Histopathological Changes of Transmissible Viral Proventriculitis in Broiler Flocks

Transmissible viral proventriculitis (TVP) is a poorly understood disease of broiler chickens. It is characterized by enlargement of the proventriculus, retention of ingesta in the lumen, and weakness of the gastric isthmus. Microscopically, degeneration and necrosis of the proventricular glandular epithelium is accompanied by marked lymphocytic infiltration. Samples from 13 chicken broiler farms from Romania, exhibiting clinical signs of TVP, poor feed conversion efficiency, and increased mortality have been examined by necropsy, histopathology (haematoxylin and eosin and Giemsa staining). The histopathological findings were dominated by the presence of enlarged, deformed glands, containing detritus with an inflammatory cell infiltrate composed of lymphocytes, histiocytes and surprisingly mast cells, as determined by special staining.