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A mini review of the causes and incidence of pericarditis in poultry

Project Code: M01035

14/06/2004

Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Weybridge
Coburn, H ; Munday, D

The presence of pericarditis in a poultry carcass generally results in whole carcass rejection at post-mortem inspection in the UK. This is because, historically, the condition has been associated with Salmonella infection. M01035 was carried out to establish the incidence and causes of pericarditis in poultry and to enable possible risk questions to be proposed which, through further work, could establish whether current inspection and rejection practices are appropriate and proportional.

Data on pericarditis incidence in UK poultry was limited but information available revealed a low prevalence (0.004%-0.13%). Several potential causes of pericarditis were identified from literature and experts indicate that E. coli infection is a frequent cause. Pericarditis caused by Salmonella infection appears to have declined over the past two decades and therefore the rejection of birds with pericarditis lesions alone may no longer be necessary in order to protect public health. A qualitative risk assessment to assess if entire carcass rejection is justified in all cases in terms of the implications on human health from pericarditis in poultry at slaughter is suggested

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