Vol. 5, Issue 6, Part A (2020)

Author(s): Gapsiso RH, Mutah AA, Mana HP, Yoksa DT, Aiga PS and Bokko PB

Abstract: Polymelia is a congenital anomaly which is associated with extra limbs in animals and humans. Predisposing factors are associated with genetic, environmental agents, or a combination of factors. A case of polymelia was observed in 5 days old ISA-brown chick during a routine check in commercial poultry farm with about 5000 pullets of ISA-Brown strain. On physical examination, there were two extra limbs located caudally, initially touching ground but as the bird grows, the extra limbs were off the ground, rigid, shrunken, smaller, and non-functional yet responded to stimulus. Radiographic evaluation with plain X-ray revealed that the extra limb originated from the left acetabulum, having one short femur pointing caudally, one short tibiotarsus bones bifurcated into two and giving rise to two tarsometatarsus bones, each having four curled digits. Surgical amputation of the extra limb was carried out when the chicken was 10 weeks old under xylazine and ketamine anaesthesia. Full recovery was attained in 14days and the chicken was walking normally without any deformity in the gait.

DOI: 10.22271/veterinary.2020.v5.i6a.306