10 PROTOZOAN PARASITES. 



known at present, this disease is a true Uoccidiosis of 

 the skin. At the commencement these Sporozoa are 

 small, round, nucleated protoplasmic masses. These 

 masses by degrees increase in size, and then become 

 surrounded by a thin shell. These encysted bodies 

 appear to burst the epithelial cell into which they 

 have entered. Then each encysted mass becomes 

 broken up into spores internally. Each spore again 

 subdivides into two or more bodies known as falciform 

 spores, which when liberated become amoeboid forms ; 

 these then invade other cells, generally taking up 

 their position in the Malpighian stratum of the skin. 

 In this latter position they commence again a similar 

 life-history, and so the disease is spread. 



Fowls inoculated with this germ develop the disease 

 in about eight to ten days. In Poultry the growth. s 

 are seldom found except on the comb, wattles, and 

 near the mouth. 



Effects of the Disease. 



The disease may or may not prove fatal if left 

 alone. The fowls become gradually emaciated and 

 the feathers erect when severely attacked. Often this 

 and diphtheritic roup appear together, and then, unless 

 stringent measures are taken, death is sure to ensue. 



Prevention and Remedies. 



The disease is contagious, and thus any affected 

 bird should be at once removed and isolated. The 

 best method of treatment is to paint the growths 



