Detection of campylobacter spp related to liver granulomas/ spotty liver disease in a flock of backyard chickens in Morocco

InJuly 2020, 5 dead birds aged 44 days (case 2) and 2 others aged 71 days (case 1) from two rearing units of the same flock of backyard chickenswere presented for diagnostic. The birds manifested diarrhea and an elevated mortality rate. At necropsy, fibrinous pericarditis and perihepatitis, enteritis, gizzard ulcers, and multiple small(1mm~) grey necrotic foci were present in the liver, along with hepatomegaly, splenomegaly and congestion, one bird in case 2 presented multiple liver granulomas. Samples of the liver, spleen, bone marrow, and heart were taken in a sterile manner for bacteriology.  Specimens of the liver, spleen, and kidney were fixed in a solution of 10 % buffered formalin for histopathology. The liver presented necrotic hepatitis, and multiple granulomas with a center of dense deeply basophilic bacterial colonies, surrounded by a slim fibrous sheathin a bird of case 2.  Severe lymphoid depletion was noted in the spleen. The blood vessels of these organs and the kidney were filled with thrombi of fibrin and platelets. Bacterial cultures on the samples showed positive results for Eschrichia coli non-typable in case 2 and Real-time PCR carried out on samples taken on FTA card of the liver and bile revealed positive results for thermophilic camplybacter ssp.

Key words: campylobacter spp, vibrionic hepatitis, spotty liver disease, backyard chickens