Stress induced gizzard erosion in chicks. I. Gross and histopathological findings

A model of stress induced gizzard erosions is described. Three day old chickens were deprived of food for 24 h, and after that they were immersed in tap water (17 degrees C) for five seconds. Group A was sacrificed immediately before being subjected to stress, group B one hour, group C two hours and group D three hours after water immersion stress. Each group consisted of 10 animals. Gizzard lesions in group A were very mild and the main feature was discoloration of the gizzard lining. In groups B, C, and D the lesions were more severe and they were characterised by gizzard erosions, ulcerations and hemorrhages especially pronounced in group D. This model produced lesions in all stressed animals.