Pathology and molecular diagnosis of chicken infectious anemia in Rhode Island Red (RIR) flocks in natural outbreaks

The present study was carried out to investigate the outbreak of chicken infectious anaemia (CIA) in field condition of Vidharbha region of Maharashtra. A total of 45 birds were brought from four flocks for systemic necropsy. The samples were collected for histopathology as well as PCR analysis for characterization of CIA infections. The necropsy showed that there was severe anemia indicated by paleness of comb, wattle and visceral organs. Atrophy of the thymus along with the mild atrophy of bursa was also noticed. Liver and bone marrow were pale in appearance. Kidneys were swollen and pale. Microscopically, marked hypoplasia of haemopoitic cells in the bone marrow, severe depletion of lymphocytes from lymphoid organs such as thymus, bursa and spleen were noticed along with mild to severe hemorrhages in the visceral organs of affected birds. PCR assay using specific primers for VP1 gene (1300bp) of CIA virus confirmed the CIA infection. The results of present study confirmed the presence of CIAV infection in RIR birds in current outbreaks.