Clinical, Gross and Histopathological Studies on Natural Ascites Syndrome in Broiler Chickens

This study was conducted to determine the pathology of ascites syndrome in Kazeoon and Shiraz province south of Iran. One hundered broiler chickens from 10 different farms showing clinical signs of ascites syndrome were compared with normal broilers from same farms. Postmortem examination revealed presence of fluid in the abdominal cavity, enlargement of right ventricle of the heart and swelling of the liver and kidney. Histopathology revealed congestion and edema in the liver, congestion and myofibril degeneration in the heart, congestion and edema of the parenchyma accompanied with atelectasis and extensive dilatation in tertiary bronchus with cartilaginous mass and primary stages of ossification in the lung, heavy mononuclear cell infiltration in the spleen and necrosis, congestion, heavy infiltration of mononuclear cell in the intestine were the main features observed in ascetic broilers.