Pathology of oviduct impaction in an adult cheer pheasant (Catreus wallichii)

Abstract

A four-year-old, female cheer pheasant, Catreus wallichii housed at Dhauladhar Nature Park (Zoo), Gopalpur had a history of sudden death. The carcass appeared emaciated with distension of abdomen and soiled cloacal region. At necropsy, variable congestion of internal organs such as lungs, heart, liver, kidneys and spleen was recorded. Intestinal tract mucosa was congested and thickened with presence of catarrhal exudation inside the lumen. Oviduct was congested and impacted due to a large, creamish-yellow caseous mass with the cut-surface showing concentric layers admixed with thick exudate inside the lumen. Microscopically, vascular changes, necrosis and infiltrative changes were consistent in most of the internal organs. The oviduct revealed thickened mucosal folds due to edema, multilayering of the surface epithelium, inflammatory cell infiltrates and atrophy of the tubular glands in the uterus region. Based on the gross and microscopic findings, the case was diagnosed as severe, sub-acute to chronic oviduct impaction.