DISSEMINATED INTRAVASCULAR COAGULATION IN CHICKENS INOCULATED WITH ERYSIPELOTHRIX-RHUSIOPATHIAE

In a first experiment, 28 specific pathogen-free chickens aged 3 weeks showed clinical signs to 5 days after intramuscular inoculation with Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae. Twelve of 28 birds died 2 to 4 days afte r inoculation Macroscopically, the liver. spleen and kidneys were seen to be enlarged and congested. Histologically, fibrinous thrombus form ation, seen in the hepatic sinusoids, renal glomerular capillaries and small pulmonary blood vessels, was a characteristic feature. In addit ion, the liver showed marked congestion, increase of mononuclear cells and heterophils in the sinusoids, hyperplasia of sinusoidal lining ce lls, and vacuolar changes in hepatic cells. The spleen showed fibrinou s exudation of the lymphoid follicles and ellipsoids with lymphocytic depletion, and hyperplasia of ellipsoidal reticular cells. There was o edema, congestion and cellular infiltration in the interstitium of the kidney. The bursa of Fabricius and thymus showed marked lymphocytic d epletion. In a second experiment, the blood chemical values (uric acid : glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase: lactate dehydrogenase and gamma-gl utamyl transpeptidase) of birds inoculated intramuscularly with E. rhu siopathiae were significantly higher than those of uninfected controls . The blood prothrombin times and activated partial thromboplastin tim es of the inoculated group were significantly greater than those of th e control group. The pathological and haematological findings demonstr ated that E. rhusiopathiae induced disseminated intravascular coagulat ion in the chickens. (C) 1997 W.B. Saunders Company Limited.