Chick edema disease

Gilbertson, M., Kubiak, T., and Ludwig, J. et al. (1991). Great-Lakes embryo mortality, edema, and deformities syndrome (glemeds) in colonial fish-eating birds—similarity to chick-edema disease. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health 33,455-520. 

A consistent pericardial edema in chickens gave rise to the term chick edema disease (chick edema factor) (I). Two known outbreaks of the disease in the broiler industry resulted in a great loss of chickens. A lipid residue from the manufacturing fatty acids, being used as a feed ingredient, was a principal source of the toxic substance. Contamination of the lipid component with polychlorodibenzo-p-dioxins was attributed as the causal agent. 

Gilbertson M, Kubiak TJ, Ludwig JP, Fox G. 1991. Great Lakes Embryo Mortahty, Edema and Deformity Syndrome (GLEMEDS) in colonial fish-eating birds similarity to chick edema disease. J Toxicol Environ Health 33 455-520. 

Gilbertson M. 1983. Etiology of chick edema disease in herring gulls in the lower Great Lakes. Chemosphere 12 357-370. 

Chickens fed with penta- and hexaCNs at 100 mg kg 1 in the diet produced chick edema disease [44]. Penta- and hexaCNs fed to turkeys at 20 mg kg-1 in feed for 40 days resulted in 50% mortality. At a concentration of 5 mg kg 1 feed, PCNs caused 6.5% mortality and 33% reduction in body weight [44], Histological examination revealed liver damage in exposed birds. Reproductive problems were also observed in chickens fed with a Halowax 1014 mixture at doses greater than 100 mg kg-1 bw. 

Chick edema disease became a serious economic problem by the mid-1950s, by which time millions of broilers had succumbed to it in the U.S. The problem was traced to toxic components in the unsaponifiable fraction of certain low cost feed fats Introduced into the chick diet to increase the caloric intake (ref. 121c). Symptoms included fluid in the heart sack and abdominal cavity, subcutaneous edema and liver necrosis. Injection of purified chick edema factor into fertile eggs resulted in lower hatch yield, embryonic deformities and edema. Unhatched embryos exhibited a variety of defects (malformed beaks, leg deformities, no development of the right mesencephalon, and eye defects). Hatched embryos were growth-retarded, with sparse and defective feathers. The isolated toxin was ultimately identified as 1.2,3,7.8,9-... 

Flick DF, Firestone D, Higginbotham GR. 1972. Chick edema disease 9. Response of chicks fed or singly administered synthetic edema-producing compounds. Poult Sci 51 2026-2034. 

The toxicity of the dioxins was first observed in 1895 in workers in the chemical industry in Germany. They developed a skin complaint called chloracne, believing it was caused by chlorine. In 1957, millions of chickens in the eastern and midwestem U.S. died of a disease characterized by excessive fluid in the pericardial sac. The name chick edema factor was therefore applied to the component(s) in the feed responsible for this symptom. Liver and kidney damage was also observed. Similar outbreaks of the disease occurred in 1960 and 1969. A contaminant in trichlorophenol, or products produced from trichlorophenol, caused the chick edema disease and chloracne. Twelve years later its structure was published (Cantrell et al., 1969). The Dow Chemical Company had been aware of a highly toxic impurity formed in small amounts from the production of 2,4,5-T as early as 1950. 

L Chick edema disease is diaiacterized by BsUessnesSy anorexia, reduced growth rate, anemia, ventral edema, and decreased egg halcbabllity. Subcutaneous edema, hydropericardlian, and ascites occur in poultry because vascular integrity is lost... 

In addition to its extremely high oral toxicity, skin contact with substances containing 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin may allow toxicity in the form of chloracne, a condition characterized by eruptions of the skin on the face, neck, and back. Also, chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins have been associated with the chick edema factor, a disease of chicks associated with contaminated fats or oils used in the manufacture of their feed. 

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