Salpingitis is inflammation of the fallopian tubes and is one of the most common reproductive diseases in laying hens. It is frequently caused by
Escherichia coli and
Salmonella.
Mycoplasma gallisepticum can also cause salpingitis in aged laying hens.
Infection with Gram-negative bacteria results in the increased secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines which occurs when the endotoxin Lipoplysaccharide (LPS) is released during bacterial death and reproduction.
The estrogenic activity involved in the process of egg laying facilitates the migration of infectious pathogens from the cloaca to the oviduct. Once the bacteria gain access to the oviduct, it can penetrate the oviduct wall or travel through the open end of the infundibulum and enter the abdominal cavity, resulting in peritonitis.
Clinical Signs of Salpingitis in Hens
The main clinical signs observed in hens with salpingitis are egg related and include:
- Decreased egg production
- Increased frequency of thin, soft and sandy eggshells
- Poor eggshell quality
- Little to no maintenance time of peak of laying eggs
Without treatment, salpingitis can lead to
oviduct impaction and the presence of ectopic eggs in the abdominal cavity resulting from reverse peristalsis of the oviduct.
