Clinical and pathological studies on kidney lesions in broiler chickens

Abstract EN

Kidney lesions were detected histopathologically during clinical and postmortem examinations of broilers from private farms in El-Mania Governorate.

The birds were 3-5 weeks old and the average mortality all over the cycle was 4-6 %.

Pelted feeds were used in all farms.

Birds were vaccinated against Infectious bronchitis, New Castle disease, Gambaro and Avian Influenza.

Some of the examined cases were treated with Sulfonamides and Gentamycin for controlling of coccidian and Gram -negative bacteria, respectively.

Examination of the kidneys revealed various abnormalities including variation in size and weight of the organ, increasing the relative weight of kidneys, reducing the body weight gain of the birds, abnormalities of color, shape, size and texture with hemorrhage.

Histopathologically, the kidneys showed hemorrhages in cortex and medulla, congestion and thrombosis.

The renal tubules showed signs of nephritis in form of swelling, degeneration and desquamation of the lining epithelium, heavy infiltration of the renal cortex with lymphocytes and heterophiles, and coagulate necrosis.

Some cases showed swelling and hyper cellularity of the glomeruli with per glomerular fibrosis.

It had been concluded that mycotoxins present in broiler feedstuffs have a deleterious effect on the kidneys.

Considering that the kidneys are one of the vital organs, there was an increase in the mortality rate and high economic losses.