Pathoanatomical and pathogistological changes in organs and tissues of indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus) during histomonosis

Abstract

Histomonosis is a fairly common disease in poultry – turkeys, laying hens, guineafowls, geese, ducks. Spontaneous cases of histomonosis in Indian peafowls do not occur very often, thus they feature less frequently in the scientific literature. Among possible reasons for this to happen is that they are kept in zoos or at private farms, where their death is mainly attributed to complications caused by E. coli or Clostridium microorganisms. The article demonstrates pathoanatomical and pathohistological changes in the organs of Indian peafowls during spontaneous histomonosis characterized by liver and caecum lesions alongside developed multifocal necrotic hepatitis and diphtheria typhlitis. Clinical signs of the disease in Indian peafowls manifested with gradual feed refusal, the bird was becoming depressed and hiding its head under the wing. The first death of a female Indian peafowl was recorded 10–14 days after the onset of such clinical signs. During histological examination, massive necrotic lesions were detected in the liver and in places of intensive development of histomonas. Cell infiltration consisting of pseudo-eosinophils, lymphoid and histiocytic cells was formed around these lesions. The penetration of histomonas into the mucous membrane of the caecum caused proliferative processes by cellular elements, which was also accompanied by heterophilic-leukocyte infiltration and the formation of cell granulomas in places where histomonas were located.

Keywords

• indian peafowl, histomonosis, caecum, necrosis, liver, granulomas, cell infiltration