Fowl cholera (avian pasteurellosis) is a contagious and economically important disease of poultry caused by a Gram negative, non-motile fermentative organism, Pasteurella multocida (Christensen and Bisgaard, 2000). Beside chickens,  turkeys,  ducks  and  geese,  all  other types of birds are also susceptible to the disease (Glisson et al., 2003). The disease can affect birds of any age, but it rarely occurs in commercial poultry of less than 8 weeks of age (Rimler and Rhoades, 1994). It causes devastating  economic   losses   to   the   poultry  industry through weight loss condemnations of carcasses and death world-wide (Aye et al., 2001). It has been reported to cause 1.8-21% mortality and a decline in egg production by 15-20% and resulted in shorter egg laying period leading to the infected flocks being culled at an earlier stage (Compi et al., 1990; Kempentanov et al., 2000). The disease remains a significant obstacle due to losses to commercial poultry production in most part of tropical Asia and Africa. It usually occurs as a fulminating disease with massive bacteraemia, high morbidity and mortality (OIE, 2008). Fowl cholera is one of the diseases known to affect and produce some pathological changes like oophoritis, regression of the ovary, serofibrinous pericarditis and catarrhal tracheitis with excessive mucus (Rosales, 2013).

In Nigeria, intensive large and medium scale poultry production has grown tremendously over the past two decades giving rise to numerous challenges (Hassan et al., 2006). However, family poultry production continues to make a significant contribution to the poverty alleviation and house hold food security in many developing countries (Alders and Pym, 2009; Gueye, 2012). The main challenge in raising chickens is the large economic losses due to various diseases prominent among which is fowl cholera (Davis-West, 1972).

Three clinical forms of the disease in poultry have been identified; namely, per- acute, acute and chronic forms. The per-acute form is associated with the most virulent and highly infectious organism; birds in good conditions are suddenly found dead with no premonitory signs. In the acute form, chickens will show anorexia, mucus discharge from the beak, high fever, loss of weight, drop in egg production, cyanosis of wattles and comb, green foetid diarrhoea (Rosales, 2013).The chronic form of the disease is associated with conjunctivitis, swollen wattles, tracheitis, lameness, and dyspnoea, swelling of joints and tendon sheaths of legs and wings, torticollis (Gustafson et al., 1998).

Gross lesions in chickens include petechial and ecchymotic haemorrhages on coronary fats of the heart, proventriculus, gizzard, peritoneum, intestines, and abdominal fats occur. The liver is frequently enlarged, congested streaked with multiple pinhead greyish necrotic foci and there is splenomegaly and congestion of ovarian follicles (Abdu, 2014). The mode of transmission of the disease can be by mechanical means through vectors, aerosol and ingestion of contaminated feed and water. Most farm animals may be carriers of P. multocida (Blackall, 2003).

 

Determination of plasma biochemical parameters

Blood samples of 2.5 ml  was collected from each of the birds in the infected and control groups via the brachial vein, using 5-ml syringe and 23 G needle, on day 0 2, 4, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42 pi. The blood was dispensed into EDTA sample bottles which were used for plasma biochemical analyses of the activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), levels of total proteins and uric acid at Chemical Pathology Laboratory, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Shika, Zaria.

Statistical analysis

All the data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis including the calculation of the means and standard error of the means. Data between groups were compared with Student t-test and values of P < 0.05 were considered significant using Graph Pad Prism Version 5.00 for Windows, Graph Pad Software, San Diego California USA.

 

Results of the bacteriological monitoring pre-infection showed that all the experimental birds in both groups tested negative to fowl cholera disease before the commencement of the experiment.

Clinical manifestation of fowl cholera disease in the infected layers

Following infection with P. multocida serotype A:1, birds in the infected group appeared clinically normal  until  day 5 pi when the birds started to show the typical clinical signs of fowl cholera, which included drop in egg production, reduced feed and water consumption,  weakness, ruffled feathers, watery greenish-yellowish faeces and weakness, loss of weight and laboured breathing, and  later followed included paleness and cyanosis of wattles and combs. During the experiment 20% mortality rate was recorded in the infected group on days 14 and 28 pi respectively, while two other birds that showed clinical signs of fowl cholera were selected and necropsied aseptically. Throughout the experiment period all the birds in the control group appeared apparently healthy.

Recovery of bacterial organism from infected birds

At necropsy, swabs were aseptically taken from the blood in the hearts, lungs and spleen of the birds in the infected group for the isolation of P. multocida starting from day 7 and throughout the period of experiment. Biochemical test carried in the laboratory revealed nitrate was reduced; indole and hydrogen sulphide were produced, while methyl red and Voges–Proskauer tests were negative.

Effect of P. multocida Infection on some biochemical parameters in layers

Mean plasma aspartate aminotransferase activity                                                                                            

The mean plasma aspartate amino transferase (AST) activity in the infected and control groups are as shown in Figure 1. Mean plasma AST activity in the infected group increased  significantly  (P  <  0.05)   from   day   2   post-infection (pi) to reach a peak level (75.00 ± 3.89 IU/L) on day 42 pi when compared with that in the control group (65.83 ± 4.21 IU/L).

 

 

Mean plasma alanine aminotransferase activity.

The mean plasma alanine aminotransferase activity (ALT) in the infected and control groups are as shown in Figure 2. Progressive increase (P < 0.05) in mean ALT activity was observed in the infected group and this was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that recorded in the control group beginning from day 4 with peak level (78.00 ± 1.89 IU/L) attained on day 7 pi. Thereafter, the mean ALT activity of the infected group remained relatively unchanged until termination of the experiment (day 42 pi).

 

 

Mean plasma alkaline phosphatase activity

The mean plasma alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP) in the infected and control groups are shown in Figure 3. Mean plasma alkaline phosphatase activity showed no change in both the infected and control groups initially before it increased significantly to a highest level (4.293 ± 9.53 IU/L) on day 4 pi in the infected group of birds. On day 7 pi the level was still high in the infected before decreasing gradually from day 14 to 42 pi when no significant difference were observed between the two groups of birds.

 

 

Mean plasma urea concentration

The mean plasma urea concentration in the infected  and control groups are shown in Figure 4. The infection caused significant increase (P < 0.05) in mean plasma urea concentration in the infected group on day 7 pi with highest level (7.17 ± 0.55 mg/dl) reached on day 14 pi. It then decreased progressively until termination of the experiment on day 42 pi.

 

 

Plasma total protein concentration

The mean plasma total protein concentration in the infected and control groups are shown in Figure 5. Mean plasma total protein concentration significantly increase (P < 0.05) in the infected from day 7 pi to reach a highest level (8.70 ± 0.12 mg/dl) on day 14 pi which later dropped to a lowest level (5.50 ± 0.21 mg/dl) on day 35 pi until termination of the research on day 42 pi.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The clinical signs that manifested in the P. multocida-infected layers during the experiment included anorexia, weakness, loss of weight, greenish-yellowish diarrhoea, drop in egg production, pale wattles and combs which are in agreement with those previously reported by Christensen (2013). The observed significant (P < 0.05) increase in plasma activities of ALT, AST and ALP in the P. multocida-infected layers suggests hepatic, renal, and gastrointestinal lesions that had occurred consequent to possible effect of endotoxins that might have been released by the infecting organism or due to cytopathiec effect of the organism which are in line with the findings by Bokori and Karasi (1969). The significant (P < 0.05) increase  in  the mean plasma urea concentration noticed on days 7 to 28 pi in the P. multocida-infected layers compared to the control strongly suggests renal function impairment which may be due to the effect of P. multocida and/its endotoxin on the renal tubules or could be as a result of dehydration due to diarrhoea which is in line with the report of Harris (2000). In the same vein, the significant increase in the urea concentration in this study could be as a result of increased catabolism of tissue proteins in other to release energy consequent to anorexia that was earlier reported. This finding was similarly reported by Campbell (1998). The microscopic examination of the kidney in the P. multocida-infected layers showed degenerative and necrotic lesions of the renal tubules and which might have affected the renal excretion of uric acid which similarly reported by Harrison and Harrison (1986) and Amany (1997).

Total protein concentration is an important indicator of health status and production features of any organism because of its numerous roles in the physiology and diagnostic purposes (Geogieva et al., 2009). The initial significant increase (P < 0.05) in the mean total protein concentration in the P. multocida-infected group observed on days 7, 14 and 21 pi could be due to haemo-concentration that might have resulted from diarrhoea, while the subsequent decrease in the mean total plasma protein concentration on days 28, 35 and 42 pi following this rise may be due to malnutrition, that resulted from the infection-induced anorexia (Petersen et al., 2001), or could be as a result of combined effects of reduced hepatic synthesis or impaired renal reabsorption and consequent loss of protein in urine and diarrhoea which agrees with the findings by Campbell and Cole (1986) and Samia (2009).

 

In conclusion, experimental infection significant increase in plasma concentrations of AST, ALT, ALP, uric acid, and decrease in total protein thus, signified hepatic, intestinal and renal dysfunctions, due to cytopathiec effect caused by the infecting organism and/or its endotoxin.

 

The authors have not declared any conflict of interests.

 

Authors kindly appreciate the help of Hajia Salamatu, Mr Dodo and Mallam Yunusa Mohammed of the Department of Veterinary microbiology and Clinical Pathology Laboratories, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria for their support.