86 



POULTRY DISEASES 



inier()S(*oi)ie in size, which is found in tlje diseased 

 areas in tlie ceea (blind ponclies) and liver of af- 

 J'ecled birds, which are ehiefly tnrkeys and rarely 

 chickens. Others attribute the disease to a eoe- 

 cidiuni. 



Mode of Spread. — As will be seen later, the pro- 

 tozoon escapes from ulcers in the ceca and passes 



out with the fees. 

 P^ood or water con- 

 taminated with the 

 excrements carry 

 the disease germ 

 to other birds. 

 Chronic cases (car- 

 riers) in older 

 turkeys or chick- 

 ens may keep the 

 premises infected 

 for a long time. 

 These germs en- 

 tering the liver 

 and the mucous 

 meml)rane lining 

 the ceca, cause in- 

 flammation and de- 

 generation. Usu- 

 ally the ceca be- 

 come infected first 

 and later the liver is invaded and inflammation of 

 its structure ensues. 



Postmortem Findingrs.— Upon first opening the abdominal 

 cavity one's attention is attracted by the enlarged liver with 

 areas of dead tissue (caseation necrosis). Fig. 27 shows a 

 liver about three-fourths natural size, weighing nearly one 

 pound. 



The ceca (blind pouches; see Plate I, No. 12), one or both, 

 are noted to be enlarged, the enlargement is usually a short 

 distance from the point. Upon opening the ceca, ulcers and 

 areas of dead tissue (caseation necrosis) are observed in 



Fig. 2-. Enterohepatitis in a Turkey 



A, Yellowish-white necrotic areas. This 



liver weighed 452 grams, nearly 



one pound. 



