AN OUTBREAK OF AVIAN PASTEURELLOSIS IN A QUAIL FARM IN TAMIL NADU
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Date
2023
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Abstract
An outbreak of pasteurellosis was recorded in a local Japanese quail farm in
Tamil Nadu with a flock capacity of 20,000 birds per batch. Mortality was reported in
new arrival of 2000 birds of 14 week old quails. Mortality was recorded to be increasing
from third day to 10th day of arrival with a total mortality of 410 birds at the rate of 20
birds per day for three consecutive days and 30 to 60 for seven consecutive days with the
history of depression, ruffled feathers, discharge of mucous from the mouth and nostrils,
anorexia, diarrhoea and respiratory distress. Necropsy was performed on dead birds
which revealed numerous greyish necrotic foci scattered on the entire parenchyma of the
liver on gross examination. Heart showed petechial haemorrhages on the pericardium
while other organs namely kidney, intestine, spleen and lungs showed only congestion.
Impression smear of the liver revealed presence of bipolar organisms on microscopic
examination. Cultural examination of heart blood swab and PCR assay carried out on
liver tissues confirmed the presence of Pasteurella multocida. Based on the postmortem
examination and laboratory findings, diagnosis was confirmed as pasteurellosis and all
the other ailing birds were treated with enrofloxacin orally @ 5 mg/kg body weight for
7 days. The treated birds became active with normal feeding habits after 10 days of
treatment.