Agricultural Research Management Information System

Home
Research Summary
Search
About Us
- ARMIS
- Brochure
Contact Us
Report
User Request
Data Input
Help
- Operation Manual
  - PDF
  - Video
- Program Area & Commodity
We have reached 37600 number of research entries at this moment.

- Logout

Research Detail

Home
Research
Detail

Hjarre’s Disease in Chickens: Clinical, Pathological, Microbiological and Therapeutic Findings

M. N. Islam
Department of Pathology and Parasitology, Dinajpur Government Veterinary College, Dinajpur-5200, Bangladesh

B. Z. Fatema
Department of Medicine and Surgery, Dinajpur Government Veterinary College, Dinajpur-5200, Bangladesh

M. I. Faruk
Department of Medicine and Surgery, Dinajpur Government Veterinary College, Dinajpur-5200, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Hjarre’s disease (Coligranuloma) in commercial chickens was investigated and detected in 5 layer flocks out of 47 outbreaks based on clinical, pathological, microbiological and therapeutical findings. The investigation areas were at Dinajpur and Nilphamari districts, but the laboratory examinations were conducted at Dinajpur Government Veterinary College, Dinajpur, Bangladesh. The flocks had 441, 212, 690, 5400 and 735 birds aged between 26 to 64 weeks and reared in cages. The clinical signs of the affected birds varied markedly from farm to farm and diarrhea, depression, soiled vent, reduces egg production, loss of body condition and death were recorded. The morbidity rate was around 100%, but the mortality rate was 3-9%. At necropsy, the birds showed characteristics nodular lesions on the serosal surface of the intestine, uterus, mesentery and liver. The affected organs were processed for the bacteriological examination and the organisms were isolated and identified without typification. Gram-stained impression smears from the necrotic areas of the nodules revealed gram-negative organisms which were isolated by culturing using different agar media and identified by their colony characteristics including biochemical reaction in differential media. No acid-fast organisms found on acid-fast staining of the impression smears. The collected organs were processed and stained for the histopathological study, where granulomatous inflammation and the characteristic caseation necrosis were recorded. The flocks were treated individually either with colistin sulphate, or fluoroquinolones, or oxytetracycline considering the apparently presence of concurrent infection. The present findings indicated that the poultry is sensitive to colistin sulphate.

Keywords: Hjarre’s disease, E. coli, Clinico-pathology, Therapy, Chickens

Location: Dinajpur and Nilphamari districts, Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Animal Health and Management

Commodity: Diseases, Chicken

Objectives:

To diagnose the disease based on clinical, pathological and microbiological findings as well as to evaluate the response to certain commercially available antibiotic therapy at field level without conducting any drug sensitivity test.

Methodology:

Experimental chickens/Case history: Hjarre’s disease (Coligranuloma) in commercial chickens was investigated at Dinajpur and Nilphamari districts, but the laboratory examinations were conducted at Dinajpur Government Veterinary College, Dinajpur, Bangladesh. Forty-seven outbreaks in layer aged between 26 to 64 weeks reared in cages were investigated. The detailed flock history including types of birds, the population of birds/flock, rearing system, age of birds, morbidity, mortality as well as the number of birds examined was presented. The clinical signs were recorded during the physical visit of the affected farms and the farmer’s complaints were also considered. Five out of 47 outbreaks were investigated extensively as they were found to be infected with E. coli. Pathological examination: The bird was examined systematically and the postmortem changes observed were recorded during necropsy (Charlton, 2000). The representative tissues were collected and preserved at 10% formalin solution and subsequently processed, embedded with paraffin, sectioned and stained with haematoxylin and eosin for histopathological examination (Luna, 1968). The slides were examined under low and high power objectives and the lesions were recorded. Microbiological examination: The tissue samples were collected and brought to the bacteriology laboratory with necessary precautions. Impression smears taken from the collected samples was stained with Gram’s stain (McLeod et al., 1981) to demonstrate the bacteria. Acid fast staining was also carried out to differentiate the organisms from the tuberculous bacilli following a recommended procedure (McLeod et al., 1981). Isolation of the bacteria in culture from the collected tissue samples were made by standard routine laboratory methods (Anon., 1984) by using different media (Nutrient agar, Blood agar, MacConkey agar, Eosin Methylene Blue or EMB agar, Salmonella-Shigella or SS agar) and their colony and staining characteristics including cellular morphology were noted. Biochemical tests including catalase, coagulase, indol production, methyl red tests were conducted. The results of the tests were recorded. Identification of the bacteria was determined on their cellular morphology and arrangements, staining and colony characteristics as well as biochemical reactions. Therapeutic trial: Colistin sulphate (Colexin WS, Advanced Animal Science, Bangladesh) @ 1 g per litre of drinking water daily for 5 days, oxytetracycline (Renamycin Powder, Renata Animal Health, Bangladesh) @ 1 g per 2 litre of drinking water daily for 5 days and fluoroquinolones [Flumequine 10% Powder, Arifs (Bangladesh) Limited] @ 1 g per litre of drinking water daily for 5 days were utilized for the treatment of coligranuloma in different farms based on the necropsy findings only. The antibiotics were selected mostly considering the apparently presence or absence of concurrent infections during necropsy findings. The antibiotic course was maintained up to 5 days as per recommendation. Drug sensitivity test for the selection of antibiotics was not performed. Vinegar @ 10 ml per litre of water daily for 5 days was used along with antibiotic as an acidifier. The suggestion for improving the sanitation in poultry houses and the management practices to avoid any stress was given along with the treatment. The response to treatment was recorded.

Source of Information: Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2007). 5 (1 & 2): 49–53

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Hjarre’s disease (Coligranuloma) in commercial chickens was investigated based on clinical, pathological, microbiological and therapeutical findings. The disease was diagnosed on the basis of clinical signs, necropsy findings, histopathological examinations, the isolation and identification of organisms by bacteriological examination, the positive therapeutic response of the affected flocks to commercially available antibiotics. Coligranuloma is a granulomatous bacterial infection of chickens. The disease appeared sporadically and commonly seen in adult fowls. The detailed clinical history of the affected flocks was summarized. The morbidity of all affected flocks was around 100%, but mortality was varied from farm to farm ranging from 3-9%. The clinical signs observed during the farm visit varied from farm to farm but found to correlate with previous findings (Charlton, 2000; Vegad and Katiyar, 2003). Diarrhea, depression, soiling of cloaca with semisolid cheesy material, and loss of condition (Chauhan, 2003; Vegad and Katiyar, 2003) were recorded. The flocks were treated by the oral administration of colistin sulphate, fluoroquinolones, where apparently concurrent infection was not suspected, and oxytetracycline, where apparently concurrent infection was suspected. Better response to colistin sulphate was recorded. Along with the course of antibiotic therapy, strict hygienic measures was also emphasized. The disease in adult fowls was diagnosed basis on the characteristic gross and histopathological lesions, identification of gram-negative bacilli, colony characteristics, the positive biochemical reactions and good response to treatment. However, investigation of Hjarre’s disease in commercial chickens based on the findings as stated above will certainly help in proper diagnosis of the disease which is sporadically found in Bangladesh and causes a considerable economic loss to the poultry sectors. So, this study will also help to dictate specific medication as well as to take proper prevention and control strategies.

Knowledge Management: Journal