Intestinal Coccidiosis in Fowl. 503 



Etiology. Coccidium tenellum invades tlie intestines of 

 fowl. Different species of coccidium described as Coccidium 

 Pfeifferi (pigeons), C. avium (chicken and ducks), C. truncatum 

 (geese and ducks), C. oviforme (pheasants) are probably all 

 only varieties of Coccidium tenellum. 



Natural infection occurs with food or with other objects 

 taken up by fowl (sand, mud, etc.) and with the drinking water. 



Eckanlt looks upon coccidia as facultative parasites, which during summer 

 multiply rapidly in remnants of food or other organic material that are taken up 

 accidentally by birds, and which then further develop in their intestines. This view 

 is supported by an observation of Kleinpaul, who saw an affection of ducks which 

 had been kept in a dried marshy swamp. 



The spreading of fowl coccidiosis might occur by the aid of eggs laid by sick 

 birds. Eckardt found coccidia on the shells of eggs and in their albumen. The 

 same observations had been made previously by Podvissotzky. 



The infection experiments of Eailliet & Lucet and Eckardt were positive in 

 2 or 3 weeks. In Eckardt 's experiments symptoms of disease came on within 3 to 

 6 days and the disease took either an acute or a chronic course. 



Anatomical Changes. These are found in a portion of the 

 cases in the cecum, and in another in the small intestines, while 

 in other cases the greater portion of the whole intestinal tract is 

 affected. In the acute form of the disease are found changes of 

 an intense acute intestinal catarrh or of enteritis ; the intestinal 

 contents are dirty grayish-white, possibly also bloody; the mu- 

 cosa presents grayish-white nodules or spots up to the size of a 

 millet seed. 



Sometimes, particularly in geese, the intestines contain 

 masses of fibrin. In cases of very short duration, the inflamma- 

 tory changes may be entirely absent, so that the cause of death 

 is only demonstrated by finding under the microscope great num- 

 bers of coccidia in the intestinal contents (Kleinpaul). 



In subacute or chronic cases the intestinal mucosa of the 

 emaciated animals appears reddened in spots, coated with tena- 

 cious mucus and as though dusted with flour. Such dustlike 

 points occasionally occur also in the liver ; they are then also due 

 to coccidia (Eckardt). 



Symptoms. Violent uncontrollable diarrhea, listlessness 

 and increased thirst exist in the acute form, while the appetite 

 at first remains normal. Then there occurs profuse salivation, 

 drowsiness, lack of appetite and bluish discoloration of the 

 comb. The droppings become slimy, possibly hemorrhagic. 

 Death occurs after two or four days, but sometimes, particularly 

 in chicks and ducks, suddenly Avithout any premonitory symp- 

 toms. 



The subacute form manifests itself in similar symptoms as 

 the preceding type; its course is, however, slower; the animals 

 remain alive two to four weeks and become emaciated so that 

 they are finally reduced to mere skeletons. 



The chronic form has been seen in experimental animals and 



