Pathologic-anatomical Changes in the Comorbidity of Eimeriosis and Tuberculosis in Domestic Chicken and Decorative Pheasants (Phasianus colchicus L., 1758)

Abstract

The study of patho-anatomical changes is essential in identifying pathological processes and diagnosing especially comorbid pathologies. The aim of this study was to reveal pathological changes and differences in the spontaneous comorbidity of tuberculosis (Mycobacterium avium) and eimeriosis (Eimeria spp.) in adult chickens and ornamental pheasants. The paper highlighted the results of pathological-anatomical changes in adult domestic chickens (n = 17) and ornamental pheasants (n = 5) with spontaneous comorbidity of eimeriosis and tuberculosis. Mycobacteria was detected using bacterioscopy of smears-prints from fragments of organs and Eimeria oocysts were detected by the Füllenborn flotation method. In pheasants, tubercular granulomas were found in the intestine, liver, and spleen in combination with scarring and swelling of the wall and mesentery, and venous stasis in the mesenteric vessels. In addition, hematomas and organ destruction in the liver and spleen were found in pheasants. In domestic chickens, tuberculous granulomas and steatosis were found in the liver. In the intestines, there were indications of mucocatarrhal inflammation, edema, hyperplasia, and small hemorrhages in the area of the cecal-intestinal diverticulum. Tuberculous nodules, internal hemorrhages around the perimeter of the tubercle, and devascularization were observed in the spleen. The present study revealed notable differences in the pathological and anatomical changes resulting from the comorbidity of eimeriosis and tuberculosis in domestic chickens and pheasants.