GIZZARD AND

PROVENTRICULUS AS
A HEALTH MARKER
Edgar O. Oviedo Rondón
DVM, PhD., Dip. ACPV Professor/Extension Specialist
Prestage Department of Poultry Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695
health

T
he stomach in chickens is
subdivided into two parts,
the proventriculus (glandular
stomach) and the ventriculus
(gizzard). The proventriculus is the
organ producing acid and enzymes.
The gizzard is the muscular stomach
and pacemaker of gut motility.

36
aviNews International September 2022 | Gizzard and proventriculus as a health marker
 They are pivotal for digestion and gut Average Lesion Score: Gizzard Erosions (2010-2012)
health. But, gizzard erosions are frequent 1.2
according to reports of health surveys like 1.0

Average Lesion Score (0-3)

the Poultry Health Insights HTSi* (Figure 1).
0.8
Proventriculitis is also a common clinical
0.6
finding, causing carcass condemnation
when swollen proventriculi tear during 0.4
evisceration. 0.2
0.0
Gizzard erosions reduce feed intake,

10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
affecting:
Year
growth and reducing digestion, Region: Asia Europe, Latin North
pacific Middle East, Africa America America

increasing gut health issues, and

Figure 1. The average severity of broiler gizzard erosions
worsening feed conversion ratio. observed in necropsies on four continents. Source: Poultry
Health Insights HTSi*

Gizzard underdevelopment, dystrophy, and

proventriculitis can affect hydrochloric To understand an abnormality or lesion
acid and enzyme production and activity, in an organ, it is necessary to understand

health
causing: its anatomy (Figure 2) and the normal
development as broilers grow.
indigestion,

increasing substrate for

microorganisms in the hindgut, and Gizzard Proventriculus Oesophagus

starting dysbiosis gas production in

the ceca, increasing passage rate, and
causing microbial infections.
Conical
papillae
Keratinoid Mucous epithelium
lining (hard) Submucosal glands
Smooth muscle Kereatinoid lining (soft)
Mucosa and submucosa
Gizzards and proventriculus can be a marker
for broiler performance and health. It has Figure 2. Anatomy of the gizzard. Source: Péter Lőw et al. 2016.
been observed that 15 to 25% of the birds Atlas of Animal Anatomy and Histology.
habitually necropsied in poultry farms show
some proventriculus inflammation, gizzard
erosions, or ulcerations. Once observed, it
is important to know the factors that can
cause them to start exploring solutions.

*conducted globally by ELANCO Animal Health.

37
aviNews International September 2022 | Gizzard and proventriculus as a health marker
 Submucosal glands
Mucous epithelium
The proventriculus has a thick mucosa
and submucosa occupied by glands Muscle
(Figure 3) producing acid and digestive layer
enzymes, whereas the gizzard is a
grinder in the absence of teeth.
Submucosa
The mucosa of the gizzard is covered
by a solid layer of a carbohydrate-
protein complex called the koilin
layer, also termed keratinoid lining Lumen of proventriculus
Glandular lumen with secretion
(hard), cuticle, and gizzard lining.
Figure 3. Cross-section slice of the chicken’s proventriculus wall
(formalin-fixed specimen). Source: Péter Lőw et al. 2016. Atlas
of Animal Anatomy and Histology.

Early in life, the gizzard and

The good development of the
proventriculus have the most significant
gizzard can be evaluated by
health

relative weights compared to other

the thickness and tone of its gastrointestinal organs. Figure 4 shows
muscular development. the relative weight (g/kg body weight)
of the crop, proventriculus, gizzard, and
pancreas from 1 to 35 days post-hatch
in broilers fed ground wheat or whole
wheat based diets.

In day-old chicks (45 grams body weight),

gizzard+proventriculus can weigh 2.9
grams. Gizzard development can be
affected by:

the particle size of the feed,

the type of fiber, and

the presence of grit or litter material.

38
aviNews International September 2022 | Gizzard and proventriculus as a health marker
In Figure 4, Ravindran et al. (2006) represented 10.0 Crop
the significant differences in relative
gastrointestinal weights due to wheat 8.0
form. In gizzards, the differences were 6.0
observed on days 21, 28, and 35.
4.0

Relative weight (g/kg BW)

Better gizzard development is related 2.0
to higher feed efficiency and better 0 7 14 21 28 35
feed conversions. In Figure 5, the blue Age (day)
color indicates a better feed efficiency Gizzard
55.0
group of broilers, and notice the higher
45.0
development of the gizzard (Fig 5A) at
35.0
14 and 50 days and the smaller relative
size and lower variability of the jejunum 25.0
(Fig 5C) and ileum (Fig 5D) in the high- 15.0
efficiency chickens. In red boxes, variable 5.0
0 7 14 21 28 35
size and larger intestines indicate lower
Age (day)
feed efficiency, higher proliferation of
microorganisms, more gut inflammation, 12.0 Proventriculus
and potentially more health and food
10.0

health
safety issues.
8.0
6.0
4.0
Relative weight (g/kg BW)

2.0
0 7 14 21 28 35
Age (day)
Clostridium perfringens have been
6.0 Pancreas
isolated from broiler gizzards with
erosions and ulcers, and the caecal
4.0
counts also increase. C. perfringens
is considered an opportunistic
2.0
pathogen involved in these lesions.

0.0
0 7 14 21 28 35
Age (day)

Feed additives like narasin that control Figure 4. Relative weight (g/kg body weight) of the crop,
C. perfringens and increase insoluble proventriculus, gizzard, and pancreas from 1 to 35 days post-
dietary fiber reduce the severity of gizzard hatch in broilers fed ground wheat- or whole wheat based
erosions and ulcers. diets. Source: Ravindran et al., 2006.

39
aviNews International September 2022 | Gizzard and proventriculus as a health marker
 Duodenum weight/ body weight ratio
A p= 0.90 p=0.81 B p=0.23
Gizzard weight/ body weight ratio

Gizzard p=0.99 Duodenum

0.06 p=0.0077
p=0.025
0.02 p=0.22
0.04 p=0.21 p=0.42
p=0.047 p=0.95
0.02 0.01

D0 D07 D14 D23 D35 D50 D07 D14 D23 D35 D50
C Stage D Stage
0.025
Jejunum weight/ body weight ratio

0.04 Jejunum p=0.26 p=0.00061 Ileum

Ileum weight/ body weight ratio

p=8,10.106 p=0.00025 p=0.013
0.020
0.03 p=7,67.104 p=0.11
p=0.54 0.015
p=0.064
0.02
p=0.027
0.010
0.01
D07 D14 D23 D35 D50 D07 D14 D23 D35 D50
Stage Stage

Figure 5. Allometric growth of the digestive tract during development (organ weight/body weight) of gizzard (A), duodenum (B),
jejunum (C), and ileum (D). Box colors indicate broiler efficiency, blue for high and green for low. Source: Juanchich et al., 2012.

Causative or predisposing factors to

health

gizzard ulcers and erosions

Lesions in the gizzard and proventriculus
can be caused by multiple factors present
before hatch and during grow-out. Farm
factors include:

starvation,

feed structure and fiber,

feed particle size,

nutritional deficiencies,

toxic substances,

viral infections, and

microbial colonization.

In Pre-hatch factors, mycotoxins,

viruses, and incubation may play a role.
Breeder feed can be contaminated
with multiple mycotoxins.

40
aviNews International September 2022 | Gizzard and proventriculus as a health marker
The combination of fumonisin B,
deoxynivalenol (DON), and zearalenone in
breeder feed has been linked directly Several research groups have isolated
with gizzard ulceration in the fowl adenovirus serotype A (FAdV-1)
newborn progeny (Wang et al., from gizzard erosions and ulcerations in
2021). The effects can be laying hens (Lim et al., 2012; Matczuk et al., 2017),
observed in Figure 6. and the same FAdV-1 has been proven
to reproduce the outbreak of gizzard
erosions in broilers (Grafl et al., 2013; Schade
et al., 2013; Mizazadeh et al., 2019). Vertical
transmission has been confirmed.

** ** *
** ** *
100 **
**
*
**
Hight dose group 100 Hight group
Hatching Rate %

Gizzard ucleration %
80
Moderate dose 80 Moderate group
60 group
60
40 Low dose group Low group
40
20 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6
20

health
0 1 2345 1 2345 12345
0
1: FB1 3: FB1+FB2+FB3 5: DON control 1: FB1+DON 3: FB2 5: DON Control
2: FB2 4: FB1 + DON 6: Blank control 2: FB1 4: FB123
FB1 3.6 µg
FB1 6 µg FB1 12 µg FB1 24 µg FB2 12 µg +FB2 1.2 µg
FB1 24 µg FB1 48 µg +FB3 1.2 µg

FB1 7.2 µg FB1 14.4 µg FB1 3 µg FB1 6 µg FB1 12 µg DON 0.1 µg Control
+FB2 2.4 µg +FB2 4.8 µg +DON 0.1 µg +DON0.1 µg +DON 0.1 µg
+FB3 2.4 µg +FB3 4.8 µg
Figure 6. Effect of fumonisin B, deoxynivalenol (DON), and zearalenone in breeder feed on gizzard ulcerations in broiler progeny.
Source: Wang et al., 2021.
41
aviNews International September 2022 | Gizzard and proventriculus as a health marker
 Grafl et al. (2012) reported the isolation of
genetically identical FAdV-1 strains from
gizzards of embryos at the lowest point
of hatchability and affected broiler flocks
raised on independent farms.
However, the gizzard is the site where
virus detection can be more common and
persistent (Steer et al., 2015).

These authors demonstrated direct

detection of viable FAdV-1 from
gizzards of embryos and progenies
of one FAdV-1-seropositive broiler
breeder farm during an outbreak of
adenoviral gizzard erosion.

Though, others have detected the virus

in gizzard lesions (Figure 6) but failed to
establish vertical transmission (Lindgren et al.,
2022). Figure 7. Gross lesions in gizzard from 19- day-old broiler
chicken associated with fowl adenovirus serotype 1 (FAdV01).
Erosions, detachment of the koilin layer, and dark discoloration
indicate bleeding. Source: Lindgren et al., 2022.
health

However, it is essential to
consider that this FAdV-1 also
causes gross and histological
lesions in the thymus, bursa,
liver, pancreas, and kidneys.
This FAdV-1 infection not only
affects the gizzard.

42
aviNews International September 2022 | Gizzard and proventriculus as a health marker
Role of other viruses:
Additionally, to the adenovirus, some
lesions caused by the particular virus are
reflected in the gizzard proventriculus area.

The infectious bursal disease virus

(IBDV) or Gumboro disease can
cause hemorrhages in the union Starvation and heat stress:
between proventriculus and gizzard
When chickens hatch early and remain
and proventriculitis. Control of IBDV
without feed and water for more than 48
seems to reduce the incidence of
hours in the hatcher, the proportion of
proventriculitis.
ulcerated gizzard increases, starvation
The velogenic strains of Newcastle also increases gizzard erosions in broilers
can cause hemorrhages in the at 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks of age.
proventriculus and the whole
Heat stress in the hatcher and at the
gastrointestinal tract. Other viremias
farms can increase similar lesions.
like the avian influenza virus can
However, these effects are usually
eventually cause similar lesions.
temporary, and starvation should be
considered only a predisposing factor.

health
Starvation causes regurgitation of bile
Proventriculitis has been observed to the gizzard, which can be protective
in cases of infection with the Marek but also a marker of a management
disease virus and, together with issue (Figure 8).
IBDV, can cause immunosuppression.
The reovirus causing the
“malabsorption syndrome” also
causes proventriculitis.

A proventricular necrosis virus member of

the Birnaviridae family has been observed
to cause transmissible viral proventriculitis
in chickens (Śmiałek et al., 2020). Then,
proventriculitis can be a sign of viral
infection. Figure 8. Gizzards with bile stains after starvation.

43
aviNews International September 2022 | Gizzard and proventriculus as a health marker
 Feed structure, fiber, and particle size: Mycotoxins:
All research indicates that coarse feed Trichothecenes like DON, T-2, HT-
particles stimulate gizzard development 2, diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS) or
and improve its health, reducing potential monoacetoxyscirpenol (MAS), and
erosions and ulcers. nivalenol produced by Fusarium fungi
have been reported to cause gizzard
Fiber can also reduce the pH of gizzard
erosions in broilers. However, very high
contents due to a buffering effect that
concentrations of DON (49.4 and 83
some fiber components may have.
mg/kg feed) are needed to observe
Non-soluble fiber and grit seem to these lesions. Fumonisins B₁ and B₂,
exert effects similar to particle size. moliniformin, oosporein, rubratoxin,
and cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) at 50 to
Fine feed particle size reduces the 100 pm are other mycotoxins linked to
muscular development and size of the gizzard ulcers.
gizzard and causes hypertrophy of the
proventriculus and guts.

In all cases with proventriculitis and

gizzard erosions and ulcerations, the
health

feed particle size and its variability

among batches of feed or feed phases The combination of several
should be evaluated. mycotoxins can be more
harmful than individual
mycotoxins that seldom
reach levels high enough
Copper sulfate: to cause these lesions in
At levels above 250 ppm fed for several commercial feed.
weeks, copper sulfate can cause:

gizzard erosions,

proventriculitis, and

gizzard distention.

44
aviNews International September 2022 | Gizzard and proventriculus as a health marker
Biogenic amines:
These substances are produced by
microbial degradation of amino acids.
The most well-known is histamine
produced from the amino acid histidine
in fish products. Histamine can cause
severe gizzard erosions and “black
vomit.”
The product called gizzerosine produced
when the fish meal is overheated (>130 C)
can cause lesions when feed concentration
reaches 0.15 mg/kg.
Vitamin deficiencies:
Vitamin E prevented gizzard ulcers under
conditions of:
high levels of polyunsaturated fatty
acids,
high dietary levels of cod liver oil (5-
10%),
o
menhaden oil (0.5 to 1%), and
fish meal (15%). These inclusion levels
of fish byproducts are not standard
in poultry diets and can hardly have
practical implications.

The deficiency of vitamin B₆, which is

However, in the USA and most also not very common, could reduce the
parts of the world, poultry production of taurine and taurocholic

health
diets seldom contain fish meals acid, which makes part of the bile. Lack
at inclusion levels considered of bile can increase gizzard erosions and
necessary to cause this pathology. eventually ulcers.

Conclusions
Gizzard erosions and ulcers, and proventriculitis are gut health markers. Several factors
can cause these lesions. The most common could be fine feed particle size or low non-
soluble fiber and mycotoxins. Viruses like the fowl adenovirus serotype A (FAdV-1), IBDV,
and the transmissible proventricular necrosis virus can be implicated. Careful differential
diagnostics should be conducted to determine factors to control the cause of these signs of
management and health issues.

Gizzard and proventriculus as a References available upon request

health marker
DOWNLOAD THE PDF

45
aviNews International September 2022 | Gizzard and proventriculus as a health marker
 POINTING
IN THE
RIGHT DIRECTION
aviNews International
the English-language poultry magazine
for the international market
aviNews® International agriNews®

Natalia Bellés
Key Account Manager
int@grupoagrinews.com
+(34) 664 66 06 05

Maria Camila Alfaro

CONTACT
Key Account Manager
aviglobal@grupoagrinews.com
+(57) 323 4376572

Luis Carrasco
US!
Managing Director
lc@agrinews.es
+(34) 605 09 05 13
/avinewsinternational