Gizzard Lesions

Type A-trichothecenes particularly T-2 toxin and DAS

Mild to severe disruption of the koilin layer, which in severe cases causes lesions in the underlying tissues.

• Standard post mortem examinations.
• Origin of raw materials from supplier/region with history of A-trichothecenes contamination.
• Check average contamination levels.
• Positive for A-trichothecenes in raw materials (ELISA) or feed (HPLC).

• Prevent mold growth, purchase clean raw materials.
• Avoid contamination of feed bins or feed/water lines by stale, wet or moldy feed.
• Add an effective mycotoxin deactivator in the feed.

Biogenic amines

• Low quality/over processed fish meal can result in high levels of gizzerosine.
• Hyper-production of HCl in the proventriculus causes erosions in the gizzard.

• Lower level of fishmeal in diet.
• Avoid use of low quality fishmeal.
• Replace standard fishmeal with low temperature (LT) fishmeal.

High levels of copper sulphate in diet

CuSO₄ can promote gastric lesions especially at proventriculus and gizzard level.

• Apply group B vitamins and K₃ vitamin in water.
• Correct set up of the water dosing system.

Rancid fats

Low quality fats (long storage, overheated) can have high levels of superoxide radicals and hydroxyl radicals.

• Avoid low quality fats.
• Use low quality fats in the grower/finisher phases.
• Replace animal fats with vegetable fats

Acetylsalicylic acid and sodium salicylate

Use of salicylates may induce proventriculus and gizzard ulceration.

• Use high quality tannin-based product (chestnut better than quebracho).
• Reduce % of sorghum in diet when high in tannins.

Tannins

Toxic levels of tannins in the feed cause esophageal and gastric edema, hemorrhagic ulceration, necrosis and sloughing of the mucosal lining.

• Dosage of salicylates used (check overestimation of feed intake in feed restricted animals).
• Mixability of commercial product in water.

• Avoid low quality products (low mix ability, low homogeneity in water).
• Correct feed intake assumption in feed restricted animals.

Adeno virus contamination

• Adenovirus is the causal agent of inclusion body hepatitis (IBH) and other avian syndromes that affect the production.
• Vertically transmitted, usually sub-clinical but provides more exposure to secondary bacterial infection.

• Check for high titre level in the blood (ELISA).
• The serum neutralisation test.

• Biosecurity.
• Use inactivated vaccines (only available for group I).
• Check the breeding stock and eliminate the affected birds.

Newcastle disease

Slight wounds, hemorrhage and necrosis of proventriculus - more often than generalized lesions.

• Correct vaccination plan.
• Biosecurity

Infectious bursal disease (IBDV/ Gumboro)

IBD is very immunosuppressive and causes lesions at the junction of the proventriculus-gizzard.

• Atrophy of the bursa of Fabricius.
• Immunofluorescence or immunohistochemistry tests.

• Biosecurity
• Implement/correct vaccination program in breeders.
• Change from mild to strong-reaction vaccine.

Candida albicans (Candidiasis)

Thickening of the mucosa in the crop with white to off-white, raised circular or rugose lesions.

Prolonged periods without feed

Hyper-production of HCl in the proventriculus causes erosions in the gizzard.

Delay in pulling chicks resulting in a long period in the hatcher.

High temperatures in the hatcher (specially between 17 - 20 days)

Hyper-production of HCl.