02

PATHOLOGY OF
NUTRITIONAL DISORDERS

Vitamin deficiency
Mineral deficiency
Model questions

Pathology of nutritional deficiency diseases are

described in chapter 2 etiology of the book
Illustrated Veterinary Pathology. However,
specific deficiency of nutrition that leads to
development of clinical signs and lesions in poultry
are summarized as under:
VITAMIN DEFICIENCY
1. Hypovitaminosis A
Vitamin A is considered infection
resisting vitamin because it facilitates the
proper development of bursa, immunity
and epithelium on mucosal and skin
surfaces.
Deficiency of vitamin A leads to swollen
glands in oesophagus i.e. nutritional roup.
2. Hypovitaminosis D
Rickets
Cage layer paralysis
Deformed rib junctions
3. Hypovitaminosis E
Encephalomalacia
Chicks push their head beneath the breast
Crazy Chick Disease

Muscular dystrophy with white necrotic

areas on muscles
Distortion of hock joint
Hypovitaminosis K
Increased blood clotting time
Blood tinged droppings
Pale bone marrow
Haemorrhage in breast and thigh muscles
Hypovitaminosis C
Case layer fatigue
Hypovitaminosis B1
Star grazing in chicks
Atrophy of testes
Atrophy of ovary
Hypovitaminosis B2
Curled toe paralysis
Nicotinic acid/niacin deficiency
Enlargement of joints
Legs bend outwards

4.

5.
6.

7.
8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

Pentothenic acid deficiency

Nodular hyperplasia and cracks at foot
pad.
Scabs at commissures of the mouth;
eyelids and toes
Stunted growth
Hypoplasia of spleen
Pyridoxine (B6) deficiency
Stunted growth
Encephalomalacia
Jerking movements
Folic acid deficiency
Anemia
Retardation of growth
Perosis
Biotin deficiency
Dermatitis
Perosis
Embryonic death
Distorted limbs
Big web between 3rd and 4th phalanges
Choline deficiency
Perosis (Slipped tendon)
Deformity in tibio-tarsal joint
Fatty liver syndrome
Vitamin B12 deficiency
Stunted growth
Reduced hatchability
Atrophic leg muscles
Haemorrhage

MINERAL DEFICIENCY
1.

Calcium deficiency
Rickets
Nodular swelling at costocondral junctions
of ribs
Bending of legs
2. Phosphorus deficiency
Pica
3. Manganese deficiency
Perosis
Defective growth of bone (osteodystrophy
and chondrodystrophy)
Parrot beak
4. Zinc deficiency
Perosis
Scaly limb disease
Immunosuppression
5. Copper deficiency
Anemia
Improper bone growth
6. Magnesium deficiency
Stunted growth
7. Selenium deficiency
Muscular degeneration
Deformity in embryos (absence of beak,
eye or limb)
8. Nickel deficiency
Enlargement of hock joints
9. Iodine deficiency
Stunted growth
10. Fluorosis/excess of fluorine
Retarded growth
Drop in egg production
Deformity in bones

MODEL QUESTIONS
Q.1.

Choose any one out of 4 options given with each question to answer the followings.
(1)
Nutritional roup occurs in poultry due to deficiency of __________.
(a) Vitamin A
(b) Vitamin B
(c) Vitamin C
(d) Vitamin E
(2)
Crazy chick disease is caused by deficiency of __________.
(a) Vitamin A
(b) Vitamin B
(c) Vitamin C
(d) Vitamin E
(3)
Excess of fluorine in water may cause __________ in birds.
(a) Retarded growth
(b) Deformity in bones
(c) Both
(d) None
(4)
Star grazing condition in chicks is caused by the deficiency of __________.
(a) Vitamin A
(b) Vitamin B1
(c) Vitamin C
(d) None
(5)
Curled toe paralysis in chicks occurs due to deficiency of __________.
(a) Vitamin A
(b) Vitamin B1
(c) Vitamin C
(d) None
(6)
Perosis occurs in birds due to deficiency of __________.
(a) Choline
(b) Biotin
(c) Zinc
(d) All of above
(7)
Pica in birds may occur as a result of __________ deficiency.
(a) Calcium
(b) Vitamin B
(c) Phosphorus
(d) None
(8)
Manganese deficiency is characterized by __________.
(a) Perosis
(b) Osteodystrophy
(c) Chondrodystrophy
(d) All of above
(9)
Selenium deficiency may cause absence of __________ in embryo.
(a) Beak
(b) Eye
(c) Limb
(d) All of above
(10)
Hypovitaminosis B1 is responsible for atrophy of __________ in birds.
(a) Testes
(b) Ovary
(c) Both
(d) None

Q.2.

Write True or False.

(1)
_________
(2)
_________
(3)
_________
(4)
_________
(5)
_________
(6)
_________
(7)
_________
(8)
_________
(9)
_________
(10) _________

Vitamin K deficiency may cause perosis in birds.

Encephalomalacia is caused by pyridoxine and vitamin E deficiency.
Cage layer fatigue is observed in birds having vitamin C deficiency.
Curled toe paralysis is caused by vitamin B6 deficiency.
Hypoplasia of spleen is seen in pentothenic acid deficiency.
Rickets is caused by calcium excess in chicks.
Copper deficiency may cause anemia.
Selenium deficiency may cause fatty degeneration.
Deficiency of iodine causes enlargement of hock joints.
Fatty liver syndrome is caused by choline deficiency.

Q.3.

Fill in the blanks with most suitable word(s).

(1)
Perosis in birds is caused by deficiency of ________________, ______________,
______________, ______________ and ______________.
(2)
Vitamin B1 deficiency may cause ________________ in chicks.
(3)
Pyridoxine is responsible for ________________ which is also caused by the deficiency of
________________.
(4)
Hypovitaminosis B2 causes ________________ in birds.
(5)
Cage layer paralysis is caused by ________________.

Q.4.

Write short notes on.

(1)
Crazy chick disease
(2)
Nutritional roup
(3)
Curled toe puralysis
(4)
Star grazing
(5)
Avian encephalomalacia

Q.5.

Define the followings.

(1)
Perosis
(2)
Fatty liver syndrome
(3)
Rickets
(4)
Osteostrophy
(5)
Chondrodystrophy

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3

2
Fig. 2.1. Nutritional deficiency diseases of poultry- (1) Nutritional roup,
(2&3) Rickets and (4) Crazy chick disease

4
2
Fig. 2.2. Nutritional deficiency diseases of poultry- (1) Encephalomalacia,
(2) Curled toe paralysis, (3) Muscular dystrophy and (4) Perosis in chick.

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