Non-Invasive Detection of Bone Lesions in Broiler Chickens Using DXA Imaging
Published in Frontiers in Physiology (May 2024)
DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2024.1363992
Ramser, A., Greene, E. S., Wideman, R., & Dridi, S.
Leg health in broiler chickens is a major concern for both animal welfare and the poultry industry. Traditional methods for detecting femoral head necrosis (FHN) depend on post-mortem inspections, which often miss internal or early-stage bone lesions.
This study evaluated the use of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), a quick and relatively affordable imaging technique, to detect subclinical bone lesions that aren’t visible externally.
Key Findings:
- 59.5% of femurs that looked healthy by standard scoring showed internal lesions on DXA scans.
- These lesions showed up as areas of low signal density (hyposignal) beneath intact articular cartilage.
- Sectioning confirmed that these regions had poor bone structure and displayed signs of necrosis.
- Surprisingly, femurs with these hidden lesions had higher bone mineral content (BMC) than those without, which raises questions about bone quality, not just quantity.
Bone mineral density (BMD) did not differ significantly between groups, suggesting it may not be sensitive to early-stage damage.
Implications:
- DXA imaging is a promising, non-invasive method for early detection of bone lesions in poultry.
- It could improve genetic selection programs by identifying subclinical FHN in live birds. This would reduce the need for destructive testing.
- The technology may also be useful for embryonic or ex vivo studies and could potentially apply to other bird species.
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The study opens new paths for welfare-friendly monitoring and a better understanding of bone disorders like bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis (BCO).
Conclusions:
This is the first report using DXA to examine internal femoral head degradation in chickens. The findings show that many bone lesions are missed with conventional scoring methods. However, DXA imaging can uncover these hidden problems, making it a valuable tool for poultry science, breeding, and animal welfare.
References
Ramser, A., Greene, E. S., Wideman, R., & Dridi, S. (2024). Potential non-invasive detection of lesions in broiler femur heads: Application of the DXA imaging system. Frontiers in Physiology, 15, Article 1363992. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2024.1363992
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