Occurrence of hydropericardium-hepatitis syndrome in broilers and baeksemis raised in Korea

Kim, Ki-Seuk; Ha, Jong-Su; Kim, Jin-Hyun

Korean Journal of Veterinary Research 2007;47(3):285-290.

College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University

Abstract

The occurrence of hydropericardium-hepatitis syndrome was confirmed for the first time in Korea from chickens submitted for diagnosis to our laboratory from broiler and baeksemi farms. Clinical signs included depression, inappetence, ruffled feathers and an increase in mortality. At necropsy, severe hydropericardium and hepatic necrosis was characteristically found. The most remarkable microscopic changes were seen in the liver, including basophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies in the hepatocytes, massive hemorrhages and necrosis in the liver parenchyma. Based on polymerase chain reaction and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), we could identify the fowl adenoviruses as the causative agent of the disease. In the TEM, we observed the presence of a large number of intranuclear virus particles in the hepatocytes. We could also find the PCR amplification of 700 bp DNA from purified hydropericardium-hepatitis syndrome viral DNA.

Key Words: hydropericardium, intranuclear inclusion bodies, PCR, TEM