title: A study of hepatic lesions in broiler chickens at processing plants in Saskatchewan.
abstract: A detailed descriptive study was done on broiler chickens with abnormal livers found at processing. Two syndromes were evident: those birds with enlarged, pale, firm livers, designated hepatosis, with Clostridium perfringens type A often isolated; and ascitic birds with cobblestone-appearing livers. Livers with hepatosis had marked proliferation of bile ducts; ascitic livers had normal architecture. Hearts from birds with ascites had elevated right ventricular/total ventricular weight ratios, whereas hearts from normal birds and birds with hepatosis did not. Two isolates of C. perfringens produced necrotic enteritis in experimental birds; an attempt to reproduce hepatosis with these isolates was unsuccessful.
authors.forename: T W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Hutchison
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Riddell