Investigations into an acute paralysis syndrome in broiler chickens

Title
Investigations into an acute paralysis syndrome in broiler chickens
Publication Date
2014
Author(s)
Sharpe, Brendan Douglas
Katz, Margaret E
Reece, R
Renz, Katrin
Walkden-Brown, Steve W
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0638-5533
Email: swalkden@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:swalkden
Type of document
Conference Publication
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Australasian Veterinary Poultry Association (AVPA)
Place of publication
Gold Coast, Australia
UNE publication id
une:19066
Abstract
The acute paralysis syndrome (APS) under investigation at the University of New England (UNE) and the Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute (EMAI), is characterised by paralysis causing sternal recumbency and marked flaccidity of the head and neck in broiler chickens, leading to death, from 24 - 40+ days of age, with typically low flock mortality. Disease is more common in warmer periods of the year, and has not been observed in other than broiler chickens. Affected birds do not typically display gross lesions, rather associated histopathological lesions include perivascular cuffing of mononuclear cells, perivascular oedema, and endothelial hypertrophy in the cerebrum and spinal cord, and additionally in the spinal cord, wallerian degeneration. Diagnostics performed in the field do not support the involvement of a range of potential causative agents including Clostridium botulinum, avian influenza (Al), and Newcastle disease (ND). Marek's disease virus (MDV) has been detected in affected flocks, however the incidence of APS has not fallen in response to HVT vaccination.
Link
Citation
Australasian Veterinary Poultry Association Proceedings, p. 16-17
Start page
16
End page
17

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