Potential non-invasive detection of lesions in broiler femur heads: application of the DXA imaging system

Abstract

Leg health is a significant economic and welfare concern for the poultry industry. Current methods of detection rely on visual assessment of the legs and gait scores and bone scoring during necropsy for full characterization. Additionally, the current scoring of femurs only examines the external surface of the femoral head. Through the use of the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) imaging system, we show the presence of a necrotic region in the femurs that would otherwise be considered healthy based on the current evaluation procedures. Importantly, these lesions were present in almost 60% (22 of 37) of femurs that scored normal for femoral head necrosis (FHN). Additionally, these femurs showed greater bone mineral content (BMC) relative to weight compared to their counterparts with no lucent lesions (6.95% ± 0.20% vs. 6.26% ± 0.25; p = 0.038). Identification of these lesions presents both a challenge and an opportunity. These subclinical lesions are likely to be missed in routine scoring procedures for FHN and can inadvertently impact the characterization of the disease and genetic selection programs. Furthermore, this imaging system can be used for in vivo, ex vivo, and embryonic (egg) studies and, therefore, constitutes a potential non-invasive method for early detection of bone lesions in chickens and other avian species.