Table 4

List of miscellaneous diagnoses in 173 necropsied laying hens, not included in main diagnostic categories and the statistical analysis.



Housing of the birds (no. of flocks)



Diagnosis
No. of hens
Cages1
Litter-based systems2
Free range3

Visceral gout
29
1
10
1
Unknown cause of death
23
6
17
0
Dehydration and cachexia
17
0
6
0
Trauma
16
2
12
2
Hepatic lipidosis and liver rupture
11
3
2
0
Circulatory disturbances4
16
0
3
0
Anaemia and haemorrhages, suspected intoxication
11
0
0
1
Osteoporosis
10
4
0
0
Egg bound
7
3
4
0
Hepatitis
5
0
4
1
Obstipation (straw)
5
0
1
2
Miscellaneous neoplasms5
4
1
3
0
Other causes of death6
19
2
17
0

1Includes conventional battery cages and enriched cages.

2Includes single-tiered floor systems and multi-tiered aviary systems.

3Flocks housed in litter-based systems indoors, with access to outdoor pens and pasture, including organic flocks.

4Botulism was later diagnosed from hens in the same flocks.

5Neoplasms other than lymphoid leukosis.

6Including egg yolk peritonitis (n = 4), gastritis (n = 2), ovarian cyst (n = 2), air sacculitis (n = 2), enteritis (n = 2), chronic salpingitis (n = 1), endocarditis (n = 1), intestinal volvulus (n = 1), myositis (n = 1) ruptured ovary and abdominal hemorrhage (n = 2). hepatitis (n = 1).

Fossum et al. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 2009 51:3   doi:10.1186/1751-0147-51-3