Pathological studies on mortalities in ducks

Fifty samples collected through 4 seasons and include severalages and all breeds and revealed salmonellosis (40%), pasteurellosis(16%), E. coli (30%), pseudomonas (8%) and mycotoxins (6%).In postmortem findings salmonellosis showed focal areas on the surface of livers. Hearts showed congestion and thickening in their pericardial sac. Kidneys were enlarged. Lungs were dark red in colour. Intestines were congested and the spleen were dark revessels and the hepatic sinusoid together with the presence ofmultifocal areas of coagulative necrosis. The necrotic areas werecharacterized by accumulation of fibrin with heterophilic infiltration.Heart showed intermuscular edema, leukocytic infiltration in thepericardium, congestion and dilatation of the coronary blood vesselsas well as fibrinous pericarditis. Kidneys showed congested renalblood vessels, peritubular edema together with pressure atrophy of therenal tubules and necrosis of the lining epithelial cells. Other kidneysshowed fibrous tissue proliferation in their interstitial tissue andperitubular edema. The renal tubules were cystically dilated andcontain epithelial casts. Lungs showed congested pulmonary bloodvessels, catarrhal bronchitis and thickening in the interalveolar tissue.Intestines showed mucinous degeneration and desquamation of thevillus epithelial cell, catarrhal enteritis and sloughing of the tips of the intestinal villi. Snleen showed thickening of the capsule, proliferation