Gastrointestinal and hepatic diseases
Gastrointestinal diseases are common in floor-raised backyard chickens. One way to clinically assess the gastrointestinal health of poultry is to observe their feces. While there are conditions, such as intestinal parasitism, that primarily affect the gastrointestinal tract, conditions of other systems, such as respiratory disease, might present with gastrointestinal signs (e.g., diarrhea).
This chapter is organized to assist the veterinary practitioner to first look for clinical signs, followed by descriptions of diseases that can be considered by biopsy or necropsy. The top five differential diagnoses for poultry include fowl pox, candidiasis, trichomoniasis, vitamin A deficiency, and aspergillosis. The lesions are characterized by multifocal discoid ulcers in the small intestine and multifocal hepatic necrosis. Liver disease may be detected using biochemical tests.
Physical examination can reveal an enlarged liver. Changes in small flocks are best prevented by monitoring body weights and feed intake, and by limiting access to high fat treats.
Authors: Teresa Y. Morishita, Robert E. Porter Jr
Source: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/
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