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Mycosis in Broiler Chicken: Outbreak of Sudden Death Syndrome in Nepal

Published: June 25, 2009
By: Kedar Karki ,Poornima Manandhar,Banshi Sharma, Senior Veterinary Officer Salina Manandhar, Pragya Koirala Veterinary Officer; Central Veterinary Laboratory in Kathmandu Tripureswor, Nepal
Background of outbreak of Sudden Death Syndrome in Kathmandu Valley.
During the first week of August 2008 there sudden increase in mortality of broilers above 6 week age (Table 1). There are no premonitory signs. Just before death, birds appear normal and it is common to observe the birds feeding, drinking or walking normally. Then suddenly, affected birds exhibit clinical signs such as extending their neck, squawk and start wing beating as well as leg extension before falling back on their back and die suddenly.
Table: 1. Epidemiology of Affected flock with sudden Death Syndrome in Month of August 2008:
Observation/Duration
No. of farm
Population at risk
Morbidity
(%)
Mortality
(%)
No. of samples examined
 
First week
22
16620
4250 (25.57%)
369
(2.22%)
44
Second week
14
15450
1235
(7.99%)
232
(1.50%)
28
Third  week
20
10260
848
(8.26%)
157
(1.53%)
40
Fourth week
30
15700
2380
(15.16%)
149
(0.94%)
60
Total
86
58030
8713
(15.01%)
907
(1.56%)
172
Postmortem finding of SDS birds:
Postmortem examination of birds that died of sudden death syndrome revealed showed no outstanding gross pathology. All birds were well fleshed, with muscle oedema and general pulmonary congestion and oedema. Feed was present along the entire digestive tract and the gall bladders of birds are usually empty. The liver and kidneys were usually slightly congested and have patchy subcapsular haemorrhage. Usually, the proventriculus contains a milky fluid, and intact food particles are present in gizzard. Congestive splenomegaly was observed in almost all birds. All these post mortem observations conform to the descriptions of the syndrom made by Ononiwu et. al. (1979).
Laboratory Finding of Mycobiota and Microbiota of Postmortem Tissue samples:
A total 86 tissue samples of lung, iver, speen, peoventriculus and gizzard, were collected during postmortem examination and were subjected for both bacterial and mycological culture. Results of microbiological examination done are given in Table 2.
Table: 2.
No. of samples
Bacterial isolated
Fungi isolated
Positive no
negative no
86
E.coli,
Streptococcus,
Staphylococcus
 
59
27
86
 
Aspergillus,
Penicillium,
Candida
58
28
172
 
 
117
55
Treatment and Preventive measure given to the rest of birds in flock:
All birds remaining in flocks were subjected to restricted feed up to 8-10%, and feed to twice daily only. Supplementation with glucose containing electrolyte, liquid toxin binders, immunomodulator, and simple broad-spectrum antibiotics were provided in water. Vitamin B complex supplementation was totally withdrawn. All birds remaining in all affected farms responded well to the above management and there were marked improvement in the overall condition of the flock.
Discussion.
Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) is an acute heart failure disease that affects mainly male fast growing chickens that seem to be in good condition. Although a common condition in fast growing birds, the pathogenesis remains unclear (Ononiwu et. al. 1979). Cardiac arrhythmias are involved in the pathogenesis of SDS with ventricular arrhythmias (VA) being the most common observation representing premature ventricular contractions and fibrillation (Olkowski and Classen, 1997; 1998). It has been reported that broilers fed with high vitamin D3 diet above the recommended levels in an attempt to prevent commonly occurring leg problems were 2.5 fold more likely to succumb to acute heart failure and die of SDS (Nain et. Al. 2007). SDS was also experimentally induced by feeding diets containing the mycotoxin moniliformin that resulted to cardiac injury with subsequent alterations in cardiac electrical conductance (Reams et al, 1997) suggesting the possible role of chronic mycotoxicosis to the causation of SDS. Other implicated causes of SDS include continuous artificial lighting (Ononiwu et al, 1979b), deviations in dietary calcium and phosphorus (Scheideler et al, 1995),  feeding crumble-pellet diets (Proudfoot et al, 1982), dietary fat content (Rotter et al, 1985) and feeding frequency Bowes et al, 1988). The latter recommendation of restricted feeding supports well the previous observation that abdominal fat deposition increases the risk of SDS such that restrictions on calorie:protein ratio decreases the incidence of SDS (Mollison et al, 1984).
The present investigation indicates that broilers in good body weight condition when not harvested timely and remain in poultry shade for prolonged periods suffer stressful events and even sudden death. Also, it is possible that the increased humidity and hot season favors the growth of mold and fungus in stored feeds increasing the risk of birds to mycotoxicosis. This incidence of sudden death syndrome in birds in Kathmandu Valley was reported for the first time and needs to be investigated further.
References.
Bowes VA, R.J. Julian, S. Leeson and T. Stirtzinger (1988). Effect of feed restriction on feed efficiency and incidence of sudden death syndrome in broiler chickens. Poultry Science 67(7):1102-4
Mollison B., W. Guenter,and B.R. Boycott (1984). Abdominal fat deposition and sudden death syndrome in broilers: the effects of restricted intake, early life caloric (fat) restriction, and calorie: protein ratio. Poultry Science 63(6):1190-200
Nain S, B. Laarveld B, C. Wojnarowicz C, and A.A. Olkowski (2007). Excessive dietary vitamin D supplementation as a risk factor for sudden death syndrome in fast growing commercial broilers. Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part A, Molecular & Integrative Physiology 148(4):828-33
Olkowski, A.A., C. Wojnarowicz, S. Nain, B. Ling, J. M. Alcorn, and B. Laarveld (2008). A study on pathogenesis of sudden death syndrome in broiler chickens. Research in Veterinary Science 2008 Aug;85(1):131-40
Ononiwu, J.C., R.G. Thomson, H.C. Carlson, and R.J. Julian. (1979). Pathological Studies of "Sudden Death Syndrome" in Broiler Chickens. Canadian Veterinary Journal 20(3): 70-73
Ononiwu, J.C., R.G. Thomson, H.C. Carlson, and R.J. Julian. (1979b). Studies on effect of lighting on "Sudden death syndrome" in broiler chickens. . Canadian Veterinary Journal 20(3):74-7
Olkowski A.A. and H.L. Classen (1998). High incidence of cardiac arrhythmias in broiler chickens. Zentralblatt für Veterinärmedizin. Reihe A 45(2):83-91
Olkowski A.A. and H.L. Classen (1997). Malignant ventricular dysrhythmia in broiler chickens dying of sudden death syndrome. Veterinary Record. 15;140(7):177-9
Proudfoot FG, H.W. Hulan, K.B. McRae (1982). The effect of crumbled and pelleted feed on the incidence of sudden death syndrome among male chicken broilers. Poultry Science 61(8):1766-8
Reams R.Y, H.L. Thacker, D.D. Harrington, M.N. Novilla, G.E. Rottinghaus, G.A. Bennett , and J. Horn (1997). A sudden death syndrome induced in poults and chicks fed diets containing Fusarium fujikuroi with known concentrations of moniliformin. Avian Disease 41(1):20-35
Rotter B, W. Guenter, and B.R. Boycott (1985). Sudden death syndrome in broilers: dietary fat supplementation and its effect on tissue composition. Poultry Science 64(6):1128-36
Scheideler SE, D.V. Rives, J.D. Garlich, and P.R. Ferket (1995). Dietary calcium and phosphorus effects on broiler performance and the incidence of sudden death syndrome mortality. Poultry Science 74(12):2011-8
Acknowledgment:
We would like to thank Dr. Dev Raj Adhikari SVO and incharge of Central Veterinary Hospital Tripureshwor, Kathmandu for providining early indication of problem. Thanks are due to Mr.Bal Bahadur Kunwar Srnior Vet.Technician and Mr.Bhimsen Adhikari Vet.Technician of Microbioly Unit of Central Veterinary Laboratory for doing the microbiology works, Dr Esmeraldo M. Cabana, Veterinary Pathologist, Animal Health Laboratories, Diagnostic Services Branch Department of Primary Industries and Water, Tasmania, Australia, and Dr. Lin Tsang Long, Avian Pathologist, and Dr. Stephen B. Hooser, Stephen, Head, Toxicology Section and Assistant Director, Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory Purdue University U.S.A for their critique of the manuscript. Dr.Poornima Manandhar, Chief of CVL Tripureshwor deserve special thanks from this investigation team.
 
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Ganesh Kumar Dahal
Guybro Chemical
2 de septiembre de 2009
Very interesting article!! Authors are applauded for their effort to control SDS. I would like to take this opportunity to introduce briefly about ACIDISOLE Liquid feed supplement which could prevent the problem. ACIDISOLE assist in the acidification of the bird’s entire digestive tract providing a controlled release of selected organic acids, to assist the development of beneficial gut microflora. ACIDISOLE is a unique formulation containing high concentration of synergistic direct acting protected organic acids which controls the pH of drinking water (pH 4.5 to 5.5) Protected organic acids are capable of resisting immediate digestion in the intestine and can help control Gram negative entero-pathogens from all sources. Organic acids are lipid soluble so that they are able to enter the microbial cell. Once in the cell, the acid releases the proton in the more alkaline environment, resulting in a decrease of intracellular pH. This influences microbial metabolism inhibiting the action of important microbial enzymes and forces the “bacterial cell” to use energy to release protons, leading to an intracellular accumulation of acid anions. Organic acids exert their antimicrobial action both in the feed and in the GI-tract of bird. Organic acids increase palatability of feed thereby better consumption of feed. Better-feed consumption enhances better production. The other benefits of ACIDISOLE in drinking water are: 1) Kills bacteria (E.Coli, Salmonella) & fungi in feed. 2) Reduces mortality upto 50[percent] 3) Acidifier + Sanitizer prevents growth of Bacteria/Algae in water & water pipelines. 4) Improves digestion - Improved FCR Improved weight gain 5) Reduction of ammonia in litter. 6) Reduction of moisture in litter 7) Fewer foot pad problems 8) In layers and breeders improved egg shell strength and egg cleanliness.
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