Graphic - Pullet Autopsy, Any Ideas?

[AnneInTheBurbs]

I did an autopsy of a backyard mix pullet the other day. She was broody raised, and had a sister that looked just like her, but was bigger. I’m thinking this one had a genetic defect, which is why she died early. Not sure how old she was, however she was close to the point of lay.

I hadn’t noticed that she was not doing well, but it is possible that I overlooked her. I have a large flock and my schedule has been very full lately. This girl had always been very skiddish too.

Yesterday, she was clearly not doing well at all and I was able to pick her up. She was clearly dying.

She seemed a little thin, but not terrible considering her petite size.

Clues from the autopsy:

- Fluid in the abdominal cavity
- Very large, pale heart. It almost looked like her heart was made of fat.
- Other organs appeared normal, by there did seem to a growth near the liver. I’m not sure if that was normal or not. It was not her gallbladder, but was pink/purple.


My thoughts are congestive heart failure from a congenital defect. What are your thoughts?

 

[Eggcessive]

If there was yellow fluid in the abdomen when you opened her, at that age it may well have been heart failure with ascites. In photo 2 it looks like the spleen (pink organ) at 10 o’clock is next to the gallbladder and liver. I am not an expert on necropsies, so hopefully others will chime in. Thank you for posting the necropsy pictures since we all can learn from them.

 

[coach723]

The heart definitely does not look normal. I lost one to heart failure once, the heart was so large it filled the chest completely, was very soft and spongy. Prior to her death I suspected it was her heart due to her unwillingness to run at all, she was very slow. She was normal size/weight, normally feathered out, comb would get a bit dark if she was stressed and her heartbeat was so hard you could feel it easily when holding her. Her liver was also pretty bad, not fatty, but rather very hard, almost like cooked liver. She also died at about point of lay. I'm sorry for your loss, but thank you for sharing pictures.

 

[Eggcessive]

Here is a picture that shows the spleen, the purple pink organ between the gallbladder and liver.
Here is a link about ascites (fluid in the abdomen) with causes:
https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poul...itions-of-poultry/ascites-syndrome-in-poultry

 

[Eggcessive]

Another picture with spleen labeled.

 

[rebrascora]

In my opinion there is a tumour on the heart. That light coloured fatty tissue is something I have seen with tumours on lungs as well. I have outlined the more normal heart tissue in blue and it would appear that you have cut through the tumorous side of the heart, so it is on the two outer parts of the sections outlined in red.

I think you can clearly see the difference in texture of the tissue between the two. I think there may have been heart failure/attack which has resulted in the pale colour and fluid but my gut feeling is that it was caused by this tumour and that this is probably visceral Marek's, given the age of the bird.

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

In my opinion there is a tumour on the heart. That light coloured fatty tissue is something I have seen with tumours on lungs as well. I have outlined the more normal heart tissue in blue and it would appear that you have cut through the tumorous side of the heart, so it is on the two outer parts of the sections outlined in red.
View attachment 1501456

I think you can clearly see the difference in texture of the tissue between the two. I think there may have been heart failure/attack which has resulted in the pale colour and fluid but my gut feeling is that it was caused by this tumour and that this is probably visceral Marek's, given the age of the bird.

Wow, that’s incredible. I think you’re right. Her heart was so pale I thought it was fat. But I do see the demarcation between their two sides.

 

[rebrascora]

What is your state diagnostics lab like? Wondering if they might accept the heart as a sample and do PCR testing for Marek's on it? You would need to refrigerate it until you have contacted them.

 

[Sue Gremlin]

looks like a severe case of myocarditis with associated heart failure, that would account for the ascites in her abdomen.

 

[rebrascora]

Her heart was so pale I thought it was fat

Fat in chickens is usually bright yellow not white.