Pathomorphological investigations on the prevalence of contact dermatitis lesions in broiler chickens

The aim of the survey was to determine the prevalence of all types of lesions associated with contact dermatitis in commercial broiler chickens using pathomorphological methods. Contact dermatitis in commercial broiler chickens was monitored for a period of one year. The samples were taken from a fattening Ross 308 hybrid farm. The annual production cycle was 696,000 birds. The investigations were performed by clinical examination of chickens which showed obvious signs of contact dermatitis on their carcasses in the slaughterhouse. The number and type of contact dermatitis lesions in the different flocks were determined through a meat inspection process. In addition to the gross examination, a histological study on a predetermined proportion of tissue samples was conducted. The total number of contact dermatitis lesions was 152,215 (21.87%). The occurrence was most prevalent during the winter-spring and autumn seasons – 88,932 (12.77%), as opposed to 63,283 (9.1%) during the summer period. Lesions on the plantar skin surface of the foot were predominant – 109,272 (15.7%). This was followed by contact dermatitis lesions on the breast, affecting the sternal bursa – 36,888 (5.3%). The contact dermatitis lesions in the tarsometatarsal joint region were the least prevalent – 6,055 (0.87%).