This presentation has been uploaded to share knowledge about hydropericardium syndrome. various references has been taken for this presentation and it is mainly focused in nepalese context. Thank you!!!

1. H YDROPERICARDIUM
SYNDROME
INCLUSION BODY
HEPATITIS,
A N G A R A D I S E A S E , L I T C H I H E A R T
D I S E A S E
S U M E E T J Y O T I
B V S C & A H
I A A S , T U

2. INTRODUCTION
Inclusion body hepatitis (IBH) is an adenovirus infection of
poultry characterized by an accumulation of clear, straw-
coloured fluid in the pericardial sac , discoloured liver and
enlarged kidneys, accompanied by intranuclear inclusion
bodies in hepatocytes.

3. BACKGROUND
• First occurrence was reported in Angara Goth of Karachi (Pakistan)
in August 1987(Khawaja et al.)
• In India, disease was first noticed in the broilers of Jammukashmir
in April 1994.
• On the American continents, the disease was reported in Mexico,
Peru, Ecuador and Chile
• Spread of the disease was also reported in Iraq

4. BACKGROUND CONTD……
• In Japan, the first outbreak of HPS occurred in 1996,
• In Nepal, this disease was first encountered at Gamcha and Gundu
areas of Bhaktapur district in November 2002.
• Later it spread to Lalitpur, Kabhre, Nuwakot and Dhading districts
of central Nepal

5. EMERGENCE OF
“HYDROPERICARDIUM
SYNDROME” IN BROILERS OF
NEPAL• In the month of June and July 2009, the veterinarians of Chitwan
had experienced an emergence of Hydropericardium Syndrome
(Singh Subir 2009) in Broilers. In accordance with the research,
disease has showed high spread rate with high morbidity and
mortality pattern. The disease has been reported from
Nawalparashi, Chitwan and Makwanpur
• The cases recorded at VTH (IAAS) Rampur, NAL, Bharatpur and by
several field veterinarians reveals that the disease is in increasing
trend.SPORADIC CASES has been reported in Central veterinary
Laboratory Kathmandu.

6. ETIOLOGY
• Caused by a disease-producing Group I
(Aviadenovirus) adenovirus
• It is a double stranded DNA virus measuring
about 70-75 nm in diameter.
• There are 12 different serotypes of avian
adenovirus, among them serotype 4 and
serotype 8 are most prevalent. FOWL Adenovirus

7. SUSCEPTIBLE HOST
• Mainly broiler birds of 3-6 weeks of age.
• Sporadic occurrences of the syndrome have also been reported among
broiler breeders, commercial layer flocks and pigeons.

8. TRANSMISSION
• Transmission occurs both vertically (egg transmission) and
horizontally (laterally).
• Horizontal spread of virus by latent carriers may be an important
method of spread among flocks on multi-age farms
• Lack of biosecurity, closeness of multi-age farms, and live-bird
trading increase spread of viral agents.

9. TRANSMISSION CONTD….
• Faecal contamination of clothes, footwear and equipment including
transport crates and vehicles may spread infection
• Contaminated vaccine in some case may act as a source of infection.
• In addition, virus grows in the nasal and tracheal mucosa, conjunctiva and
kidneys, and therefore virus could be present in other secretions or
excretions (OIE,2000)

10. MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY
• Morbidity rate of inclusion body hepatitis ranges from 10-30 %
• Mortality rate in various outbreaks range between 5% and 10%, but
can reach 30%(OIE) . Typically mortality begins at 3 weeks of age,
peaks in 4th and 5th week and is decreased.

11. PATHOGENESIS
CHICKENS ONCE AFFECTED BECOMES LIFE LONG CARRIER
AFFECTED ORGAN SHOW LESIONS AT VARIOUS DEGREE.
•VIRUS CAN BE READILY ISOLATED FROM FECES, OCULAR
AND NASAL MUCOSA, BURSA
VIRAEMIA OCCURS WITH SPREADING OF VIRUS TO MANY
ORGANS LIKE LIVER, KIDNEY, RESPIRATORY TRACT, BONE
MARROW AND BURSA.
INITIAL MULTIPLICATION OCCURS IN SMALL AND LARGE
INTESTINE.
VIRUS ENTERS TO THE BODY VIA VARIOUS ROUTES.

12. CLINICAL FINDINGS
• In natural outbreaks of HPS, the affected birds may not exhibit any
clinical signs other than sudden heavy mortality
• Sudden onset of mortality, dullness, mucoid dropping and crowding
with ruffled feathers are some of the
exhibited signs of the disease.
• Decreased albumin level due to liver
damage.
• About 4-6 hours before death, animals
become reluctant to move, debilitated
and lethargic until death.

13. LESIONS
• Most prominent gross lesion is excessive
accumulation of clear watery/ jelly like,
straw/ amber or green colored fluid in the
pericardial sac
• Pericardium appears transparent and
occasionally cloudy
• Presence of about 3- 20 ml of fluid in the
pericardial sac.
Straw colored fluid in the pericardial
sac

14. LESIONS
• Pericardial fat may exhibit yellowish discolouration and petechial
hemorrhages
• Heart appears flabby and its cone is found floating in the pericardial
sac.
• Liver is swollen, pale, friable/mottled and contains large areas of
focal necrotic patches. Occasionally petechiae and echymotic
hemorrhages are found in the liver .
• Kidneys are pale yellow, swollen and friable and contain urate
deposits in the tubules and ureters .
• Lungs are enlarged, congested and edematous with frothy air
passages.

15. Necrotic focal patches in the liver Swollen liver

17. DIAGNOSIS
• On the basis of signs and symptoms.(poor diagnostic approach)
• Post mortem lesions
• Histological investigations and detection of intra-nuclear inclusion
bodies in hepatocytes
• Detection of the antigen or virus particles using
immunofluorescence test or electron microscopy
• Isolation and identification of virus by infecting embryonic chick
liver cells.

18. DIAGNOSIS
• ELISA
• Agar Gel diffusion
• Immunoelectrophoresis
• PCR

19. TREATMENT
• There is no specific treatment of this disease
• Antibiotics are used to prevent the secondary bacterial infection.
• Iodophore in drinking water (2.5 %) Vegad,J.L, somehow reduces the
mortality .

20. CONTROL
• It is strictly important to maintain biosecurity to control this disease.
• Breeder flocks should be at least 2 km away from commercial farms.
• Killed or inactivated vaccines should be given which is supposed to
provide 80% protection against the disease.

21. S
n
TRADE NAME AND CO. COMPOSITION INDICATIONS DOSAGE/ADMIN
ISTRATION
REGIMEN
1. H P VAX (KILLED VACCINE) Oil based
emulsion of
inactivated
suspension of
hepatic tissue of
infected bird
For the protection
of broiler chicks
against HPS
Inject 0.2 ml/bird
by s/c route
7 day old chick
2. NOBILIS FAV (KILLED
VACCINE)
Inactivated
vaccine containing
fowl adenovirus 4
For the protection
against HPS
In broilers,layers
and breeders:
inject o.5 ml by s/c
or i/m
broilers:8-15 days
of age
Layers:16-22
weeks but not less
than 4 weeks
before the onset of
lay
Breeders: at the
age of 8-10 weeks
and second dose
at 16-18 weeks of
age
3. IBH vaccine Inactivated
vaccine
For the protection
against HPS
Chicks: 0.2 ml s/c
Parents: 0.5 ml s/c
route
Chicks: up to 4
weeks
Parents:

22. THANK YOU!!!