AbstractAvian Colibacillosis persists as a significant endemic disease in poultry, carrying substantial economic importance due to its ambiguous pathogenesis and potential implications for zoonosis and food safety. Therefore, it is important to understand the pathogenesis of the disease in any area to curtail its spread. In this context, a study was conducted to investigate the pathomorphological changes and pathogen-induced oxidative stress in naturally occurring cases of Colibacillosis in broiler chickens from commercial farms in the Ganderbal district of the Kashmir Valley. In the present study, 20 Colibacillosis outbreaks were recorded in different poultry farms. In infected chickens, elevated AST and ALT levels, decreased total protein, increased serum copper, and decreased zinc were noted. All isolates amplified the 500 bpecp gene fragment by PCR. Clinical signs ranged from asymptomatic to severe lethargy, with localized infections displaying milder symptoms than systemic ones. Colibacillosis in broiler chickens featured pronounced air sac swelling with deposition of fibrinous exudate around the heart and abdomen. Histologically, air sacs showed severe fibrinoheterophilic inflammation, while the pericardium and peritoneum exhibited fibrinous inflammation with heterophilic infiltration and necrotic foci in severe cases. The study underscored the ongoing economic threat posed by Colibacillosis in the poultry industry. It concluded that pathogenic E. coli can provoke systemic lesions and immunosuppression, with occurrence varying across different age groups.
Shafi et al. (Wed,) studied this question.