Pathology of Deep Pectoral Myopathy of Broilers

Abstract

Abstract. Deep pectoral myopathy occurred in 39 of 204 apparently healthy and 46 of 146 ill, adult broiler breeders from Poultry Research Centre flocks. Both sexes and two commercial strains were similarly affected. The myopathy was not associated with any disease except pododermatitis.The supracoracoid was the only muscle affected. It was bilaterally involved in 33 chickens. The lesions were grouped macroscopically into three categories: acute oedema progressing to a green necrosis, centrally located cicatrix, and replacement of the caudal region by fibroadipose tissue. Microscopically the green lesion consisted of necrotic, anucleate muscle fibres devoid of inflammatory cells and surrounded by a fibrous capsule that had a reactive inner border and externally abutted on normal and regenerating muscle or fibro-adipose tissue. Considered with the ultrastructural findings of early loss of glycogen and disintegration of sarcoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, nuclei and Z lines, these findings indicate that the condition is an ischaemic necrosis. There was no evidence that its primary cause was occlusive vascular lesions. The muscle was able to regenerate unless extensive secondary neurological lesions were present.Deep pectoral myopathy, known colloquially as green muscle and Oregon disease, is a necrotic condition of the supracoracoid muscle of certain domestic species of Galliformes. It was first observed in breeder turkey hens [5] and several studies on the condition in turkeys have since been published. Only brief reports [8,12,14) record that a similar disease also affects heavy breeds of chickens. Materials and MethodsThree hundred and fifty birds between 35 and 63 weeks old were examined. They were derived from two commercial strains of adult broiler breeders of both sexes and had been used primarily for nutritional and egg production trials. Sixty-six died in the course of the study, 80 were killed because of lameness resulting from pododermatitis, and the remaining 204 were apparently healthy birds killed at the completion of the trials. The last groups included 39 and 38 birds on which the effects of feeding restricted and unrestricted rations respectively were being studied in the primary experiment. In all cases the birds were fed practical broiler breeder diets supplemented with adequate mineral and vitamin mixes. Some birds were housed in pens, others in cages.Blocks of diseased and unaffected supracoracoid muscles were fixed in Bouin's solution. Paraffin sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin (HE), a trichrome method, Verhoeff-van Gieson's stain, periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) with and without diastase digestion,

A possible relationship between bumblefoot responsive to potassium arsenite and micrococci in the blood of three birds of prey

“…This bacterial presence in the blood has already been described in eight birds of prey affected by CFIDS, in association with Staphylococcus-positive blood cultures and high muscular enzyme levels (creatine kinase), typical of a neuromuscular disorder, responsive to an arsenical medicament (Tarello, 2001c). It is interesting to note that myopathy has already been found to be closely associated with pododermatitis incidence in broilers (Wight and Siller, 1980). Recently, intradermal footpad injection with S. aureus resulted in local swelling and systemic infiltration of bacteria into spleen, liver and blood in broilers, not in contrast with the results reported here (Zhu et al, 2001).…”

Köy Koşullarında Beslenen Broylerlerde Saptanan Derin Pektoral Myopatide Patolojik İncelemeler

“…Numerous studies have reported that rapid body weight gain in broilers may result in various forms of degenerative chronic diseases of muscle such as DPM [1,2,10,11] . In this study, broilers of numerous chicken breeds were reared together with this flock, and DPM was only observed in the broilers.…”

Induction of deep pectoral myopathy in broiler chickens via encouraged wing flapping

“…Extensive investigations and reviews on the etiology and pathophysiology of DPM have been published [5][6][7][8]. Reports of the occurrence of DPM in broilers, especially those marketed at heavy BW for further processing, have occurred more frequently in the past decade than in the previous decade [9][10][11][12].…”