Pathological studies on avian pathogenic Escherichia coli infection in broilers

Colibacillosis is a complex syndrome characterized by multiple organ lesions like air sacculitis, pericarditis, peritonitis, salpingitis, synovitis, osteomyelitis or yolk sac infection. Pathological studies were undertaken on natural cases of avian colibacillosis to study the incidence and pathological lesions of Escherichia coli infection. Samples comprised of mortalities from various poultry farms operating in Srinagar, Pulwama and Ganderbal districts of Kashmir. Gross pathological changes included congestion in various organs, accumulation of fibrin on the liver and heart. Histopathologically, there was fibrinous pericarditis, myocarditis, fibrinous perihepatitis, hepatitis and fatty changes in hepatocytes, interstitial pneumonia, necrosis and depletion of lymphocytes in spleen. It is concluded that pathogenic E. coli in natural cases caused systemic lesions in chicks and also resulted in immunosuppression.