Comparative Pathomorphologic Studies on the Incidence of Fractures Associated with Leg Skeletal Pathology in Commercial Broiler Chickens.

The aim of the present investigation is to report the prevalence of spontaneous fractures associated with leg skeletal pathology and compromised welfare in commercial broiler chickens. Our studies focused on fractures of different leg segments (femur, tibiotarsus, tarsometatarsus) detected as incidental findings during pathoanatomic examinations in cases of rickets, tibial dyschondroplasia (TD), and femoral head necrosis (FHN). The morphogenetic and etiopathogenetic aspects of the findings were further investigated through histopathologic, bacteriologic, and bone mineral analyses. The gross anatomy study showed that in about 10% of bones affected by rickets-specific lesions, fractures of the proximal tibiotarsus were present. A relatively low percentage (6.5%) of fractures of the same anatomic location could be attributed to TD lesions. The highest prevalence of fractures (68.5%), mainly of the proximal femur, was associated with FHN and osteomyelites. The results from the large-scale field surveys allowed us to confirm that the prevalence of spontaneous bone fractures of the legs in broiler chickens was largely associated with FHN, rickets, and TD. The poor vascularization of the grown prehypertrophic cartilage in cases of rickets and TD, as well as the osteolytic lesions in FHN, resulted in degenerative, necrobiotic processes which may entail bone fractures.

Estudios anatomopatológicos comparativos sobre la incidencia de fracturas asociadas con patologías esqueléticas de la pierna en pollos de engorde comerciales. El objetivo de la presente investigación es informar sobre la prevalencia de fracturas espontáneas asociadas con patologías esqueléticas de la pierna y con problemas de bienestar en pollos de engorde comerciales. Estos estudios se centraron en fracturas de diferentes segmentos de la pierna (fémur, tibiotarso, tarsometatarso) detectados como hallazgos incidentales durante los exámenes anatomopatológicos en casos de raquitismo, discondroplasia tibial (TD) y necrosis de la cabeza de fémur (FHN). Los aspectos morfogenéticos y etiológico-patogenéticos de los hallazgos se investigaron más a fondo mediante análisis histopatológicos, bacteriológicos y por determinaciones de minerales óseos. El estudio de anatomía macroscópica mostró que en aproximadamente el 10% de los huesos afectados por lesiones específicas de raquitismo, se presentaban fracturas del tibiotarso proximal. Un porcentaje relativamente bajo (6.5%) de fracturas de la misma ubicación anatómica podrían atribuirse a las lesiones por discondroplasia tibial. La mayor prevalencia de las fracturas (68.5%), principalmente del fémur proximal, se asociaron con necrosis de la cabeza del fémur y osteomielitis. Los resultados de los muestreos de campo a gran escala permitieron confirmar que la prevalencia de fracturas óseas espontáneas de las patas de pollos de engorde se asociaba en gran medida con necrosis de la cabeza del fémur, raquitismo y discondroplasia tibial. La pobre vascularización del cartílago prehipertrófico con crecimiento en casos de raquitismo y discondroplasia tibial, así como las lesiones osteolíticas en la necrosis de la cabeza del fémur resultaron en procesos degenerativos y necrobióticos que pueden estar asociados con fracturas óseas.

Porcine/chicken or human nephropathy as the result of joint mycotoxins interaction.

A survey was made of the literature concerning the occurrence and incidence of mycotoxic nephropathy in pigs and chicks in different countries. Various etiological factors contributing to the development of the disease were considered. The main nephrotoxic fungi as well as the specific conditions for their growth and toxins production were briefly described. A survey was made about the most frequent nephrotoxic fungal contaminants in various feedstuffs from plant origin. In addition, their natural quantities and importance for development of mycotoxic porcine/chick nephropathy (MPN/MCN) are also explored. In addition, a survey was made of the feedstuffs representing the most favorable environment for nephrotoxic fungal growth as well as the most favorable storehouse conditions for this fungal growth were shortly described. The significance of some underestimated fungal species, which can provoke kidney damage, was studied. The importance of joint mycotoxin interaction and newly identified fungal metabolites in the complex etiology of mycotoxic nephropathy ranged in some countries is deeply investigated. The toxicity of the low contamination levels of some combinations of mycotoxins often administered by pigs and chicks in the practice was carefully studied.

Experimental mycotoxic nephropathy in pigs provoked by a mouldy diet containing ochratoxin A and fumonisin B1.

Mycotoxic nephropathy was induced in eighteen young pigs by mouldy diets containing 0.5 ppm ochratoxin A (OTA) and/or 10 ppm fumonisin B1 (FB1) for three months. While the most obvious damages provoked by OTA were seen in the kidneys as expressed by the strong degenerative changes in proximal tubules and fibrosis in kidneys, FB1 was found to induce an increase in permeability of vessels mainly in lung, brain, cerebellum or kidneys and slight to moderate degenerative changes in kidneys. Pathomorphological damages in pigs exposed to both mycotoxins simultaneously present a combination of the main lesions provoked by each mycotoxin alone being stronger in their expression. Biochemical investigations as expressed by the increase of serum creatinine, urea and enzyme activity of ASAT/ALAT and by the decrease of serum cholesterol, total protein, albumin and glucose were strongest in pigs exposed to both mycotoxins simultaneously as can be anticipated form the strongest lesions in the kidneys. Both mycotoxins and their combination were found to disturb powerfully humoral immune response in all experimental pigs as expressed by the strong decrease in antibody titer against Morbus Aujesky at days 21 and 35 after vaccination. Having in mind that the feed levels of the both mycotoxins as well as the exposure time and the pathological findings corresponded to those in some spontaneous cases of porcine nephropathy in Bulgaria and South Africa, it can be concluded that the same mycotoxins are involved in the observed field cases of that nephropathy.

Complex etiology and pathology of mycotoxic nephropathy in South African pigs.

Spontaneous nephropathy in pigs seen in South Africa was found to have multi-mycotoxic etiology involving several mycotoxins such as ochratoxin A (OTA), penicillic acid (PA) and fumonisin B1 (FB1) in addition to a not yet identified mycotoxin. Contamination levels of OTA were comparatively low (67-75 µg/kg) in contrast to high contamination levels of FB1 (5,289-5,021 µg/kg) and PA (149-251 µg/kg). A heavy contamination with Gibberella fujikuroi var. moniliformis and Penicillium aurantiogriseum complex (mainly P. polonicum) was observed in the fed forages in contrast to the light contamination with Aspergillus ochraceus, P. verrucosum and P. citrinum. The pathomorphological picture of this nephropathy was found to differ from the classical description of mycotoxic porcine nephropathy as originally made in Scandinavia by the extensive vascular changes.