Pathomorphological diagnosis of Hepatitis-hydropericardium syndrome in poultry: A case report

Hepatitis-hydropericardium syndrome (HHS) is one of the important viral disease of poultry caused by adenoviral infection and its associated with economic losses in poultry industry throughout world. The present study describes cases of HHS in poultry, which was presented for necropsy to the Department of Veterinary Pathology, Khalsa College of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Amritsar. Grossly, lesions included, pale, friable liver with contained numerous focal to coalescing pale necrotic areas and swollen kidneys with alternating areas of pale and hemorrhagic parenchyma; the bursa of Fabricius was enlarged and edematous. In heart varying degrees of hydropericardium containing clear, straw colored fluid (Pathognomonic lesion) was recorded. The histopathological lesions in the liver congestion, areas of focal hemorrhages and hepatitis. The hepatic cords in majority of the cases were dissociated and moderate number of hepatocytes showed varying degrees of fatty changes and necrotic changes. Based on gross and characteristic microscopic findings, the HHS was diagnosed in poultry.