Outbreaks of leucocytozoon infection in broiler breeder flocks of Tarai region of Uttaranchal state and Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Outbreaks of leucocytozoon infection in two broiler breeder flocks, one in Tarai region of Uttranchal State and the other in one of the layer flocks of Andaman and Nicobar Islands have been recorded. Both the floks had a history of insidious mortality with healthy adult birds between ten to twenty months of age dying suddenly with drop in egg production upto 30%. Blood smears from clinically affected and freshly dead birds revealed elongated as well as rounded gametocytes and necropsy of the affected dead birds showed either haemorrhagic and/or grayish linear streaks in the pectoral or thigh muscles. Microscopic examination revealed presence of round, oval and elongated gametocytes of leucocytozoan parasites in liver, spleen, cardiac muscles and skeletal muscles of thigh and breast. Based on microscopic examination of blood smears and tissue sections, the disease was diagnosed as leucocytozoonosis.