Chicken anemia is a viral disease of growers caused by DNA virus of Circoviridae family and characterized by watery blood, pale mucous membrane, reduced body weight and atrophy of bursa and thymus.
- It is also known as Anemia dermatitis syndrome. Disease occurs in birds with stress or immunosuppression. Transmitted both horizontally and vertically.
- In vertical transmission through hatching eggs. Horizontally by direct/ indirect contact.
- Ingestion of infected materials. Virus causes changes in splenic thymocytes and splenic and bone marrow macrophages.
- The main site of viral replication are precursor T-cells in the thymic cortex and hematoblasts in bone marrow.
- Destruction of these cells leads to immunosuppression and anemia.
- Characteristic symptoms are pale skin and mucus membrane, loss of weight, 5-10% mortality and thin watery blood with increased Pack Cell Volume.
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