Survey of Hepatic Lesions and Incriminating Pathogens in Rural Scavenger Chickens in Maiduguri, North-Eastern Nigeria

The survey of hepatic lesions in rural scavenger chickens was carried out in Maiduguri live chicken market. A total of 100 liver tissue and swab samples were collected for histopathological and bacteriological analysis. The result obtained revealed that 20 % of the liver were enlarged, 57% have variable degree of hemorrhage while 77% were pale. In addition, friability and fibrin deposits were observed in 3% and 5% of the liver respectively. Similarly, histopathologic lesions observed, includes varying degree of severe congestion of the central veins, severe mononuclear cellular infiltration around the portal triad, necrosis and degeneration of the hepatocytes. Bacteriological analysis revealed that out of the hundred liver swabs collected, 77 showed positive growth. However, 63 out of the 77 bacteria isolated showed mixed growth while the remaining 14 isolates showed single growths on both MacConkey and blood agar respectively. In addition, out of the 115 bacteria isolated, 37 (32.2%) were Enterococcus specie, 27 (23.5%) were Escherichia coli, 29 (25.2%) were Corynebacteria specie while 15 (13%) and 7(6.1%) of the isolates were Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus respectively. Varying degrees of hepatic lesions and incriminating pathogens were observed in all liver samples.