Postmortem detection of acute septicemia in broilers

Septicemia is an unwholesome condition diagnosed during postmortem inspection in poultry slaughter establishments on the basis of macroscopic lesions. Early identification of septicemia has important public health implications. In this study, Pasteurella multocida, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus septicemia were induced in broilers in order to determine if lesions of acute septicemia can be grossly detected in the visceral organs of broiler carcasses prior to the development of changes in the skeletal muscle. Increased spleen and liver weights were observed during the acute phase of septicemia. Airsacculitis, pericarditis, and perihepatitis were observed during the acute phase of P. multocida- and E. coli-induced septicemia; and arthritis was the earliest indicator of S. aureus-induced septicemia. These macroscopic lesions were sufficient to identify unwholesome septicemic broiler carcasses prior to the development of changes in the skeletal muscle of the carcass.