This work was performed in broiler farms located in the Paraná State (southern Brazil). 450 farms with a total population of 4,5 millions was considered during 6 months, registering total mortality and deaths compatible to be caused by ascitic syndrome and sudden death syndrome in broilers between 1 and 7 weeks of age. Total mortality was 4,8% from which 12,9% was registered as caused by ascitic syndrome and 26,4% by sudden death syndrome. Mortality peaks occured at 5th and 6th weeks of age, respectively for ascitic syndrome and sudden death syndrome. The latter value could include no specific syndrome of sudden death due to caloric stress. The profile values of dead animals showed that sudden death syndrome is characterized by hyperproteinemia, hyperlipidemia, increments of uric acid, phosphorus and magnesium levels. The profile also reveals a hypovolemic shock, metabolic acidosis and disturbance in the lipid metabolism. The biochemical profile of animals dead by ascitis syndrome showed depression of energetic metabolism, evidenced by a decrease in the levels of glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides, hypoproteinemia and hypocalcemia.
sudden death syndrome; ascitic syndrome; metabolic syndromes; broilers
