MICROBIAL DISEASES OF MAN AND DOMESTIC ANIMALS 809 



If the disease breaks out in epidemic form the best and quickest 

 method of getting rid of it is to kill off all the fowls, disinfect the houses, 

 and dig or plough up the poultry runs, and leave them two weeks before 

 re-stocking. 



CHRONIC BACTERIAL ENTERITIS* 

 Bacterium panatuberculosis 



The disease produced by this bacterium has been demonstrated in 

 Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Holland, Denmark, and perhaps 

 other European countries. It is known by various names, as Johne's 

 disease, chronic bacterial dysentery, and chronic bacterial enteritis. 



This bacterium produces a chronic infectious disease of cattle in- 

 volving especially the intestinal mucous membrane and related lymph 

 glands. Other animals do not seem susceptible. The disease produced 

 is usually fatal. Usually the most conspicuous general symptom is 

 unthrift in spite of good appetite and good food and a chronic incur- 

 able diarrhoea. 



This microorganism is a rod-shaped bacterium from 2fj. to 3/i long 

 and about 0.5/4 broad and is strongly acid-fast. The production of 

 active toxins is to be presumed since the amount of disturbance is fre- 

 quently out of all proportion to the lesions found on examination 

 post-moftem. The period of incubation has not been defined, but is 

 apparently very long. 



The bacteria are present in the faeces, intestinal mucosa, and sub- 

 mucosa, most frequently in the small intestines. The large intestines 

 may be involved later. 



This microorganism produces chronic, inflammatory changes of the 

 intestinal mucous membrane, the whole intestinal wall becoming 

 greatly thickened. 



This bacterium resembles closely avian tubercle bacteria, but may 

 be distinguished by the fact that the avian tubercle bacterium is rather 

 easily grown on artificial media. This organism does not have the 

 same pathogenic peculiarities as the avian tubercle bacterium. It 

 seems well demonstrated that many cases of chronic bacterial enteritis 

 do probably react to avian tuberculin; but this does not prove identity. 



So far as known the bacterium is eliminated in the manure of 



* Prepared by M. H. Reynolds. 



