Department of Veterinary Pathology

Veterinary College and Research Institute

TANUVAS, Orathanadu- 614 625, Tamilnadu, India

Avian pasteurellosis is a contagious disease of domestic and wild birds caused by Pasteurella multocida. A private broiler quail farm (n=1100) with a mortality of 330 eight day old quail chicks without clinical signs were presented to the Department of Veterinary Pathology, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Orathanadu, Tamilnadu, India. On complete post-mortem examination, visceral organs showed generalised congestion and consolidation of lung. Histopathologically, liver showed severe congestion, multifocal necrotic hepatitis with heterophilic infiltrations. Lungs revealed bronchopneumonia. Cytological examination of lung impression showed bipolar organisms. Microbiological examination with heart swab, lung and liver tissue revealed Pasteurella sp. The bacteria were confirmed by PCR assay with KMT1 gene as Pasteurella multocida. Based on history, gross, cytology, microbiological and histopathological lesions the case was diagnosed as avian pasteurellosis.

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