Managemental practices to control ascitis in a flock

Ascitis is a metabolic disease of poultry in which excess amounts of fluid accumulates in the abdominal cavity. Ascitis is initiated by factors that elevate the blood pressure within arteries supplying the lungs. This increase in pulmonary arterial pressure (hypertension) triggers the accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity (ascitis). This condition, generally recognized in broilers is often lethal. If at all the bird survives, the carcass would most often be condemned. When birds are chronically exposed to low oxygen levels, it tend to lead to a high incidence of ascitis. Other predisposing factors associated with the syndrome are rapid tissue growth, low protein or high sodium chloride in the mash, ammonia, noxious gases and mycotoxin. Hepatitis, cardiovascular, pulmonary and renal diseases are also considered important in the etiology of ascitis syndrome. The birds affected show shrunken comb, loss of feathers in the abdominal region, subcutaneous odema, odema of head, cyanosis, pot bellied appearance, staggering gait and respiratory distress. It is better to prevent ascitis than going for treatment. Methods of feed restriction, Temperature, Air quality, Dust, Ammonia, Oxygen play a very useful role in control of ascitis.