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Ascites Syndrome

Other Names: Pulmonary Hypertension Syndrome

Ascites syndrome, also called Pulmonary Hypertension Syndrome, is a type of right-sided heart failure that occurs in young rapidly growing large breed chickens (broilers). It occurs when the pulmonary blood vessels are unable to meet the increased oxygen demands on their body due to their rapid growth rate. It increases their blood pressure so much it results in vascular damage and fluid buildups in the abdominal cavity.

This disease shouldn't be confused with the general term, 'ascites', referring to the accumulation of fluid in the chicken's peritoneal cavity.

Factors that increase the risk of chickens developing ascites syndrome include high altitude, stressful living conditions (such as overcrowding, poor ventilation), and weather extremes.

Diagnosis

There are several diagnostic tests which can be performed to help diagnose ascites syndrome in chickens.

Abdominal fluid analysis: Fluid is usually clear, but can also be cloudy with ﬁbrin clots.
Radiographs: Loss of abdominal detail and an enlarged cardiac and/or cardiohepatic silhouette.
Electrocardiography: Decreased heart rate, with an increase in S-wave amplitude and ventricular ﬁbrillation associated with right-heart dilation and a right deviation of the mean electrical axis (which becomes negative).
Echocardiography: Right and left atrioventricular valves regurgitation, reduction in fractional shortening of the left ventricle, dilation of cardiac chambers, and pericardial effusion.

Gross Lesions

Gross lesions may include dilated and hypertrophic right ventricle, ascites, pericardial effusion, pericarditis, organ congestion, dilation of pulmonary veins, and a ﬁbrotic liver when chronic.

Clinical Signs

Abdominal distension

Difficulty breathing

Cyanosis

Lethargy

Diagnosis

History
Clinical signs
Abdominal fluid analysis
Radiographs
Echocardiography
Electrocardiography

Reported Cases

Case 1: Ascites syndrome in a Chickens A naturally occurring cardiomyopathy in broiler chickens from a single Ontario farm was studied in order to define the morphologic changes. Gross and histologic features of affected birds were compared with those in age-matched control penmates. Body weight and weight and volume of individual cardiac chambers were measured. Histologic sections of 18 different tissues were examined, and lesions observed were scored subjectively. Affected birds were stunted and had marked right ventricular dilation and hypertrophy, atrial hypertrophy, ascites, pulmonary congestion and edema, and hepatic capsular fibrosis. Microscopic changes in the heart of affected birds were mild and did not suggest a specific cause of heart failure. Lungs had marked hypertrophy of parabronchial smooth muscle and collapse and apparent loss of associated air capillaries. Other histologic changes observed were thought to be the result of passive congestion of viscera caused by right heart failure and chronic debility. Ref

Treatment

Name	Summary
Supportive care	Isolate the bird from the flock and place in a safe, comfortable, warm location (your own chicken "intensive care unit") with easy access to water and food. Limit stress. Call your veterinarian.
Enalapril		M Fathi et al., 2015
Furosemide		Beaufrère, H et al., 2015
Imidapril		X Hau et al., 2014.
CoQ10	Added to diet	A Geng et al., 2010; M Nemati et al., 2017
Elecampane (Inula helenium) rhizome	Added to diet	M Abolfathi et al., 2020
Garlic (Allium sativum) bulb extract added to diet	S Varmaghany et al., 2015
Hawthorn (Crataegus oxyacantha) extract	Added to diet	B Ahmadipour et al., 2019
L-arginine	Added to diet	Zhang, Beibei, et al., 2018; Khajali et al., 2014
L-carnitine	Added to diet	A Geng et al., 2010
Omega-3 fatty acids	Beaufrère, H et al., 2015; Alagawany, M et al., 2019
Turmeric (Curcuma longa)	Added to diet	D Daneshyar et al., 2012
Vitamin C	Added to diet	A Gupta 2011; Beaufrère, H et al., 2015; M Nemati et al., 2017; C Ruiz-Feria
Vitamin E	Added to diet	C Ruiz-Feria; A Gupta 2011