AN OUTBREAK OF AVIAN PASTEURELLOSIS IN A TURKEY FARM

Avian Pasteurellosis is a contagious disease of domestic and wild birds caused by Pasteurella mutocida. A turkey farm with a flock size of 500 recorded an acute death of about 102 turkeys with the history of clinical symptoms such as respiratory distress, anorexia, mucoid discharge from mouth and the nostrils, diarrhea were presented to the Department of Veterinary Pathology, Veterinary College. On thorough postmortem examination, a salient finding of petechial haemorrhages with pinpoint necrotic spots though out the liver parenchyma was observed along with pneumonic changes in lungs and vascular changes in trachea, spleen and intestines. On histopathological examination, liver revealed multifocal areas of coagulative necrosis and haemorrhages. Heart showed separation, fragmentation and degeneration of fibers with extensive inter-muscular haemorrhages. Lungs were congested with haemorrhages and pneumonic changes. Based on history, gross & histopathological lesions and impression smear examination after staining with geimsa and methylene blue, the case was diagnosed as Avian Pasteurellosis.