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Hepatitis-splenomegaly Syndrome
Other Names: Layer Hepatitis, HS Syndrome, Big Liver And Spleen Disease Viru
Hepatitis-splenomegaly (HS) syndrome is a disease found frequently in commercial "broilers", caused by fowl adenoviruses (FAdV). The virus primarily targets the liver.
Necropsy results for birds infected with HS syndrome usually reveal an enlarged liver with yellowish discoloration with multiple pale and/or red (hemorrhagic) foci, with as much as 10 mL of a straw-colored transudate in the pericardial sac. Histopathologic lesions in the liver include acute hepatocytic degeneration, necrosis, mononuclear cell infiltration and rare to widespread basophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies. Lesions in the heart include myocardial edema and necrosis.
Case 1: Infectious coryza and fowl adenovirus in a Commercial laying hens The diagnosis of a concurrent infection of Avibacterium paragallinarum and fowl adenovirus (FAdV) in an infectious coryza–like outbreak in the outskirt of Beijing was reported. The primary signs of the infection were acute respiratory signs, a drop in egg production, and the presence of hydropericardium–hepatitis syndrome–like gross lesions. Laboratory examination confirmed the presence of A. paragallinarum by bacterial isolation and a species-specific PCR test. In addition, conventional serotyping identified the isolates as Page serovar A. Fowl adenovirus was isolated from chicken liver specimen and identified by hexon gene amplification. In addition, histopathologic analysis and transmission electron microscopy examination further confirmed the presence of the virus. Both hexon gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis defined the viral isolate as FAdV-4. The pathogenic role of A. paragallinarum and FAdV was evaluated by experimental infection of specific-pathogen-free chickens. The challenge trial showed that combined A. paragallinarum and FAdV infection resulted in more severe clinical signs than that by FAdV infection alone. The concurrent infection caused 50% mortality compared with 40% mortality by FAdV infection alone and zero mortality by A. paragallinarum infection alone. Ref
Isolate the bird from the flock and place in a safe, comfortable, warm location (your own chicken "intensive care unit") with easy access to water and food. Limit stress. Call your veterinarian.
