Fatty liver syndrome is a non-infectious disease of chickens, primarily cage layers, characterized by enlarged, fat-infiltrated livers, with or without subcapsular hemorrhages and excessive abdominal fat deposits. Excessive caloric intake is thought to be one causative factor, and the disease occurs frequently after molting when caloric intake is high. Cage layers move less, using less energy which may contribute to the problem. The present project was designedto study the serum biochemical and pathological changes in the laying hens affected with fatty liver hemorrhagic syndrome and possible dietary sources responsible for this syndrome.
For this purpose healthy and diseased birds from commercial poultry farms having problem of FLHS in their flocks were selected. Three types of samples i.e. blood, tissue and feed samples were collected. Serum samples were processed to quantify concentration of different plasma enzymes including ALT, AST, triglycerides, serum cholesterol, glucose and LDH levels by using standard protocols. Values obtained from both healthy and diseased birds were compared. While liver samples were collected from both diseased and healthy birdsfor study of gross and microscopic changes in their structure. Proximate analysis of feed samples which were collected from each farm having this problem was conducted to check the level of fats and carbohydrates. Data was statistically analyzed by applying student t-test.
The average concentration of serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT),serum glutamic oxaloacetate transaminase, triglycerides, serum cholesterol, glucose and lactate dehydrogenase were 10.78±2.01 (IU/L), 195.5±28.93 (IU/L), 69.2±5.14 (mg/dl), 217.52±23.63 (mg/dl), 205.14±19.6 (mg/dl) and 2466.06±336.2 (IU/L) respectively in diseased birds. The corresponding values in the healthy birds were 4.12±1.7 (IU/L), 81.16±6.83 (IU/L), 59.44±4.92 (mg/dl), 131.94±8.93 (mg/dl), 188.38±13 (mg/dl) and 1706.64±244.37 (IU/L) respectively. The activities of SGPT, SGOT, serum cholesterol and LDH were significantly higher in diseased than in healthy birds (p<0.05). Some birds in diseased group showed 2-3 times greater concentration of plasma enzymes as compared to healthy birds. For the definitive diagnosis of this problem histopathological studies were conducted on liver samples. Liver from healthy birds showed no changes while diseased birds showed both gross and microscopic changes. Feed samples were collected from respective farms and proximate analysis was conducted. Average fat and carbohydrate content recorded for feed samples was 6.44±1.43% and 57.75±3.79% respectively. While feed analysis of control poultry diets showed a significant difference having fat 03.21±0.89% and NFE was55.77±1.67%.
It was concluded from this study that selected parameters of serum biochemistry including SGPT, SGOT, serum cholesterol, triglycerides and lactate dehydrogenase could be useful in the diagnosis of FLHS. There is significant increase in concentration of these enzymes in blood of affected birds specially laying hens. Macroscopic and microscopic changes can also be observed but it will lead to delayed diagnosis of this syndrome. Furthermore balanced feed will be helpful in prevention of this problem while farmers and poultry practitioners can seek help through proximate analysis of feed samples that can help in prevention of this metabolic problem.