INFECTIOUS DIARRHEA OF CHICKS 631 



source of food supply is from the yolk of the egg from which 

 it is hatched. The infection is carried to the other organs by 

 the blood or lymph systems. 



The coccidial form develops in a similar manner. Numer- 

 ous examinations have proved that laying hens are often 

 chronic carriers of the coccidia which are passed out either 

 with the eggs, or with the discharges. The food, water, litter, 

 etc., are contaminated and therefore easily picked up by the 

 chick during the first week or ten days of its life. The 

 coccidia, when introduced into the digestive tract, develop 

 in a few hours and penetrate into the mucosa which accounts 

 for the digestive disturbances. Both forms of the disease 

 result in intestinal irritation, congestion, and disturbed 

 function. 



Symptoms. The early indication of the disease is the 

 presence of a whitish, or whitish-brown, frothy discharge 

 from the bowels. Examination of the chick reveals the soft, 

 pasty mass adhering around the cloaca and on the feathers. 

 They are dull, wings held pendent, head held down and more 

 or less constantly emitting a peculiar "peeping" sound. 

 The appetite is suppressed or entirely lost. The chicks 

 rapidly become weak, often fall down when urged to move, 

 and show every evidence of general cachexia. Death follows 

 often in a few days following hatching. Other cases when 

 infected later often are normal during the first few days or 

 week only to take the disease in two to four weeks, showing 

 practically the same symptoms. The mortality is 50 to 90 

 per cent, of the hatch. In order to determine the presence 

 of the bacilli or coccidia, a microscopic examination should 

 be made of the discharges, cecal contents, or cultures taken 

 from the organs. 



Diagnosis. This is not considered difficult as the disease 

 makes its appearance soon after the chicks are hatched, and 

 the fact that a number of them are affected at the same time. 

 The symptoms are also quite characteristic. There is no 

 similar disease aft'ecting young chicks at this age, except 

 possibly ptomain poisoning. A microscopic examination will 

 assist in making the diagnosis. 



