Ascitic Syndrome Research Articles

Ultrastructural abnormalities in seven-day-old broilers reared at high altitude

Fine structural abnormalities in seven-day-old broilers reared at high altitude are described. Tissue changes were seen in the heart, kidney and lung that resembled those previously reported in four-week-old broilers reared at altitude with an ascitic syndrome. Almost half of the hearts examined had myofibril disorganisation and mitochondrial hyperplasia. Renal changes occurred principally in tubule morphology and the lungs showed capillary congestion as well as engorged parabronchi. Increased levels of cartilaginous and osseous nodules in the lungs of 28-day-old ascitic birds reared at high altitude supported observations from a previous study conducted at low altitude. The observations in this study of seven-day-old chicks, may indicate that the embryo is at greater risk of developing abnormalities following exposure to low oxygen tension.

Haematological and morphological responses of broiler chicks to hypoxia

Broiler chicks were subjected to experimentally-induced hypoxia and the haematology, together with the histopathology and ultrastructure of heart, liver, lung and kidney and the ultracytochemistry of heart tissues were examined. The haemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume and red blood cell counts were significantly increased compared with controls. The results resembled the haematology of similar aged broilers with an ascitic syndrome and also 1-day-old chicks after induced hypoxia. The morphological changes were also similar in all organs examined and compared with those described in ascitic syndromes. Lactate dehydrogenase was increased in the hearts of hypoxic and ascitic birds indicating reduced oxygen utilisation. It was suggested that hypoxia may be an important factor in the aetiology ascitic syndromes of flocks kept at low altitude.

An ultrastructural study of an ascitic syndrome in young broilers reared at high altitude

This study examined the ultrastructure of tissues from young broilers with an ascitic syndrome collected from a farm near Nairobi, Kenya which is located at an altitude of 1500 m. All organs (kidney, liver, heart, spleen and lungs) revealed more severe changes than those previously reported in age-matched birds during a low altitude study.

The histology and ultrastructure of ectopic cartilaginous and osseous nodules in the lungs of young broilers with an ascitic syndrome

The histology and ultrastructure of ectopic cartilaginous and osseous nodules present in lungs of young broilers with an ascitic syndrome and reared at two locations were examined. There were significant increases in the numbers of nodules observed in the lungs of birds with an ascitic syndrome compared with control birds. Institute-reared birds had more lung nodules per section than those commercially-reared, possibly resulting from inadequate ventilation. Histologically, these nodules contained more chondroitin sulphate proteoglycans than keratan sulphate. Haemosiderin was also demonstrated within the nodules, possibly indicating previous pulmonary haemorrhage. The nodules matured from hyaline, fibrous and mineralised cartilaginous to osseous forms, with the fibrous variety being the most frequent in both rearing programmes. In lungs of ascitic birds when there was a high incidence of nodules, large areas of the parenchyma contained bundles of non-mineralised collagen fibres. It was suggested that birds with an ascitic syndrome maintained in a possibly hypoxic environment develop pulmonary fibrosis which could lead to an increase in the number of nodules found in the lungs.

The incidence of ectopic cartilaginous and osseous lung nodules in young broiler fowls with ascites and various other diseases

The incidence of ectopic cartilaginous and osseous lung nodules in young broiler fowls with ascites and various other diseases has been determined. In all groups of diseased birds there were more nodules in the lungs compared with control birds. The birds that died with an ascitic syndrome had a significantly greater number of nodules than the other groups of diseased birds, with significantly more occurring in the left lung than in the right (P<0.001). Histologically, the fibrous cartilaginous type of nodule was the most numerous and the osseous type the least numerous. This is the first detailed study in fowls in which a relationship has been demonstrated between the presence of cartilaginous and osseous lung nodules and various disease states.

Haematology and morphological changes in young broiler chicks with experimentally induced hypoxia

The haematology, histology and ultrastructure of day-old broiler chicks subject to experimentally induced hypoxia during incubation were examined. Some birds were allowed to reach five weeks old before examination. All the red blood cell parameters, namely, haemoglobin, packed cell volume and red cell counts were raised significantly in hypoxic birds compared with control material and the results closely resembled the haematological profile of young broilers with an ascitic syndrome. By week 5 these parameters had returned to normal. Morphological changes were seen in all the organs examined from day-old hypoxic chicks. The lungs showed much congestion and large numbers of granulocytes were present in hearts, and testes. In the livers, hepatocytes contained enlarged mitochondria together with a reduction in glycogen content. Congested lungs were seen at five weeks old but recovery to normal morphology was observed in all other organs.

Studies on an ascitic syndrome in young broilers 2. ultrastructure

Hearts, livers and kidneys of young broiler chicks with an ascitic syndrome were examined by electron microscopy. The results confirmed a histopathological study performed on material from the same birds. Ultrastructural observations included cardiac myofibril damage, marked dilation of lung parabronchi and associated air spaces, mitochondrial alterations and excess lipid in kidney tubules together with thickening of glomerular basement membranes. Light and dark degenerative cells and a paucity of glycogen were common findings in livers. Inflammatory cells, in particular immature and mature heterophils, were often seen in hearts and livers. Enveloped virus-like particles in the order of 100 nm were seen in all organs of affected birds, but not in those of controls. Although the aetiology of the syndrome is obscure, there were strong similarities in the ultrastructural findings in these birds and those reported by others in hypoxic birds maintained at altitude. Together with the viral implications, the reported syndrome may be multi-factorial in origin.

Studies on an ascitic syndrome in young broilers 1. haematology and pathology

In the present investigation, the haematology and pathology of young broiler chicks with an ascitic syndrome were examined. Gross changes included cardiomegaly, ascites, congested lungs, shrunken livers, enlarged kidneys, dark breast muscle and congested intestines. Many blood parameters were significantly raised including the packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb), red (Rbc) and white blood cell (Wbc) counts. The heterophils and monocytes were also increased at the expense of the lymphocytes compared with control birds. The histopathology revealed degenerative changes in all organs examined which resembled lesions reported elsewhere in birds maintained at high altitude. In addition, large numbers of infiltrating leukocytes, in particular heterophils, were also present in the tissues. In many cases the syndrome was characterised by congestive heart failure.

Ascites in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis: Report of six cases and physiopathologic approach

Six patients with chronic uremia in whom ascites developed during maintenance hemodialysis are described. Their clinical and biochemical findings are reviewed and compared with data of 10 hemodialyzed patients without ascites. Liver cirrhosis was the origin of ascites in only one case. Hypoalbuminemia, liver cirrhosis, congestive heart failure, peritonitis, peritoneal tuberculosis and carcinomatosis were uniformly absent in the other patients. Long-term and marked overhydration seems to be at the origin of ascites. Lack of peripheral edema, probably due to ascites compartmentalization, was a constant finding in every noncirrhotic patient with ascites. When long-term overhydration was stopped after successful kidney transplantation or by means of diminished water and salt ingestion, reversal of the syndrome was attained. Nevertheless, ascites because of liver cirrhosis was not influenced by means of kidney transplantation. In three patients with ascites who did not receive a transplant, a significant reduction in water and salt ingestion was reached after intensive psychotherapy which led to reversal of the ascitic syndrome. In one anephric patient ascites did not develop despite water overloading. Survival has not been influenced by the formation of ascites. Further research is needed to determine the mechanism of sodium transfer across the peritoneal membrane. Influence of humoral factors can be considered, if an active transport mechanism could be demonstrated.

Solid intraperitoneal Landschütz tumour in mice: implications in cancer chemotherapy and immunology studies

Multiple intraperitoneal injections of various normal sera into BALB/c mice inoculated intraperitoneally with Landschütz ascites tumour cells abrogated the development of ascitic syndrome in almost all the animals. In a large proportion of the survivors solid intraperitoneal tumours developed, composed of characteristic ascites tumour cells engulfed and encapsulated in connective tissue. The effect of serum on the development of the solid tumour was diminished if the donor had been immunized against mouse IgG. Inoculated animals treated with serum hyperimmune against mouse IgG showed accelerated ascitic tumour growth. Cyclophosphamide or arabinosylcytosine strongly inhibited growth of solid tumours. Simultaneous administration of arabinosylcytosine and its antagonist cycloheximide did not interrupt tumour growth.