Milford chronicle., 1954-07-16
Observations On The
HemOrrhagic Disease
OF BrOilers

Hemorrhagic disease is a simple
description for what now appears
to be a very complex problem. 1t
seems evident from the manner in
which this disease occurs, and from
examination of sick birds, that
number of factors are involved. All
of these factors are not yet known,
but some of them are discussed
briefly here.
What Is IT.
The occurrence and character
istics Of this disease vary greatly
In general, however, it is charac-
terized by the appearance of hem
orrhages in some part of the body.
These hemorEhages may range
from the small, "pin-point" type
occurring in the breast muscles
and the legs, to a massive pool Of
blood in the intestine or body eayi-
ty. Sometimes large, deep hemor-
rhages occur in the legs, appear
ing somewhat as bruises.
Sick birds brought in from vari-
Gus locations and subjected to blood
and bone marrow examination in
the Merck Institute for Therepeu-
tic Research have exhibited varied
abnOrmalities. The bone marrow is
sometimes pale and yellow. The
hemoglObin level is often reduced,
giving the blood a watery appear
ance. The liver may also be pale.
Blood clotting time Is sometimes,
but not always, prolonged. Birds
showing anemia, pale bone marrow
and skeletal hemorrhages may
have normal blood clotting and
prothrOmbin times. In the birds ex-
amined, these two measurements by
themselves have not been found to
be reliable indicators of the pres
ence Of the hemorrhagic syndrome.
Factors Affecting It
Infectious Diseases: Most fire.
quently, hemorrhagic disease is
seen in birds also suffering from
other diseases, particularly chronic
respiratory disease. Sometimes
birds with hemOrrhagic disease also
have disturbance of the gut, such
as diarrhea or mild intestinal cOc-
cidiOsis. On the basis of a large
number of field reports, there is a
strong indication that these infec-
tious diseases may serve as "trig-
ger agents" for the hemorrhagic
syndrome.
Mistaken Diagnosis: The hemor-
rhagic conditions are frequently
confused with coccidiOsis. The es-
cape of blood into the intestine
causes the appearance of bloody
droppings. HemOrrhages may also
occur in the ceca and superficially
resemble cecal cOccidiosis. Obvious
ly, If one makes a diagnosis of coc-
cidiOsis on the basis of bloody drop
pings and uses as confirmation the
occurrence Of hemorrhages in the
ceca, misdiagnosis of coccidiosis
may result. These two findings.
which have in the past been re-
garded as quite reliable, are no
longer sufficient to establish a dag
nOsis for coccldiOsis. The enteritis
mentioned previously may also be
mistakenly diagnosed as Intestinal
coccidiosis. 1t is impotarnt that a
diagnosis of cOccidiOsis be based
upon a demonstration of the pres
ence of cOccidia.
Emect OF Injuries: It has been
found in the Merck Institute and
elsewhere that the occurrence OF
hemOrrfages can be influenced con-
siderably by the method of hand
ling and killing. Birds handled care
lessly have been found to exhibit
small hemOrrhages under the skin
/ and around the joints regardless
of whether the feed is medicated
or not. Birds handled gently and
sacrificed by administration of an
overdose Of an anesthetic, such as
chlorofOrm or sodium pentobaritol
show a considerably smaller Incl
dence of hemOrrhages, if any. Evi.
dence has also been fortheomine
from the field indicating that birds
may incur hemorrhages durina
Grating and shipping. No explana.
tion for this susceptibility is cur,
rently available
Vitamin X: Experimental work
at the University of Illinois the
University of West Virginia pnd
elsewhere has shown that a ration
rnade up of natural feedstuffs
chiefly corn and solvent soybean
meal may be deficient in vitamiu
X for growing chicks housed in
batteries. It has also been found
that certain drugs fed continuously
in the ration at high levels con
tribute to the deficiency. It has been
suggested that hemorrhages IN
commercial floeks may occur as the
result of, recent changes in poultry
rations, particularly the trend to.
ward high-energy feeds containing
little alfalfa meal, more widespread
use Of solvent soybean meal, anC
the use of drugs which tend to sup,
press the synthesis of vitamin K in
the digestive tract. The presence
Of an intestinal infection may also
be postulated to reduce the absofp.
ton OF vitamin X in the feed
/ Field experience with vitamin K.