Also known as Nutritional dermatitis
Biotin deficiency occurs worldwide, affecting young and embryonic poultry through adult deficiency.
Biotin is a cofactor is carboxylation and decarboxylation reactions involving fixation of carbon dioxide. The reactions have important roles in anabolic processes and in nitrogen metabolism.- Causes of Biotin deficiency >
- Effects of Biotin deficiency >
- Diagnosis of Biotin deficiency >
- Treatment & Control of Biotin deficiency >
Causes of Biotin deficiency
Biotin is involved in a coenzyme formation that is needed for proper formation of skin and feathers may be involved in fatty liver and kidney syndrome and acute death syndrome. Hatched embryos have webbing between the third and fourth toes. Young poultry of all species will display clinical signs if biotin is deficient. Bioavailability of biotin in grains is extremely variable and can result in a deficiency.
Effects of Biotin deficiency
Clinical signs:
Signs include skin sores (crusty lesions) on the toes, foot pad and beak, feather loss in young birds and poor hatchability in adults.
Portmortem lesions
Fatty livers and kidneys with heart attacks characterised by blood clot in the abdominal cavity can be seen.
Diagnosis of Biotin deficiency
Postmortem lesions (sterile dermatitis) and histopathology are characteristic. It simulates T-2 toxin, bumblefoot, and bacterial dermatitis.
Treatment & Control of Biotin deficiency
Prevention
Dietary alteration will relieve signs.
Treatment
Restore proper amount of the vitamin in the diet
