Gangrenous Dermatitis of Chickens

Abstract

Gangrenous dermatitis (GD) is referred to as rot because the wing tips often undergo necrosis. Affected less often are the lateral surfaces of the thigh, lumbar area, breast, wattles, and feet, in order of frequency. The mortality in affected flocks has varied from an occasional chicken to .5% per day. The condition runs its course in about 2 weeks. In May, 1961, 6 commercial broiler chickens (CBC), 6 weeks old, were submitted to the Diagnostic Service of the Department of Animal Diseases at the University of Connecticut. The owner reported death losses of 75 chickens a day over a period of 4 days from a flock of 25,000. Three of the chickens submitted were dead and appeared badly decomposed, while the live birds appeared normal. On the farm, the dead and obviously ill chickens had areas of skin necrosis, which were black, moist, and devoid of feathers. At necropsy there was extensive blood-tinged edema beneath the affected skin; the underlying musculature had a cooked appearance and was ecchymotic, while the visceral organs appeared normal. Two weeks later, 15 six-week-old commercial broiler chickens from a flock of 30,000 were submitted to the Diagnostic Service. The owner reported death losses averaging 60 per day over a period of 8 days. Necropsy findings were similar to those previously described. Subsequent to these 2 submissions, 18 more submissions from 14 farms, all with similar histories and necropsy find-