Visceral gout in broiler chickens associated with water restrictions
2009
Takahashi, M., Iwate-ken. Central Livestock Hygiene Service Center, Takizawa (Japan) | Seimiya, Y. | Sato, C. | Sasaki, I. | Kumagai, Y. | Ido, N. | Koneguchi, T.
After a flock of 7,100 broiler chickens had been exposed to severe water restrictions from 18 to 23 days of age, 1,481 birds (21%) developed anorexia and depression followed by death between 21 and 26 days of age. Mortality reached its peak on the fifth and sixth day following the restriction, and decreased abruptly after adequate volumes of water were provided. A total of 29 affected chickens were examined at 23 days of age. The serum uric acid values in 21 examined birds had increased with the level ranging from 11 to 500 mg/dl, and urates were precipitated in the kidneys of 14 birds pathologically examined. Neither hemagglutinative virus nor infectious bronchitis virus gene was detected from the 14 birds. On the fourth day following resumption of the water supply, the serum uric acid values in 11 examined birds had decreased with the level ranging from 3.2 to 12.5 mg/dl, and no urates were precipitated in any tissues of six birds. Based on the results, all 29 examined chickens at 23 days of age were diagnosed with visceral gout. Dehydration due to water restrictions followed by visceral gout could be responsible for the higher mortality in the flock.
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