[A hemorrhagic-anemic syndrome with dermatitis in broiler chickens]

Eleven successive deaths of broiler chickens affected with dermatitis (Staphylococcus aureus) preceded by anaemia and muscular haemorrhages, are reported as occurring in Belgium. All of these cases could be traced to a single flock of broiler breeders. The depletion of lymphoid cells in the bursa, thymus and spleen was a striking feature. Infectious Bursal Disease virus as triggering or causative agent, could not be demonstrated. The pathological changes showed a marked resemblance to similar syndromes which were recently reported in broilers (1, 2, 3, 4).