Course no and title: VAPTH 605Avian Pathology

Name: Md. Fayezur Rahaman.Roll No:16VPATHJJ04M

Reg No: 37164Department of Pathology

Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh

Ascites- Right ventricular Hypertrophy

in chicken

Ascites is an accumulation of non inflammatory transudate in one or more of the peritoneal cavities or potential spaces.

It is most commonly associated with venous hypertension resulting from right ventricular hypertrophy.

It is also known as Pulmonary hypertension syndrome.

Causes:Increased vascular hydraulic pressure in the

venous systemGenetic predisposition to pulmonary hypertensionPulmonary hypertension occurs frequently in

chickens secondary to high altitude-associated hypoxia with resultant polycythemia and increased blood viscosity.

When ascites occurs at low altitudes in meat-type chickens, which have a high metabolic oxygen requirement, it is usually caused by primary or spontaneous pulmonary hypertension because of insufficient capacity of the pulmonary capillaries.

Cold stress

Pathogenesis:Increased pressure in the pulmonary arteries

Heart tries to pump more blood through the lungs to meet the body’s oxygen requirement.

The resultant volume and pressure overload on the right ventricle

Dilatation and hypertrophy of the right ventricular wall, valvular insufficiency, RVF,

and ascites.

The incidence of pulmonary hypertension syndrome:• >2% in some broiler • 15%–20% in other roaster flocks.

Right ventricular hypertrophy is the response to an increased workload and eventually leads to RVF if the volume or pressure load persists.

Hypertrophy and dilatation of the right ventricular wall is directly related to pulmonary hypertension.

Clinical Findings:

Affected broilers may be smaller than their pen mates

Affected broilers are cyanotic

The abdominal skin may be red

Affected broilers frequently die on their backs

Gross lesions:

There is a variable amount of clear yellow fluid and clots of fibrin in the hepatoperitoneal

spaces

The liver may be swollen and congested,

or firm and irregular with edema

The right atrium and vena cava are

markedly dilated in most cases.

Occasionally, there is thinning of the left

ventricle

The lungs are extremely

congested and edematous

Microscopic Lesions:

Increased no of cartilaginous and osseous nodules may be found within the lungs.

Myocardial fibers are mildly disorganized , with edema and some proliferation of loose connective tissue

between fibres.

Liver sinusoids are enlarged and overfilled with blood.

Haemorrhage and edema may be found within the

lungs

Diagnosis:Pulmonary hypertension syndrome can be identified by clinical signs ,symptoms & gross lesions like--- Enlarged heart; Enlarged, thickened right ventricle; or Fluid in the body cavities and heart sac.

If the wall of the right ventricle is enlarged or thickened, the broiler has probably died from pulmonary hypertension syndrome, even if there is no fluid in the body or heart sac.

Control:• Reducing the birds’ metabolic oxygen

requirement by slowing growth or reducing feed density can prevent ascites caused by pulmonary hypertension syndrome.

• Environmental temperature, humidity, and air movement should be controlled.

• Ascites caused by other factors (eg, sodium, lung damage, liver damage, etc) can be prevented by avoiding the etiologic agents involved.

References:• www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3750788• http://www.intechopen.com/books/blood-cell-an-overview-of-

studies-in-hematology/ascites-syndrome-in-broiler-chickens-a-physiological-syndrome-affected-by-red-blood-cell

• von Romberg, Ernst (1891–1892). "Über Sklerose der Lungenarterie". Dtsch Arch Klin Med (in German). 48: 197–206.

• http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/6/diseases-of-poultry/238/pulmonary-hypertension-ascitis-syndrome-in-broiler-chickens/

• "What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Pulmonary Hypertension? - NHLBI, NIH". www.nhlbi.nih.gov. Retrieved 2015-12-30.

• Galie N, Humbert M, Vachiery JL, et al. (1 January 2016). "2015 ESC/ERS Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary hypertension: The Joint Task Force for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pulmonary Hypertension of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the European Respiratory Society (ERS): Endorsed by: Association for European Paediatric and Congenital Cardiology (AEPC), International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT)". European Heart Journal. 37 (1): 67–119

Thank You All