1 lO 



I'ori.im DISKASl'S AM) IlllllK TKKATMKNT, 



air passages. W Iku iIk' bird begins to improve, give a grain 

 oi (|uinine, or lo drop^ of co(\ liver oil twiee a day." (Sal- 

 mon. )" 



'fiihrrciilosis. 



This disease in l)irds docs not usually affeet the respiratory 

 system, but is more commonly confnicd to the abdominal vis- 

 cera, and is discussed with the diseases of the organs of ali- 

 mentary tract ( Cha]). V ) . 



The Air-Sac Mitr. 



A species of mite (Cytoditcs iiiidtis) infects the air-sacs and 

 bionchi of poultry. 



Diagnosis. — When the birds are not bad)}- infested there are 

 no e.Nternal symptoms. If badly infested the bird may become 

 an?emic and listless and finally die of exhaustion. Or. if the air 

 passages are seriously obstructed l)y the collection of parasites 

 and mucus there will l)e a rattling in the throat and coughing, 

 and death may result from suffocation. The presence of the 

 parasites is often found only on examination of dead birds. 

 They appear as a yellow or white dust, each particle of which 

 is a mite. If closely watched the particles may be seen to move. 



Etiology. — The mite probably 

 enters the air-sacs by crawling 

 in the nostrils and finrling its 

 way down the trachea and bron- 

 chi to the sacs. The parasites 

 are able to live only a short time 

 outside the bird's body. The 

 mouth parts of these mites are 

 modified into sucking tubes. 

 They attack the mucous mem- 

 brane of the air-sacs and bron- y^'^ / 

 chi. When the number of para- /^ 



sites is small they cause no seri- Pig ,^ CytadUcs „udus. The 

 ous mconvemence to the bu'd. ^j^ snc mite. Greatly enlarged. 

 ^\'hen there are a large number (After Theobald), 

 present they may cause inflammation of the membrane and secre- 

 tion of mucus or they may seriously ol)-truct the air passages. 



Treatment. — Treatment of infested birds is probably useless. 

 Feeding sulphur with the food or comj^clling the birds to inhale 





