This document discusses ascites in broiler chickens. It describes a case of ascites in a 21-day-old broiler, noting post-mortem lesions including congested muscles, fluid-filled cavities, and congested organs. Treatments including medications to support liver and kidney function were prescribed, along with advice to improve ventilation by opening curtains and changing litter. Ascites is defined as an abnormal collection of fluid in the abdominal cavity, which can result from heart or organ disease. Common causes in broilers are identified as high altitude, heat stress, and respiratory illnesses.

1. Presented By:
Shankar Pd. Poudel
Manoj L. Sharma
Nirvik Neupane
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2.  Owner Name: Faisingh lama
 Address: Bharatpur-18
 Species: Avain (Broiler)
 Age: 21 days
 Date: 2072-08-11
Post mortem lesions:
 Congested muscles
 Fluid filled cavities
 Fibrinous pericarditis
 Liver hard in consistency (Cirrhotic liver)
 Congested intestine
 Swollen kidney with congestion
 Congested lungs
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3. Treatment:
 Liq. Tefroli
Sig: 10ml/100 birds OD × 7days
 Liq. Nephrocare
Sig: 28 ml/100 birds OD × 7 days
 Liq. Biotox
Sig: 1ml/lit. DW × 5 days
Advice:
 Do not cover curtain
 Change litter (add new)
Veterinarian: Dr. S. B. Raut
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4.  Ascites: as I’ teez…. Derived from Greek
Word ‘askos’, meaning ‘a bag’
 An abnormal collection of fluid in
abdominal cavity.
 Not a disease but a clinical manifestation of
visceral organs.
 Fluid may contain yellow protein clots
giving it a yellowish tinge
 Occurs mostly in dog and poultry
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5. Ascites
OEDEMA involving the abdomen; a very common
complication of abdominal tuberculosis,
of liver, kidney, or heart disease, as well as of
some parasitic infestations. In poultry, ascites is
sometimes associated with hypoxia (‘high altitude
disease’) although there are other causes
including toxins or, in individuals, heart defects
or abdominal tumors. It is also seen in ducks
with furazolidone poisoning.
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6.  Occurs most frequently in Growing
chickens Esp. 5-6 weeks old
 May be higher than 10% in flock
 Worldwide occurrence
 Mortality 1-2%
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7.  BPHS (Broiler Pulmonary Hypertension
Syndrome)
 High altitude disease
 Edema disease
 Heart Failure Syndrome
 Dropsy
 Water belly
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8.  Hepatitis (cirrhosis of liver)
 Peritonitis
 Congestive heart failure (Cardiac
cause)
 Nephrotic Syndrome (Renal cause)
 Hypoproteinaemia (Nutritional cause)
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9.  Can be infectious or non infectious agents
 Toxins
 Poor ventilation (inadequate supply of O2 
related to stock, housing, feed)
 Respiratory diseases
 Amyloidosis..? commonly found in meat
type ducks and breeders that means
accumulation of abnormal proteins, called
amyloids, in one or more organ system.
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10. Heat stress in environment (high temp. and
humidity >50%)  Decreased lung capacity +
Stressful demands of high growth rates
Reduction in lung capacity and bird is unable to
evaporate enough water from its lung air sacs
and bronchial tree massive increase in number
of breathes (250/min) excessive muscular
activity of panting  generates heat and acid as
end product of metabolism gross disturbance
of dietary electrolytes and acid/base balance 
O2 demand increases  right auricle beating
decreases  congestion of blood vessels of liver,
kidney, intestine.etc.  Ascites
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11.  Sudden deaths in rapidly developing birds
 Poor development
 Progressive weakness and abdominal
distension
 Recumbency
 Dyspnea
 Possibly cyanosis
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12.  Thickening of right side myocardium
 Dilation of the ventricle
 Thickening of the atrioventricular valve
 General venous congestion
 Severe muscle congestion
 Lungs and intestines congested
 Liver enlargement
 Spleen small
 Ascites
 Pericardial effusion
 Microscopic: cartilage nodules increases in
lungs.
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13.  Broiler Sudden death syndrome
 Bacterial endocarditis
 Tumors
 Fat deposition
 Salpingitis
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14.  Good ventilation (including in incubation and
transport)
 Avoid any genetic tendency
 Control respiratory diseases
 Decrease feed to decrease the O2 demand
 Change litter in Layer farm (increased ammonia 
a cause of ascites)
 Pull off curtain in Broiler farm (for good ventilation)
 Avoid excess salt (NaCl)
 Avoid excessive levels of sulphur containing amino
acids
 Reduce chloride salts of vitamins and amino acids.
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15.  Improve ventilation
 Vitamin C (500 ppm) has been reported to be
of benefits (in South America)
 Hepatocare : for improving hepatic function.
 Nephrocare : for improving renal function
 Toxin binder: for binding fungal and other
toxins in feed.
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