5. ANIMAL PARASITES AND DISEASES. 



COCCIDIOSIS IN FOWLS AND GAME BIRDS. 



A number of cases of coccidiosis in fowls and game birds have 

 been inquired into. By the kind permission of the Editor of 

 the Journal of the Land Agents' Society I am able to reprint the follow- 

 ing short article, which appeared in the September issue of that 

 periodical : 



I have recently had occasion to investigate an outbreak of 

 coccidiosis in fowls, a disease that seems to be on the increase in 

 this country, and one that is causing considerable mortality amongst 

 game birds. Some account, therefore, of the nature of the disease, 

 and the experimental work that has been carried out in connection 

 with its treatment, may not be without interest. 



This disease is due to a parasite which belongs to a group of 

 parasitic Protozoa known as Coccidia, w r hich destroys the mucous 

 membrane of the intestine, setting -up enteritis and diarrhoea. The 

 disease usually has a fatal effect upon the host. 



The particular species found in the body of the fowl is known as 

 Eimeria (Coccidium) aviuni, and its life-history and morphology have 

 recently been fully worked out by Dr. H. B. Fantham, 1 who states 

 " coccidiosis is specially prevalent among young birds. The 

 symptoms of grouse, fowls and pheasants suffering from natural 

 coccidiosis, as well as those of captive grouse, fowl-chicks and pigeons 

 in which the disease has been artificially induced, are identical. The 

 birds, when early infected, either by way of their food or drink, stand 

 about more than healthy young control birds do, droop their wings 

 and utter plaintive cries. They, however, eat and drink far more 

 greedily than do healthy birds, but in spite of this the victims become 

 thinner, the muscles of the breast and legs showing this to a marked 

 degree. The loss of weight is remarkable. 



In addition to loss of weight, infected birds become markedly 

 anaemic, the comb, wattles and cere becoming pale and bloodless. 



!Proc. Zool. Soc., 1911, pp. 672-691, pits. Iv-lviii ; also Journ. Econ. Biology, 1911, vol. 

 vi, pp. 75-96, two figs. 



