Pathological changes in naturally occurring inclusion body hepatitis and hydropericardium syndrome in poultry

Natural cases of inclusion body hepatitis (IBH) and hydropericardium syndrome (HPS) were noticed in broilers of 1–6 weeks of age. Grossly, livers were enlarged and mottled with a few necrotic foci on the surface, and hydropericardium was observed in HPS cases. Intranuclear inclusion bodies i.e. basophilic, eosinophilic or both as well as hyperchromatic nuclei were observed in affected hepatocytes along with degenerative changes, besides marked granular or vacuolar degeneration in mycocardium. IBH and HPS was observed in concurrence with Marek's disease and aflatoxicosis.