Author(s): Majid Shafi, Shabia Shabir, Mudasir Ali Rather, Omer Khalil Baba, Basharat Maqbool Mir Nadeem, Aijaz Ahmad Ganaie, Masood Saleem Mir, Shayaib Ahmad Kamil and Showkat Ahmad Shah

Abstract: The aim of the study was to examine the hematological, serological and Pathomorphological changes in the naturally occurring Colibacillosis in broiler chickens during the period of March to August, 2023 in commercial broiler farms at Ganderbal district of Kashmir. During this study, a total of 200 cases of Colibacillosis were identified at 10 different broiler farms and the dead birds were sent to the Division of Veterinary Pathology for a thorough postmortem investigation. Colibacillosis is a complex disease mainly occurring in the age group of 3–4 week age of age and is characterized by air sacculitis, pericarditis, peritonitis, salpingitis, synovitis, osteomyelitis or yolk sac infection. The pathological changes occurring in Escherichia coli infection were studied in natural cases of avian Colibacillosis. The samples were collected from different poultry farms of Ganderbal district of Kashmir. During postmortem examination, fibrin deposition on the liver and heart, as well as congestion in different organs were observed in the affected birds. The histopathological examination revealed necrosis and the depletion of lymphocytes in the spleen, interstitial pneumonia, fibrinous pericarditis, myocarditis, fibrinous perihepatitis, hepatitis and fatty degeneration in the hepatocytes. It is concluded that the pathogenic E. coli in poultry led to systemic lesions and immunosuppression in birds.

DOI: 10.33545/26174693.2024.v8.i2c.557