Pathological investigations of disease conditions in broiler chickens predisposed to dust in dry

Abstract

Dust is a common pollutant present in the air of poultry houses. These dust particles has a great impact on the health of the birds. This study aims to find out the pathological effect of dust in chickens. In this study, the pathological investigation was carried out by studying tissue samples taken from dead birds with the history of using sawdust as litter material in poultry houses during the dry season. A total of 168 samples were collected from 83 affected birds over the period of November 2021 to April 2022. Gross pathological findings include congested trachea, lungs, and liver. Ascites is also observed in most cases. Microscopic examination revealed congestion, hemorrhage, infiltration of inflammatory cells, deciliation, and desquamation of lining epithelia in the trachea. The presence of dust particles surrounding the alveolar lining and metaplasia of alveolar lining epithelia was observed in lung sections with severe congestion, inflammatory cellular infiltration, emphysema, and pulmonary edema. Coagulation necrosis and marked congestion around the central vein were identified in liver tissues. In conclusion, the respiratory system of poultry is irritated by dust, leading to pulmonary hypertension and ascites, which can cause severe discomfort and pain, and may result in death.