Review - Gout In Chicken

Abstract

|Chicken is more prone to gout due to uricotelic mechanism for excretion of nitrogenous waste and lack the enzyme uricase, which converts uric acid to less harmful substances. Uric acid itself is not toxic but precipitated crystals can cause severe mechanical damage to tissues like kidneys, heart, lungs, intestine (visceral gout) and also in the joints (articular gout). Gout is a multifactorial metaboic disease which involves infectious agents, nutritional factors and managemental prcatices. Infectious agents include Nephropathic Infectious Bronchitis Virus (IBV), Avian Nephritis Virus (ANV), Chicken Astrovirus (CAstV) and nutritional factors like high dietary calcium (>2%), high crude protein (> 30%), Hypovitaminosis A, Hypervitaminosis D3, dehydration, high sodium carbonate, Copper sulfate, mycotoxins in feed causes renal failure leads to gout. The managemental practices involves high brooding temperature thereby reducing the water intake and hence increasing chances of development of gout. In addition, products used on a routine basis and result into toxicity includes antibiotics, anticoccidials, manufactured chemicals, and pesticides can also induce gout in poultry. Clinical signs include decreased feed and water intake, lethargy, ruffled feathers, weight loss and abnormal droppings. Clinically, the body fluid reveals increase in TEC, TLC, Hb and PCV and decreased alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatases (ALP), serum total proteins, serum albumin and glutathione stimulating hormone (GSH). Grossly, chalky white deposits of urate crystals on the serosal surface of pericardium, liver, intestines, air sacs, kidneys and ureters. Microscopically, tissue sections show urate crystal deposition in parenchyma of the organs along with infiltration of inflammatory cells. Incorporation of low protein diets, jaggery mixed water, supplementation of B complex and electrolytes helps in the control of gout.

Bone quality and incidence of urolithiasis in male broiler breeders fed a male or female ration.

“…Hicham et al (2011) discussed treatment methods for urolithiasis and stated there was a reduction in mortality when birds had excess to plenty of water. Proper hydration supports kidney function and prevents urate or stone formation associated with high Ca levels (Sandhyarani et al, 2021).…”

“…Non-infectious causes of urolithiasis are mainly associated with nutritional causes. These include excess dietary Ca, CP, Ca:P imbalances (high calcium, low phosphorus), P deficiency, increased sodium bicarbonate in feed, vitamin A and D3 deficiency, and water deprivation (Sandhyarani et al, 2022). Calcium is one of the macro minerals essential in poultry diets.…”

“…The uroliths found in poultry are composed of compact concentrations of calcium-sodium urates (Crespo and Shivaprasad, 2013) formed due to high calcium levels and decreased hydrogen ions in urine. Uric acid is a nitrogenous waste product excreted by birds, and when the renal system fails to remove the waste, it causes hyperuricemia, and the insoluble matter precipitates to form urate deposits (Sandhyarani et al, 2021). Therefore, urolith blockage in the ureter and progressive kidney damage may cause sudden death in poultry.…”

“…When Ca is in excess, P absorption is impaired, resulting in low aP. Phosphorus acts as a urinary acidifier(Sandhyarani et al, 2021) and helps prevent urolith formation, and low aP is associated with high urolith incidences in poultry.…”