Comparative survey on ascites syndrome incidence rate in broiler chickens infected and non-infected by infectious bronchitis

Infectious Bronchitis is an acute and highly contagious viral respiratory disease of chickens characterized by gasping, coughing, tracheal rales and nasal discharge. Infected chickens have congestion in trachea and lungs with caseous exudates exudates in the trachea in post mortem examination. Ascites syndrome is a significant cause of mortality in broiler chickens. Gross lesions of this syndrome are cardiac enlargement, hydropericard and ascites. Infectious Bronchitis virus induces repiratory damage and causes ascites in broilers. In this study eight broiler farms that were infected to infectious Bronchitis selected. Blood samples were collected at the onset of infection and ELISA Test was applied for confirmation of infectious Bronchitis. In each farm autopsy was applied, causes of mortality recorded and also feed conversion ratio, total weight and feed consumption were calculated. The percentage of ascites mortality in chickens that were infected to infectious Bronchitis increased significantly than the control chickens. In eight infectious bronchitis infected famrs, percentage ascites mortality was 3% and in non-infected chickens was 0.5%. Total weight in infected (IB) chickens was significantly lower than in healthy chickens. Feed conversion ratio in infected chickens was higher than healthy chickens. There is a positive correlation between Infectious Bronchitis and the rate of ascites incidence.