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Abstract
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Spondylolisthesis known as kinky back syndrome is a deformity of the free sixth thoracic
vertebra including enlargement and rotation resulting in posterior paralysis in broiler chicken.
Genotype, feeding regimes and environment are involved in occurrence of this congenital
anomaly. Spondylolisthesis may result in or happen simultaneously with two other major axial
skeleton pathologies including spondylosis and spondylitis as a result of occurrence of
degenerative necrobiotic lesions and inflammation of the vertebrae, respectively. This report
deals with a male broiler chicken with posterior paralysis in the second week of rearing. After
euthanasia, the specimen was evaluated at macroscopic and microscopic levels. Macroscopic
findings showed the unilateral enlargement of body and transverse process of sixth thoracic
vertebra and downward rotation of the body. The histopathological studies revealed the focal
chondronecrosis and degenerative changes in articular facets and cranial process of the
vertebra. In conclusion, a diagnosis of spondylolisthesis followed by spondylosis was made
based on macroscopic and histopathological findings that to the authors’ best knowledge, is the
first report in a broiler farm in Iran.
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