frequently in broiler chickens when they reach their peak growth rate (3 to 5 weeks); among broiler breeds, males are more prone to ascites syndrome than females.

The disease is less common in laying hens, quails, and turkeys.

 

En la necropsia: a) Hidropericardio. b) Dilatación cardíaca derecha. c) Ascitis

At necropsy: (a) Hydropericardium. (b) Right-sided cardiac dilatation. (c) Ascites

Photo: Monroy LC, Hernandez, A. 2013. Susceptibility to hypobaric hypoxia in a lineage of commercial broiler chickens.

What causes ascites syndrome?

It may indicate that there are four factors that play a greater or lesser role in the progression of ascites syndrome:

Genetic: Due to market demands, broiler chickens need to grow quickly; this is where genetics come into play in the selection of breeding stock, to achieve greater muscle mass and faster growth in the birds.

Food: According to studies conducted in broiler chickens (Cortés et al., 2006), it was demonstrated that the greater the mass gain and feed intake high, it had more mortality from ascites. Recommending diets of fewer and less balanced, demonstrating that reduced the cardiac stress, associated with ascites, on a temporary basis. (Gonzales et al., 1999).

Weather: Two factors influence ascites syndrome: temperature and ventilation. Environmental exposure to low temperatures in poultry causes metabolic stress (Wang et al., 2007; Luger et al., 2002). With artificial heat provided through the third week, Arce (2002b) observed that in temperate zones, up to 50% of birds may die from ascites.

A poor ventilation or saturation, produced by the excess population of birds, with high concentrations of ammonia of the beds and problems in the respiratory system, increases the oxygen needs of the same.

Consequently, ascites syndrome develops due to the body’s inability to oxygenate itself properly (hypoxia), leading to increased pulmonary pressure and resulting in right ventricular failure of the heart, with fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity (Wideman 2001, Arce et al., 1998). (Paasch, 1991).

Health: It is important that breeding hens be free of mycoplasmosis (Mycoplasma gallisepticum, the causative agent of chronic respiratory disease [CRD] and infectious sinusitis) and that they provide chicks with strong maternal immunity, as chronic respiratory disease can develop during the growth and finishing phases of the bird. The mother can transmit ascites to her offspring.

Injury:

  • Macroscopic: ascitic fluid, or yellow, with gelatinous mass on liver and viscera.
  • Heart: Dilatation of the right ventricle.
  • Lungs: Pale areas, coloration from gray to reddish, edema.
  • Liver: Increase size, rounded edges, congestion.
  • Kidneys: Increase in the size and congestion.

Small intestine: Subcutaneous swelling, congestion and widespread.

Treatment:

There is No treatment.

 

Ascitis en pollitos. Depresión, postración y aumento de tamaño en el abdomen

Ascites in chickens. Depression, prostration, and increase of size in the abdomen

Literature review:

MERCK & CO. (1995). Manual Merck de Veterinaria. Rahway, N. J., EE. UU.

BUXADÉ, P. (1987). The laying hen. Ed. Mundiprensa. Madrid.

M.V. Dr. Armando Sánchez, Dr. C. La Habana, 2004

DORN, P. (1987). Manual of avian pathology. Ed. Acribia. Zaragoza.

HOFSTAD, M. S. (1984). Diseases of Poultry. Iowa State University Press, Ames, Iowa.

ZARZUELO, E. (1982). Vade mecum of the pathology, infectious poultry. Ed. Aedos, Barcelona.

Monroy LC, Hernández A. 2013. Susceptibilidad a la hipoxia hipobárica en una estirpe comercial de pollos de engorde [Susceptibility to hypobaric hypoxia in a commercial strain of broiler chickens]. Rev. Fac. Med. Vet. Zoot. 62(2):86-99.

CASTELLÓ, F. and CASTELLÓ, J. A. (1960). The New Art of Raising Chickens. Aedos, Barcelona.

OROZCO, F. (1989). Breeds of chickens Spanish. Ed. Mundiprensa. Madrid.

LACADENA, J. R. (1998). Genetics. Ed. AGESA

PUERTAS, M.J. (1992). Genetics: Fundamentals and Perspectives. McGraw-Hill Interamericana.

SANCHEZ-MONGE, E. (1969), Genetics. Espasa-Calpe S.A.

OROZCO, F. and ROBLA, F. (1986). Genetic aspects of the León rooster. 24th Symposium of the WPSA (Spanish Section): 199–212.

HILL, J. L. (1973). Genetics, general and applied. Ed. UTEHA.

CASTELLÓ, J. A., LLEONART, R., FIELD, J. L., OROZCO, F. (1989). Biology of the chicken. Real Escuela de Avicultura.

LLEONART, F., ROCA, E., CALLÍS, M., GURRI, A., PONTES, M. (1991). Poultry Hygiene and Pathology. Royal School of Poultry Science.

STURKIE, P.D. (1968). Fisiología aviar, ed. Acribia. Zaragoza.

LOHMANN ANIMAL HEALTH (2012)

 

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