Concurrent outbreak of chlamydiosis and aflatoxicosis among chickens in Himachal Pradesh, India

A severe outbreak of aflatoxicosis and chlamydiosis among chickens in an organised poultry farm, further super-infected by secondary microbial invasion, was investigated. Mortality was 65, 25 and 32% among broiler chicks (1-2 week of age), layer chicks (2-3 weeks of age) and broilers (8-15 weeks of age), respectively. Samples were collected from 20 representative ailing/dead birds included pooled visceral organs (spleen, lung, liver and heart) and intestinal contents in sucrose phosphate glutamate (SPG) for isolation of Chlamydia psittaci in 6-8 day-old embryonated chicken eggs; heart blood, tracheal swabs and intestinal contents for isolation of other microbes. Liver, intestinal loop, spleen, kidney and lung for histopathological studies. Feed samples of aflatoxins were also collected for analysis. C. psittaci was isolated from 30% (6/20) birds and other microbes, viz. E. coli, Enterococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp., Candida albicans, etc. were also isolated. The aflatoxin level in feed given to different age groups varied from 100 ppb to 500 ppb. Characteristic histopathological alterations corresponding to aflatoxicosis and chlamydiosis, as well as secondary microbial infection, were found in different visceral organs, indicating foetal and complicated disease syndrome.