Lesions of velogenic viscerotropic Newcastle disease virus infection were more severe in broilers than pullets

This study compared the pathologic effects of velogenic Newcastle disease (ND) virus in broilers and pullets using the normal pathogenic dose of the virus following an earlier report that challenge of the two types of chickens with a low dose of the virus caused mortalities in broilers but none in pullets. One hundred and twenty chickens (10 weeks old) were randomly assigned into four groups (n = 30 each): inoculated intramuscularly with velogenic viscerotropic ND virus (vvNDV) pullets – IP, uninfected pullets – UP, infected broilers – IB and uninfected broilers – UB. Anorexia, depression, ruffled feathers, green diarrhoea, tucking of the head under their wings, droopy wings and prostration were observed on days 2 and 3 post inoculation (PI) in groups IP and IB respectively. Mortality in IP and IB was 100%. Weight loss was significant (P < 0.05) by day 4 PI in both IP and IB when compared with their controls. Percentage weight loss in IP and IB were 20.26% and 38.66%, respectively. Proventricular, intestinal and caecal tonsil haemorrhages were significantly (p < 0.05) more severe in group IB than IP. Histopathology showed more severe necrosis and depletion of the lymphocytes in the bursa of Fabricius, thymus and spleen of group IB than IP. The above observations show that the lesions of vvNDV infection may be more severe in IB than IP

Pathomorphology and aerobic bacteria associated with pneumonia in small ruminants slaughtered at the Nsukka abattoir

Pneumonia occurs in all ages of sheep and goats, in all breeds, in every country of the world causing heavy economic losses. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of pneumonia and aerobic bacteria flora associated with it in small ruminants slaughtered at the Nsukka abattoir. Pneumonic lung of small ruminants were examined for gross lesions. Lung samples were collected and processed using standard protocols for histopathological and bacteriological examinations. Lung samples from 342 goats and 40 sheep were examined. A total of 116(30.36 %) lungs had various types of pneumonia. Two major types of pneumonia were observed during histopathological examination; bronchopneumonia 64(55.17 %) and interstitial pneumonia 52(44.82 %). Out of the 116 pneumonic lungs collected over a six months period, 98 were caprine lungs and 18 were ovine lungs. Aerobic bacteria isolated from the pneumonic lungs were Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Mannheimia haemolytica, Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus and Pasteurella multocida respectively. There was no significant seasonal, species and breed associations (p&gt;0.05) between pneumonic lesions observed and the associated aerobic bacteria.Keywords: Small ruminants, Pneumonia, Interstitial pneumonia, Bronchopneumonia, Aerobic bacteria flor