title: An egg drop associated with splenomegaly in broiler breeders.
abstract: A new disease in broiler breeders known in Australia as Big Liver and Spleen Disease (BLS) is described from field observations, retrospective record analysis, and detailed study of a selected flock. BLS has a predilection for adult birds. It is characterized clinically by a sudden drop in egg production, splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, and increased mortality and histologically by a period of lymphoproliferation followed by a period of lymphoid destruction that coincides with the clinical signs. Epidemiology suggests an infectious cause, though initial attempts at isolation of a causative agent have been unsuccessful, and it is serologically distinct from the common avian viral and mycoplasma diseases.
authors.affiliation: NSW Department of Agriculture, Veterinary Research Station, Glenfield, Australia.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Handlinger
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens; D004531:Eggs; D005260:Female; D006529:Hepatomegaly / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D008264:Macrophages / Q000473:pathology; D010060:Ovulation; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013163:Splenomegaly / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*