Pathological study of an outbreak of hydropericardium syndrome in Giriraja chicken

Hydropericardium syndrome was recorded in Giriraja chicken of 7 weeks old in Vaduvur village of Thanjavur district during the month of March 2014. The clinical signs recorded were dullness, depression with 32.73% morbidity and 94.44% mortality. On postmortem examination, pericardial sac revealed 5 ml of straw coloured clear fluid. The liver was enlarged, pale with whitish foci. Lungs revealed congestion with oedema. Kidneys were pale with accentuation of renal tubules. Spleen was congested. Cytological examination of liver revealed micro to macro vacuolar changes in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes. On histopathological examination, the liver showed diffuse severe hepatosis with intranuclear eosinophilic and basophilic inclusion bodies. Heart revealed subacute myocarditis with mild fatty changes in myocardial fibres. Kidneys revealed tubular nephrosis. Based on clinical signs, cytological and pathomorphological examination, the disease outbreak in Giriraja chicken farm was diagnosed as hydropericardium syndrome.