Ascites Syndrome: A Challenge for Blooming Poultry Industry

Ascites syndrome (AS) or Pulmonary Artery Hypertension, a metabolic disorder frequently perceived in broiler chickens, is primarily the upshot of high pressure in the pulmonary artery. It is marked by augmented pulmonary hypertension, right-ventricle hypertrophy, fluid accumulation in the pericardium and abdominal cavity, increased hematocrit that results from increased red blood cell production (erythropoiesis), and a slump in arterial blood O 2 saturation. In fact 1% of mortality from AS leads to considerable economic losses because it occurs toward the conclusion of the growing period and, thereby affecting heavy birds on which a considerable investment of labor and feed have assimilated. As the high metabolic rate is a key component contributing to the susceptibility of broilers to Ascites. Some of the feasible nutritional strategies such as early age feed or nutrient restriction (qualitative or quantitative) and light restriction lower the growth rate without compromising the final body weight. Optimization of the house temperature and ventilation in cold weather are beneficial management practices to decrease Ascites incidence. Breeding objectives should aim at locating and eradicating all the AS susceptible individuals in the selected population and selecting for high growth rate among the AS resistant ones.