Descriptive Study of an Outbreak of Avian Urolithiasis in a Large Commercial Egg Complex in Algeria

Hicham Sid,Abdelaziz Lounas,Amine Fettah

doi:10.15835/nsb315631

Abstract

Avian urolithiasis is one of the major causes of mortality in poultry. However, in Algeria this condition has never been described. An outbreak of avian urolithiasis was observed on a large commercial egg complex in the department of Chlef (West of Algeria). The clinical features of this condition are to be described. Mortality associated to urolithiasis started at the onset of egg production, estimated to 0.7 % per week. Urolithiasis induced an egg drop estimated to 12%. Dead and live layers were both necropsied and examined for kidney lesions. Most of the birds examined presented enlarged ureters, renal atrophy and visceral gout deposition.

Highlights

The development of poultry industry in Algeria has faced serious obstacles of various types, especially on the basis of intensive production systems
Despite some differences in the age of the affected birds, necropsy observations and case history of this urolithiasis outbreak were similar to urolithiasis in caged layers described in United States (Brown et al, 1987; Cowen et al, 1986, Mallinson et al, 1984)
Authors investigated the pathology of same urolithiasis outbreak in caged layers

Summary

Introduction

The development of poultry industry in Algeria has faced serious obstacles of various types, especially on the basis of intensive production systems. The kidneys are involved in a wide range of essential functions; it is not surprising that kidney dysfunction can cause profound problems for the poultry industry These problems range in severity from increased manure moisture to catastrophic flock mortality. Death occurs due to uricemia when functional kidney mass is insufficient to sustain a normal metabolism (Mallinson et al, 1984; Randall et al, 1977; Raymond et al, 1988) This condition is primarily observed in caged layers and induces an increased mortality and a decrease in egg production; it has been described in Great Britain as an enzootic disease (Siller, 1981)

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Conclusion