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Published on: July 29, 2012
Gangrenous dermatitis in chickens and turkeys
Carlos D Gornatti-Churria1,2,3,4, Manuela Crispo1,2,3,4, H L Shivaprasad1,2,3,4
1Cátedra de Patología de Aves y Pilíferos y Laboratorio de Diagnóstico de Enfermedades de las Aves y los Pilíferos, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina (Gornatti-Churria).
Gangrenous dermatitis (GD) is a costly poultry disease, primarily affecting turkeys. Diagnosis relies on clinical signs and lesion identification, confirmed by detecting causative bacteria like Clostridium species.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Pathology
- Poultry Diseases
- Bacteriology
Background:
- Gangrenous dermatitis (GD) causes significant economic losses globally in the poultry industry.
- Clostridium species (septicum, perfringens type A, sordellii) are primary causative agents, with Staphylococcus aureus involvement noted.
- GD is a major disease in commercial US turkeys, often linked to immunosuppressive factors and skin lesions as entry points.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize the etiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, and diagnostic methods for gangrenous dermatitis in poultry.
- To highlight the economic impact and significance of GD in the commercial turkey industry.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on gangrenous dermatitis.
- Analysis of clinical, gross, and microscopic pathological findings.
- Discussion of diagnostic confirmation techniques.
Main Results:
- GD is characterized by acute mortality with severe skin and subcutaneous lesions, including exudate, emphysema, and hemorrhages.
- Microscopic findings include epidermal and dermal necrosis, edema, and emphysema, with Gram-positive rods often present.
- Presumptive diagnosis is based on clinical and pathological evidence, with definitive diagnosis requiring microbiological or molecular confirmation.
Conclusions:
- Gangrenous dermatitis is a serious bacterial infection in poultry, particularly turkeys.
- Accurate diagnosis involves clinical assessment, lesion examination, and laboratory confirmation of causative agents.
- Understanding GD pathogenesis and diagnostic approaches is crucial for disease management and economic mitigation in the poultry sector.
