Pathological Alterations in Carcasses and Viscera of Japanese Quail (Coturnix japonica Temminck & Schlegel, 1849) of Commercial Breeding

Abstract

Identification of macroscopic injures in japanese quail carcasses during the slaughter process is critical to ensure the high quality of the final product, meat, and decrease the risk of zoonotic diseases. Thus, this study aimed to describe the main pathological changes found in japanese quail in conditions for slaughter process. For this, 31 individuals were sampled at two distinct farms situated in the rural zone of Manaus/AM, all of them with one years old, healthy and in slaughter condition. All analyses were performed in the Laboratory of Triatominae, Phlebotominae and Nidicola fauna of the National Institute for Amazonian Research (INPA), Manaus/AM. “Ante mortem” and “post mortem” inspection were performed in all carcass. Externally, there was only one specimen showed cachexy and apathy. On internal examination, there were changes in the lungs of 9,5% of specimens, it was marked by hyperemia and fibrin exudate in the apical lobes surface. Ulcerations in the proventriculus and ventriculu mucosal were reported in the 9,6% of analyzed birds. Moreover, changes in the small intestine and caecum area were reported respectively in the 45,1% (14) and 74,1 (23) of birds. The most common intestinal disorders were gas accumulation associated with distension of the loops, congested mucosal, and hemorrhagic fluid or yellow colored mucus and petechiae in serous. Three individual showed mucus fluid, dark colored, similar to coffe grounds, in the region of the jejunum, ileum and cecum. Cecum's area of these birds presented one or more species of a parasite nematodes, cestoda and protozoa. 87% (27) of analyzed livers showed a pale aspect, crumbly texture and multifocal areas, units or bilobar, yellowish or greenish gray colored, showed a diameter of 0,2-1,6 cm. In 25,92% of these livers were found scar punctate injures, which showed a grayish or blackish color circumscribed by a white halo and petechiae. Ovarian follicles were stunted and two quail oviduct presented fibrinous exudate in serous, while the light of the oviduct found partially obliterated by whitish exudate and caseous mass in the mucosa below the exudate had multiple cysts filled with fluid slightly opaque. Some pathological changes described for C. japonica are simliar to those described for laying hens, however, have also been described macroscopic particular injuries to this species, which suggests further research on this kind of growing economic importance.