iQO DISEASES DUE TO BACTERIA 



PATHOLOGY. 



In parrots an enteritis is caused, in man a septicaemia often com- 

 plicated by lobular pneumonia. 



There is congestion and degeneration of the liver, kidneys, lungs 

 and heart. 



SYMPTOMATOLOGY. 



Incubation 7 to 12 days. 



Onset sudden, or insidious, may be much like typhoid. 



Temperature io2°-i04°F. Pulse 1 10-120, quick respirations, cough. 



Signs and symptoms of lobular pneumonia. Tongue dry and 

 furred. 



Spleen enlarged. Diarrhoea or constipation. Rose coloured spots 

 on skin, patient dull and apathetic. 



If no pneumonia, patient recovers in 15 to 20 days. 



If there is pneumonia the mortality is 35-40 per cent. 



TREATMENT. 



Adapt treatment as for typhoid fever and pneumonia. 

 Quarantine of two weeks should be enforced for imported parrots. 

 The dead (infected) burnt with their cages. 



Parrots should not be fed by hand or caressed. 



UNDULANT FEVER. (MALTA FEVER.) 

 DEFINITION. 



A chronic infectious disease of low mortality caused by the Micro- 

 coccus melitensis of Bruce and closely allied germs, characterized by 

 a prolonged irregular remittent fever and enlargement of the spleen. 



DISTRIBUTION. 



The endemic areas are the coasts and islands of the Mediterranean, 

 Italy, France, Greece, and also India, especially the Punjab. It also 

 exists in S. Africa, Uganda and the Sudan, China, the Philippine 

 and Fiji Islands. N. and S. America and the West Indies. Common 

 between ten to thirty years of age in both sexes, mostly in the warmer 

 periods of the year. 



AETIOLOGY. 



The cause is M. melitensis (M. paramelitensis ; M. pseudo- 

 melitensis. The two latter differ from the former in agglutination and 

 absorption tests, causing para-undulant fever). 



The organism is a small, flagellated micrococcus, grows on agar 

 and bouillon, feebly on gelatine without liquefaction. Stains with 

 basic aniline dves. Gram negative. Mav often be cultivated from the 



