Effects of infectious bursal disease vaccine and levamisole on pathology of hydropericardium syndrome in broiler chicks

Narang, G., Pruthi, A.K., Thakral, N. and Khurana R. (2010). Effects of infectious bursal disease vaccine and levamisole on pathology of hydropericardium syndrome in broiler chicks. Indian J. Vet. Pathol., 34(2): 128–133.

Hydropericardium syndrome (HPS) is an important infectious disease of broiler chicks causing significant economic losses to the poultry industry. The present study was conducted to observe the effect of infectious bursal disease (IBD) vaccine and levamisole on pathology of hydropericardium syndrome in broiler chicks. Levamisole treatment slightly reduced the mortality due to HPS in IBD vaccinated birds. Microscopic lesions score due to HPS was significantly higher in IBD vaccinated birds. Levamisole was able to reduce the gross and microscopic lesions score to some extent as compared to levamisole untreated birds. It was concluded that IBD vaccination enhanced the severity whereas use of levamisole along with IBD vaccine slightly reduced the severity of hydropericardium syndrome in broiler chicks.