A postmortem examination of birds provides important information about the cause of death and diseases affecting the flock. The examination procedure involves obtaining a flock history, external examination of the bird for abnormalities, and internal examination of the organs. During internal examination, lesions in various organs can provide clues to diagnose diseases like avian influenza, fowl pox, Marek's disease, and others. A thorough postmortem is important for better disease diagnosis, flock management, and reducing morbidity and mortality.

1. By
Ranjini Manuel
AVIAN POSTMORTEM

2. IMPORTANCE OF POSTMORTEM
Cause of death
Better diagnosis of the diseases
Better flock management
Reduction of morbidity and mortality

3. LOOK OUTS POINTS
Flock history
Number of birds died
Clinical signs
Type of feed given
Managemental aspects
medications

4. EXAMINATION PROCEDURE
STEPS
 Obtain flock history
 Examine the bird externally
 Open the body; observe organs in situ
 Remove the organs for detailed examination and sampling
 Examine and sample the organs
 Consider observations for diagnosis and write the report

5. EXTERNAL EXAMINATION
General appearance of the bird
ectoparasites
Abnormalities of the limbs and neck
Mucus memberanne
Wounds or any kind of physical trauma and inflammations
Abnormal discharges from nostrils, beak, cloaca

6. INTERNAL EXAMINATION

7. Lesions in the comb
FOWL POX
Cynotic comb – AVIAN INFLUENZA

8. Cheesy flakes on the larynx – diphtheric state
FOWL POX

9. Haemorrhages of the trachea – AVIAN INFLUENZA

10. abdominal air sacs are thickened and coated
with fibrin. - CHLAMYDIOSIS

11. Caseous exudate on the airsacs of birds
infected -MYCOPLASMA

12. Severe airsacculitis with abundant
foam and aggregates of caseous
exudate.

13. Acute multifocal hemorrhage with edema
and congestion – AVIAN INFLUENZA

14. Pulmonary congestion and edema,-
NEWCASTLE DISEASE

15. accumulation of fibrinous exudate – FOWL CHOLERA

16. lymphomatous lesions- MAREK’S DISEASE

17. fibrinous pneumonia -MYCOPLASMA

18. Multifocal hyperplasia – AVIAN POX

19. Diffused haemorrhages and edema
NEWCASTLE DISEASES

20. Enlarged proventriculus
MAREK’S DISEASE

21. : Multifocal acute hemorrhages and diffuse edema- AVIAN INFLUENZA

22. Myocardial lymphoma –MAREKS’S DISEASE

23. Multiple acute petechie –AVIAN
INFLUENZA

24. Fibrinous pericarditis – FOWL CHOLERA

25. urate accumulations have lead to visceral gout, a
deposition of urates on the surfaces of the liver and
heart.

26. Pericarditits - colibacilosis

27. Yellowish spots in liver
MAREK’S DISEASE

28. LYMPHOID LEUKOSIS enlarged liver

29. Splenomegaly - COLISEPTICAEMIA

30. Hemorrhage – NEWCASTLE DISEASE

31. fibrinous perihepatitis.-
CHLAMYDIOSIS

32. enlarged, pale, and friable,-
MYCOTOXICOSIS

33. INTESTINE
Intestinal distention, mucoid blood
filled exudate and white spots -
E.necatrix

34. Button type lesion - PARATYPHOID

35. Haemorrhage in ceca – E.tenella

36. Ecchymotic haemorrhage – AIVAN INFLUENZA

37. BURSA
Enlarged bursa of Fabricius
GUMBORO DISEASE

38. MUSCLES
Thigh muscle showing haemorrhage
GUMBORO DISEASE

39. REPRODUCTIVE TRACT
INFECTIOUS BRONCHITITS – shell less egg