~ 510 ~ International Journal of Chemical Studies 2017; 5(3): 510-512 P-ISSN: 2349–8528 E-ISSN: 2321–4902 IJCS 2017; 5(3): 510-512 © 2017 JEZS Received: 17-03-2017 Accepted: 18-04-2017 Biswajit Dutta Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara, Guwahati, Assam, India. P Konch Ph.D. Scholar Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara, Guwahati, Assam, India. C Konch Dy. General Manager, Premier Chick Feeds Pvt Ltd. West Bengal SM Gogoi Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara, Guwahati, Assam, India. HM Farhad M.V.Sc. student, Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara, Guwahati, Assam, India. SP Kakoty M.V.Sc. student, Department of Microbiology, College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara, Guwahati, Assam, India. Correspondence Biswajit Dutta Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara, Guwahati, Assam, India. Clinicopathological studies of Brooder pneumonia in Broiler Chicken Biswajit Dutta, P Konch, C Konch, SM Gogoi, HM Farhad and SP Kakoty Abstract The present investigation was carried out to investigate the clinicopathology of aspergillosis in broiler chicken at Kamrup district of Assam. The disease was diagnosed on the basis of clinical signs, gross & microscopic lesions and isolation of the fungus. Gross lesions were characterized by presence of white- yellowish caseous nodules in the lung, airsacs, heart, thorasic wall and abdominal serosa. Microscopically focal granulomatous reaction was observed in the lungs which were characterized by central necrotic area with infiltration of heterophils, macrophages, epithelioid cells and formation of giant cell. Invasion of fungal hyphae at the peribronchiolar and interstitial tissue and haemorrhages were noticed. On the 4 th day post incubation, appearance of velvety, bluish green colonies were observed on the SDA plates. Therapeutic treatment with copper sulphate orally and replacement of the litter responded rapidly with decreased mortality. Keywords: Aspergillosis, brooder pneumonia, broiler, clinicopathology 1. Introduction Aspergillosis is the most common fungal disease of the avian respiratory system. It is an infectious, non-contagious fungal disease caused by species in the ubiquitous opportunistic saprophytic genus Aspergillus, in particular Aspergillus fumigatus [2] . Aspergillosis also called as brooder pneumonia and have economic importance in the poultry industry, and is a frequent cause mortality in companion, aviary and free-ranging birds [3, 14] . Although aspergillosis is predominantly a disease of the respiratory tract, all organs can be involved. The disease may be chronic and insidious, or it may cause peracute death. Established aspergillosis infections are clinically challenging to resolve. The warm, humid environment of the farm sheds, feed stores, floor etc., favor its growth. It is a contaminant of every environment because of its adaptability to growth substrates and the production of spores that remain viable under extremely harsh conditions. Inhalation of air borne conidia is the principal mode of exposure. Aspergillosis in young chicks and pullets is commonly associated with overwhelming exposure to large numbers of conidia from heavily contaminated feed, litter, or the hatchery environment [4] . The present communication deals with the clinicopathological and mycological studies of Aspergillosis in a broiler flock. 2. Materials & Methods 2.1 Sample collection: The study was conducted to diagnose aspergillosis in broiler during physical visit of the farms and when submitted for post- mortem examination to the Department of Pathology, CVSc, AAU, Khanapara, Guwahati-22 (Assam). The clinical signs exhibited by the affected birds and the history provided by the farmers were properly recorded. 2.2 Necropsy and Histopathological examination: The dead birds submitted for post- mortem were examined systematically following standard protocol. The physical conditions of the birds and the gross alterations indifferent organs were carefully recorded. For histopathological examination, represented tissue samples were collected in 10% formol saline solution. After proper fixation, paraffin embedded tissue sections of 4-6μ were prepared and stained by routine Haematoxylin & Eosin technique for microscopic examination [7] . Duplicate sections were stained with Gridleys stain for demonstration of fungi in the tissue. Direct microscopic examination was performed by using Lactophenol cotton blue in the impression smear for detection of the fungi.