- Email: [email protected]
Serum and Body Characteristics of Laying Hens with Fatty Liver Syndrome1
Serum and Body Characteristics of Laying Hens with Fatty Liver Syndrome1 R. H. HARMS and C. F. SIMPSON
Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, Gainesville, Florida 32611 (Received for publication December 26, 1978) ABSTRACT Commercial laying hens with Fatty Liver Syndrome had greatly elevated levels of serum calcium and cholesterol. Most of the hens with the elevated serum calcium and cholesterol were out of production, but some were still in production. Hens with elevated calcium and cholesterol levels had extremely large combs and excessive deposits of fat in the abdomen. 1979 Poultry Science 58:1644-1646
The first report of Fatty Liver Syndrome (FLS) in laying hens was made by Couch (1956). He reported that the fat content of the liver of these hens often reached levels as high as 70%, and that globules of fat seeped through the liver capsule. Considerable research has been conducted subsequent to this report to determine the association of fat content of the liver with outbreaks of FLS. Harms et al. (1972) observed that serum cholesterol levels were about three times as great in non-laying hens with FLS, as compared to laying hens without FLS in the same flock. Enlarged combs observed in these laying hens were believed to be indicative of a hormone inbalance. Harms et al. (1977) experimentally induced FLS by feeding potassium iodide, and injecting dienestrol diacetate. The histological changes in livers from these hens were similar to those previously described for FLS (Harms et al, 1972), and the serum cholesterol level was greatly increased. Roland et al. (1977) also reported that feeding of KI, and injecting dienestrol diacetate resulted in elevated serum calcium levels. The purpose of this paper is to report new information about hens suffering from a natural outbreak of FLS. PROCEDURES AND RESULTS Observations were made with pullets maintained in laying cages at four different locations
1 Florida Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Series No. 1585.
for monitoring for encephalitis. The birds were grown on commercial farms, and transferred to individual cages at the various locations at 20 weeks of age. When blood samples were obtained from birds at 26 weeks of age it was observed that the serum of some birds was distinctly "creamy" in color and texture. Based on the observations of Harms et al. (1972, 1977), it was suspected that the birds might be suffering from FLS. Therefore, fourteen of the hens from these farms were obtained and brought to Gainesville for necropsy, and serum calcium and cholesterol determinations. Also five M sections of livers stained with hemotoxylin and eosin were examined by light microscopy. Each bird was characterized on the basis of comb size, liver color, gross presence of abdominal fat, and status of egg production. The gross visual appearance of blood serum was also evaluated.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Seven of the fourteen hens had very high serum cholesterol values (Table 1), with the serum being creamy in color and consistency. The serum from hens with the highest level of cholesterol had the appearance of a homogenized egg yolk. Hens with the elevated serum cholesterol also had elevated serum calcium levels. The elevated serum cholesterol levels of birds with FLS agrees with previous observations by Harms et al. (1972), and has also been experimentally produced (Harms et al, 1977). The experimental FLS was produced by feeding 5,000 ppm of KI and injecting with dienestrol diacetate. This treatment has been reported by Roland et al. (1977) to result in
1644
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Kainan University on April 30, 2015
INTRODUCTION
N CY CY CY N N C
199 >1148 677 >1148 203
148 605 112 129 >1148
19.1 67.2 28.7 67.2
26.5 22.8 25.2 33.1
17.1 19.1 56.7
+ = indicates in production; — indicates out of production.
N N CY
N N CY
316 144 >1148
25.6 15.4 74.4
Visual score a
Egg pro tion stat
Scoring 1 to 4 with four having most excessive fat.
N = normal (<4 mm in height); M = slightly enlarged (between 4 and 5.5 mm); L : enlarged (between 5.5 and height.
C
Hen no.
N = normal; C = creamy; CY = creamy yellow.
Farm no.
Ca (mg/ 100 ml)
Serum cholesterol (mg/ 100 ml)
TABLE 1. Some observations on hens suffering from a natural outbreak fatty liver syndrome
ded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Kainan University on April 30, 2015
1646
HARMS AND SIMPSON
elevated serum calcium. Based on the observation of increased serum calcium and cholesterol levels, it is suggested that "fatty liver syndrome" may be caused by an inbalance of hormones. These hens also had enlarged combs, and a greater accumulation of greasy abdominal fat than hens with lower serum cholesterol and calcium values. In addition, there was a positive relationship between cholesterol and calcium levels and the gross yellowing of the liver which on histological examination was seen to be caused by fatty degeneration of the hepatic cells.
REFERENCES Couch, J. R., 1956. Fatty livers in laying hens — a condition which may occur as a result of strain. Feedstuffs 28(47) :46. Harms, R. H., D. A. Roland, Sr., and C. F. Simpson, 1977. Experimentally induced "fatty liver syndrome" condition in laying hens. Poultry Sci. 56:517-520. Harms, R. H., C. F. Simpson, and B. L. Damron, 1972. Some new observations on "fatty liver syndrome" in laying hens. Avian Dis. 16:1042— 1046. Roland, D. A., Sr., S. T. McCready, R. H. Stonerock, and R. H. Harms, 1977. Hypercalcemic effect of potassium iodide on serum calcium in domestic fowl. Poultry Sci. 56:1310-1314. Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Kainan University on April 30, 2015
Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, Gainesville, Florida 32611 (Received for publication December 26, 1978) ABSTRACT Commercial laying hens with Fatty Liver Syndrome had greatly elevated levels of serum calcium and cholesterol. Most of the hens with the elevated serum calcium and cholesterol were out of production, but some were still in production. Hens with elevated calcium and cholesterol levels had extremely large combs and excessive deposits of fat in the abdomen. 1979 Poultry Science 58:1644-1646
The first report of Fatty Liver Syndrome (FLS) in laying hens was made by Couch (1956). He reported that the fat content of the liver of these hens often reached levels as high as 70%, and that globules of fat seeped through the liver capsule. Considerable research has been conducted subsequent to this report to determine the association of fat content of the liver with outbreaks of FLS. Harms et al. (1972) observed that serum cholesterol levels were about three times as great in non-laying hens with FLS, as compared to laying hens without FLS in the same flock. Enlarged combs observed in these laying hens were believed to be indicative of a hormone inbalance. Harms et al. (1977) experimentally induced FLS by feeding potassium iodide, and injecting dienestrol diacetate. The histological changes in livers from these hens were similar to those previously described for FLS (Harms et al, 1972), and the serum cholesterol level was greatly increased. Roland et al. (1977) also reported that feeding of KI, and injecting dienestrol diacetate resulted in elevated serum calcium levels. The purpose of this paper is to report new information about hens suffering from a natural outbreak of FLS. PROCEDURES AND RESULTS Observations were made with pullets maintained in laying cages at four different locations
1 Florida Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Series No. 1585.
for monitoring for encephalitis. The birds were grown on commercial farms, and transferred to individual cages at the various locations at 20 weeks of age. When blood samples were obtained from birds at 26 weeks of age it was observed that the serum of some birds was distinctly "creamy" in color and texture. Based on the observations of Harms et al. (1972, 1977), it was suspected that the birds might be suffering from FLS. Therefore, fourteen of the hens from these farms were obtained and brought to Gainesville for necropsy, and serum calcium and cholesterol determinations. Also five M sections of livers stained with hemotoxylin and eosin were examined by light microscopy. Each bird was characterized on the basis of comb size, liver color, gross presence of abdominal fat, and status of egg production. The gross visual appearance of blood serum was also evaluated.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Seven of the fourteen hens had very high serum cholesterol values (Table 1), with the serum being creamy in color and consistency. The serum from hens with the highest level of cholesterol had the appearance of a homogenized egg yolk. Hens with the elevated serum cholesterol also had elevated serum calcium levels. The elevated serum cholesterol levels of birds with FLS agrees with previous observations by Harms et al. (1972), and has also been experimentally produced (Harms et al, 1977). The experimental FLS was produced by feeding 5,000 ppm of KI and injecting with dienestrol diacetate. This treatment has been reported by Roland et al. (1977) to result in
1644
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Kainan University on April 30, 2015
INTRODUCTION
N CY CY CY N N C
199 >1148 677 >1148 203
148 605 112 129 >1148
19.1 67.2 28.7 67.2
26.5 22.8 25.2 33.1
17.1 19.1 56.7
+ = indicates in production; — indicates out of production.
N N CY
N N CY
316 144 >1148
25.6 15.4 74.4
Visual score a
Egg pro tion stat
Scoring 1 to 4 with four having most excessive fat.
N = normal (<4 mm in height); M = slightly enlarged (between 4 and 5.5 mm); L : enlarged (between 5.5 and height.
C
Hen no.
N = normal; C = creamy; CY = creamy yellow.
Farm no.
Ca (mg/ 100 ml)
Serum cholesterol (mg/ 100 ml)
TABLE 1. Some observations on hens suffering from a natural outbreak fatty liver syndrome
ded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Kainan University on April 30, 2015
1646
HARMS AND SIMPSON
elevated serum calcium. Based on the observation of increased serum calcium and cholesterol levels, it is suggested that "fatty liver syndrome" may be caused by an inbalance of hormones. These hens also had enlarged combs, and a greater accumulation of greasy abdominal fat than hens with lower serum cholesterol and calcium values. In addition, there was a positive relationship between cholesterol and calcium levels and the gross yellowing of the liver which on histological examination was seen to be caused by fatty degeneration of the hepatic cells.
REFERENCES Couch, J. R., 1956. Fatty livers in laying hens — a condition which may occur as a result of strain. Feedstuffs 28(47) :46. Harms, R. H., D. A. Roland, Sr., and C. F. Simpson, 1977. Experimentally induced "fatty liver syndrome" condition in laying hens. Poultry Sci. 56:517-520. Harms, R. H., C. F. Simpson, and B. L. Damron, 1972. Some new observations on "fatty liver syndrome" in laying hens. Avian Dis. 16:1042— 1046. Roland, D. A., Sr., S. T. McCready, R. H. Stonerock, and R. H. Harms, 1977. Hypercalcemic effect of potassium iodide on serum calcium in domestic fowl. Poultry Sci. 56:1310-1314. Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Kainan University on April 30, 2015