Histopathological and bacteriological studies on the cull laying hen's reproductive system

Disorders of laying hens’ reproductive system such as: egg-peritonitis, salpingitis and oophoritis have been gaining increasing attention due to immense economic losses that are being inflicted by these conditions on the growing poultry industry. In order to determine the incidence of salpingitis, oophoritis and egg peritonitis in cull laying hens, 1041 cull laying hens from commercial laying farms in Fars province were necropsied. Among these 86 (8.26%) cases showed at least one lesion in their reproductive system, of which 37 (3.55%) carcasses exhibited gross lesions of both egg peritonitis and salpingitis, salpingitis 37 (3.55%), egg peritonitis 7 (0.67%) and oophoritis 5 (0.48%). The overall condition was found to be 86 (8.26 %). Bacterial culture of 86 suspected cases of inflammatory reactions of the ovary, the oviduct and the peritoneal cavity yielded Esherichia coli in 62 (5.95%) of cases, Salmonella spp in 4 (0.38%) of cases, Proteus Vulgaris in 2 (0.19%) of cases and Klebsiella in 1 (0.09%) of cases and mixed bacterial infection in 9 (0.86%) cases. No bacteria was isolated from 8 (0.76%) of suspected cases. Lesions at gross and microscopic level and also bacteriological findings were recorded and compared with other workers results.