Hyperplasia of proventricular duct epithelium in broilers

Abstract

Spontaneous non-leukotic tumours of the proventriculus are regarded as rare neoplasms of the digestive tract in domestic fowl. In a broiler flock, however, a high incidence of hyperplasia of glandular tissue in the proventriculus has been observed. The condition was correlated with a rather high mortality and condemnation rate. Macroscopically the proventriculi appeared swollen and had thickened, firm walls. Microscopically the epithelial cells lining the ducts of the proventricular glands showed a marked hyperplasia, and several ducts were conspicuously convoluted and formed prominent stellate lumina. Neither proliferation of glandular epithelial cells into the surrounding tissue nor metastases to other organs were detected, and the condition was classified as a hyperplasia of the duct epithelium. The aetiology of the hyperplasia and the striking mortality is unknown, although the presence of a toxic factor(s) in the litter of the chicken-house cannot be entirely ruled out.