Inclusion Body Hepatitis (Hydropericardium Syndrome)
Inclusion Body Hepatitis also called Hydropericardium Syndrome.
Inclusion Body Hepatitis (Hydropericardium Syndrome) is an acute disease of young chickens associated with anemia, hemorrhagic disorders and hydropericardium.
Etiology
- Inclusion Body Hepatitis (Hydropericardium Syndrome) is caused by avian adenovirus the virus contain 12 serotype among which serotype 4 and 8 causes disease
- Broilers at 3-7 weeks are severely affected and mortality rate is high in broiler
- Sometimes layer and breeder pullets also affected. The disease was first reported in Pakistan in the year 1987 and first reported in India in the year 1994
- The IBH is rare in turkey, characterized by sudden increase in mortality
- If concurrent infection with IBD and CIA will result in a more severe disease
Source of infection
- The virus is excreted in the faeces for about 3 weeks, with peak excretion between 4 and 7th day after infection.
Transmission
- Vertical and horizontal transmission.
Clinical manifestation
- Sudden onset of mortality is usually seen in chicken less than 6 weeks of age and as young as 4 days old.
- Lethargy, huddling with ruffled feathers and crouching position.
- Yellow mucoid dropping.
- Depression of overall feed conversion ratio and weight gain.
- Duration of infection is 9-14 days.
Necropsy Findings
- Sudden onset of mortality is usually seen in chicken less than 6 weeks of age and as young as 4 days old.
- Lethargy, huddling with ruffled feathers and crouching position.
- Yellow mucoid dropping.
- Depression of overall feed conversion ratio and weight gain.
- Duration of infection is 9-14 days.
Diagnosis
- Based on clinical signs and lesions.
- Detection of AAV by PCR.
- Detection of antibodies in serum by double immunodiffusion test (DID).
- Histopathology- basophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies in liver and myocardium.
Sample collection
- Faeces, pharynx, kidney and affected organ.
Treatment
- There is no specific treatment.
Prevention and control
- Live attenuated and inactivated vaccines are available.
- Breeder flock should be vaccinated at 10-14 weeks of age with live attenuated vaccine or inactivated vaccine.
- Live attenuated vaccine should be given in drinking water.
- Vaccination of chicks less than 10 days of age, if chicks lack maternal antibodies.
