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SOP/Protocol for

Poultry Necropsy
Basics

Dr.Kedar Karki
BACKGROUND
• The necropsy (post-mortem dissection) of
poultry is a procedure that can be utilized to
find reasons for the bird's death.
• Using a knife or scissors, a person can perform a
basic necropsy to obtain diagnostic information,
samples for further laboratory testing, or to
ensure quality control of a flock.
• A rise in mortality (death rates) or a rise in
morbidity (number of ill birds), the necropsy
can provide you with more information about
the disease, perhaps even a diagnosis.
Poultry Disease Diagnosis

• The proper diagnosis of poultry diseases


depends on three important factors:
1.Identification of vital organs and body
structure.
2.Knowledge of disease symptoms and
lesions.
3A systematic plan for examining the bird's
body.
Flock History
• Poultry diseases must be considered as diseases of the
flock rather than individual diseases. Symptoms in a
few individual birds are usually an indication of a more
serious flock-wide problem. It is important that an
accurate flock history be recorded. The source of many
diseases can be determined from an accurate flock
history.
• A complete flock history includes the following:
• name and address of the owner
• number of birds in the flock
• breed, strain, and age of the birds.
Management information consists
of the following

• hatchery source
• type of operation
• feeding program
• a complete vaccination history.
Information on the illness includes
the following:

• the date the illness was first observed


• severity and number of birds affected
• number of birds dying
• medication history.
External Examination

• Before examining the bird internally,


observe and inspect the bird for external
symptoms. Note the general condition
and fleshing (presence of meat on the
bone) of the bird. Check the condition of
the skin, and all natural body openings
(nasal openings, mouth, ears, and vent).
Examine the head, eyes, comb, and
wattles for evidence of swelling, canker
lesions, unusual discharge or coloration.
External Examination

• Look for signs of lameness, paralysis, or


general weakness. Inspect the affected
areas for abnormalities or swelling that
can give a clue to the cause. If you
observe a partial or complete paralysis,
note the position the bird assumes. It is
often an indicator of the cause of illness.
Inspect the bird for external parasites
such as mites, lice, ticks, and fleas.
Basic Necropsy Needs

• A flat hard surface in a well-lighted area.


• Access to water and towels.
• Knife or scissors.
• Consider gloves and a face mask if you
suspect a potentially zoonotic disease
(transmissible to humans) as the cause of
illness or death.
Performing a Necropsy

• Wet down the feathers with a disinfectant


solution to limit the distribution of feathers
during the dissection.
• Place the bird on its back with its feet towards
you.
• Grasp both legs and push down and away from
the pelvis to loosen the joints.
• Tent the skin over the abdomen and
• cut with scissors or knife.
Performing a Necropsy
• Remove the skin overlying the abdomen and
breast (from neck to cloaca).
• Examine the breast muscle for decreased
muscle mass, paleness (anemia), or bruising.
• Incise the abdominal muscle and cut through
the ribs on the sides of the keel bone. Remove
the skin overlying the abdomen and breast
(from neck to cloaca).
• Examine the breast muscle for decreased
muscle mass, paleness (anemia),
or bruising.
Performing a Necropsy
• Examine the air sacs for increased thickness and
increased cloudiness. The normal air sac surfaces look
like soap bubbles or clear cellophane wrap.
• Cut the gastrointestinal (GI) tract between the
esophagus and proventriculus.
• Remove the proventriculus, ventriculus (gizzard), small
intestines, large intestine, ceca, and cut off at the
level of the cloaca. The pancreas will also be removed.
It is the pinkish tan organ cradled within the loop of
duodenum (a section of the small intestine).
• Cut all attachments close to the intestines and set the
GI tract aside. At the end of the necropsy, these organs
can be opened up and examined for internal parasites.
Performing a Necropsy
• Next, remove the liver and spleen. A green
discoloration of the liver near the gall bladder
is a normal finding. The spleen is the reddish,
round organ located at the junction of the
proventriculus and gizzard.
• Now you can observe the organs located near
the backbone of the carcass.
• Examine the kidneys, which are elongated,
lobulated organs that are embedded in the
backbone of the bird, and the left
ovary/oviduct (or paired testes), which are
positioned on top of the kidneys.
Performing a Necropsy
• The lungs, which are attached to the ribs, can be gently
teased out of the ribcage for further examination.
• The outer surface of the heart should be examined for a
cloudy, thickened appearance, suggesting pericarditis.
Also, note if excessive fluid is located between the
heart and the pericardium (membranous covering of the
heart).
• Next, turn the bird around to face you and cut through
the corner of the beak.
• Extend the cut through the throat and down towards
the heart.
Performing a Necropsy
• Examine the interior surface of the esophagus
and crop. Look for the presence of food and/or
parasites (worms) in the crop. If the inside
surface appears to resemble a towel, it may be
an indication of a fungal infection called "crop
mycosis."
• Next, cut through the larynx, trachea, and
syrinx. The inside surface should be free of
excess mucus.
• Turn the bird back to the previous positioning
feet in front of you.
Performing a Necropsy
• The sciatic nerve located on the interior upper thigh (located
under muscle) should be exposed on both legs. The nerves should
be the same size bilaterally with no swellings. Enlargement of this
nerve can be an indication of Marek's disease.
• With a sharp knife, cut through the stifle and hock joints, looking
for yellow or white pus-like material, blood, or excess fluid. Joints
should appear shiny and white with just a small amount of clear,
sticky fluid inside.
• To find the bursa of Fabricius, cut through the cloaca and look for
a grape-like structure towards the rear of the bird. The older the
birdthe smaller the bursa. The bursa diminishes in size as the bird
reaches sexual maturity
Performing a Necropsy
• Cut the bursa in half. It should have
wrinkles running parallel to each other on
the surface and be cream colored in
appearance. Note any discoloration or
swelling.
• Now return to the GI tract and starting
with the proventriculus, cut lengthwise.
The inside wall is bumpy and this is
normal as these are digestive glands.
Performing a Necropsy
• Cut through the ventriculus, intestines,
and ceca. Note the appearance of the
inside walls (mucosa) and the presence of
parasites (worms), blood, and/or a
thickened or discolored surfaces.
• Dispose of the carcass properly and
disinfect surfaces A = spleen.
B = proventriculus.
• and tools. C = ventriculus.
D = duodenum.
E = pancreas.
F = jejunum.
Flock History
Owner___________________________________________________
___________________________________
Address______________________________________________
Phone No.____________________________
Number in Flock___________________
Breed___________________ Age____________________________
Hatchery
Source___________________________________________________
_________________________
Type of operation (floor, cage, range,
etc.)____________________________________________________
______
Feeding
program_________________________________________________
_____________________
Vaccination
History_________________________________________________
__________________________
_______________________________________________________
____________________________________
Date Illness First
Seen___________________________________________________
_______________________
No. Affected by Illness_____________________ No.
Dead____________________________________________
Medication______________________________________________
____________________________________
_______________________________________________________
____________________________________
_______________________________________________________
____________________________________
Symptoms and
Remarks________________________________________________
________________________
External Examination
Condition of
Bird____________________________________________________
______________________
Comb and
Wattles_________________________________________________
__________________________
Eyes, Ears,
Mouth___________________________________________________
_______________________
Vent
Opening_________________________________________________
______________________________
External
Parasites________________________________________________
_________________________
Necropsy Results
Female____________________
Male_____________________
Head
Eyes_______________________________ Nasal
Cavities_________________________________________
Mouth_____________________________________________
_________________________________________
Respiratory and Circulatory Systems
Larynx and Trachea
(Windpipe)_________________________________________
_____________________
Lungs and Bronchial
Tubes______________________________________________
____________________
Air
Sacs_______________________________________________
____________________________________
Heart____________________________________________
__________________________________________
Digestive System and Accessory Organs
Gullet
(Esophagus)_______________________________________
_____________________________________
Crop_____________________________________________
__________________________________________
Proventriculus and
Gizzard__________________________________________
__________________________
Small
Intestine_________________________________________
_______________________________________
_________________________________________________
__________________________________________
Ceca_____________________________________________
__________________________________________
Cloaca___________________________________________
__________________________________________
Liver___________________________________________
___________________________________________
Spleen__________________________________________
___________________________________________
Excretory and Reproductive Systems
Kidneys and
Ureters_________________________________________
_______________________________
Ovary and
Oviduct_________________________________________
_________________________________
Testes and Ductus
Deferens________________________________________
___________________________
Muscles
Breast______________________________________________
________________________________________
Legs____________________________________________
___________________________________________
Nervous System
Brachial
Nerve___________________________________________
____________________________________
Sciatic
Nerve___________________________________________
_____________________________________
Diagnosis
________________________________________________
___________________________________________
Treatment

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