Chronic respiratory disease outbreak in an organized native chicken farm

Abstract

Indian poultry industry is moving with rapid strides in the global market but disease outbreaks cause a major setback to this huge industry. Chronic respiratory disease (CRD) caused by Mycoplasma gallispeticum (MG) is one among the important poultry disease affecting the growth of the industry. This current communication presents the outbreak of CRD among native chicken breeds in an organized farm of India. Post mortem investigation was carried out in the farm as mortality was reported to be 5% and morbidity was 50%. Samples namely trachea, lung, air sac and infra orbital sinus were collected for identifying the causative agent and were subjected to bacteriological and virological detection tests. Samples were found positive for MG by conventional bacteriological method while other bacteriological and virological agents were found negative. Isolates on further characterization using Mycoplasma specific PCR and MG specific PCR revealed that the isolates belong to MG and proved the involvement of the bacterium in causing the disease. Histopathology of the samples also showed the presence of necrotic material and infiltration of lymphocytes. Based on gross pathology, histopathology, isolation and molecular characterization showed that the disease was CRD caused by MG. Thus this reports warrants need for further insights into the clear picture on the status of CRD among native chicken breeds of India so as to carve out a better prevention measure