Gross and Histo-Pathological Changes in Japanese Quail (Coturnix Coturnix Japonica) Experimentally Infected with Salmonella Enterica Serovar Gallinarum

A total of 160 (108 males and 52 females) Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were used for the experiment. The quails were obtained at the age of four weeks from the Poultry Division of the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria. They were randomly selected and assigned into four groups (A, B, C and D) of forty quails each. Groups A, B and C were infected with Salmonella enterica serovar Gallinarum per os at the dose of 106,, 104 and 102, respectively, while group D served as the control. Mortality rate ranged from 30% to 35%. Grossly, congestion of the liver, lung and ovarian follicle were generally observed in all the infected groups. Also bronzed liver,hepato-splenomegaly, swollen and congested kidney and ascites were observed. Histopathological lesions included; congestion and cellular infiltration of various organs (liver, lung and heart), as well as hepatic vacuolation and hemorrhages. The high mortality rate, gross and histo-pathological findings in this study demonstrate that Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) are highly susceptible to Salmonella enterica serovar Gallinarum.