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- #11
This stuff is all new to me, so I don't understand all of it. I'm all ears for any opinions or suggestions.
Necropsy interpretive summary
The disease process and cause of death of this chicken is presumed to have been related to shock and pulmonary congestion without definitive etiology. An enlarged heart may have contributed to these lesions. The lungs and liver had marked and diffuse hyperemia which may be interpreted as congestion. Multi-organ congestion may be an indication of shock. The fundamental defect in shock is reduced perfusion of vital tissues. The shock may have been due to low circulating volume (hypovolemic shock) or vasodilation (distributive shock). Hypovolemic shock is caused by a critical decrease in intravascular volume which may have been caused by fluid losses or inadequate fluid intake. Distributive shock results from a relative inadequacy of intravascular volume caused by arterial or venous vasodilation. This leads to pooling of blood and hypotension because of "relative" hypovolemia. Right-sided heart failure can also cause pulmonary and hepatic congestion.
Lesions were not observed within the heart microscopically, however the heart did appear rounded and enlarged grossly. Round Heart Disease in chickens may cause acute cardiac failure. It is usually associated with myocardial degeneration which was not noted in this case. Acute electrical conduction failure through the thickened myocardium may have possibly played a role in cardiac failure. A definitive cause of the enlarged and hyperemic spleen was not determined via histopathology. An enlarged spleen may be reactive to bacterial, viral, or parasitic infections. E. coli was isolated from the lungs and intestines, however significant inflammation was not observed within either of these organs or associated anywhere with bacteria on microscopic exam. The Mycoplasma culture was compromised by bacterial contaminants and did yield results. Lesions comparable to Mycoplasma were not observed on microscopic exam. Parasites were not seen on fecal examination. Viruses were not isolated from the sampled tissues. PCR testing for both Avian Influenza and Exotic Newcastle Disease yielded negative results. Causes of the observed non-specific lesions and acute death which were not ruled out include, but are not limited to, aflatoxin or phytotoxin exposure, pesticide exposure, exposure to gases or fumes, or acute congestive heart failure.
Necropsy interpretive summary
The disease process and cause of death of this chicken is presumed to have been related to shock and pulmonary congestion without definitive etiology. An enlarged heart may have contributed to these lesions. The lungs and liver had marked and diffuse hyperemia which may be interpreted as congestion. Multi-organ congestion may be an indication of shock. The fundamental defect in shock is reduced perfusion of vital tissues. The shock may have been due to low circulating volume (hypovolemic shock) or vasodilation (distributive shock). Hypovolemic shock is caused by a critical decrease in intravascular volume which may have been caused by fluid losses or inadequate fluid intake. Distributive shock results from a relative inadequacy of intravascular volume caused by arterial or venous vasodilation. This leads to pooling of blood and hypotension because of "relative" hypovolemia. Right-sided heart failure can also cause pulmonary and hepatic congestion.
Lesions were not observed within the heart microscopically, however the heart did appear rounded and enlarged grossly. Round Heart Disease in chickens may cause acute cardiac failure. It is usually associated with myocardial degeneration which was not noted in this case. Acute electrical conduction failure through the thickened myocardium may have possibly played a role in cardiac failure. A definitive cause of the enlarged and hyperemic spleen was not determined via histopathology. An enlarged spleen may be reactive to bacterial, viral, or parasitic infections. E. coli was isolated from the lungs and intestines, however significant inflammation was not observed within either of these organs or associated anywhere with bacteria on microscopic exam. The Mycoplasma culture was compromised by bacterial contaminants and did yield results. Lesions comparable to Mycoplasma were not observed on microscopic exam. Parasites were not seen on fecal examination. Viruses were not isolated from the sampled tissues. PCR testing for both Avian Influenza and Exotic Newcastle Disease yielded negative results. Causes of the observed non-specific lesions and acute death which were not ruled out include, but are not limited to, aflatoxin or phytotoxin exposure, pesticide exposure, exposure to gases or fumes, or acute congestive heart failure.
