Gangrenous dermatitis in a flock of Vanaraja chicken

An outbreak of gangrenous dermatitis in a flock of Vanaraja bird was recorded in Assam Agricultural University, Guwahati. There were 240 nos. of Vanaraja birds in the flock (male=40, female =200) of which 50 birds showed lesions of gangrenous dermatitis in different intensity. Clinical signs of the ailing birds were bluish discoloration of skin, loss of feathers from affected areas, depression, droopy wings etc. Grossly diffuse haemorrhages and extensive necrosis were recorded in skin, subcutaneous tissues of wings, leg, breast along with the musculature of these regions. Congestion and haemorrhages were also found in liver, kidneys and heart. Bacteriological isolation reveals Staphylococcus and Clostridium species in affected muscles of birds.