The effect of tibial dyschondroplasia on metabolic parameters in broiler chickens

Tibial dyschondroplasia (TD) deteriorates the welfare of broiler chickens and causes economic loss. The present study was aimed at the investigation of the effect of TD on metabolic parameters and the demonstration of the aetiology of this disorder. For this purpose, blood serum mineral, lipid, protein, glucose, uric acid and enzyme levels, and histopathological alterations in the tissues of the tibiotarsal joint were determined. Ten broiler chickens suffering from TD and 10 healthy broiler chickens, all which were of the Ross 308 breed, constituted the material of the study. Analyses showed that calcium, phosphorus and free fatty acid blood serum levels were lower, whilst triglyceride, cholesterol, low density lipoproteins (LDL), very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) rates and uric acid and creatinine levels were higher in animals suffering from tibial dyschondroplasia, compared to healthy animals (P<0.05). No statistically significant difference existed between the glucose and amylase levels and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GOT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), activities of broilers diagnosed with tibial dyschondroplasia and healthy broilers. The histopathological examination of the tissues of the tibiotarsal joint of the animals diagnosed with TD revealed degenerative alterations characterized by the dominance of hypertrophy and the lack of urate crystals and calcification in chondrocytes. In animals with TD, calcium and phosphorus blood serum levels were low, whilst the lipid profile and amount of uric acid were high. On the other hand, ALP enzyme activity was determined not to display any alteration.