104 Diseases of Poultry 



The organism was first recognized about 1878. In 1880 

 Pasteur ^ used it in his epoch making work on the production 

 of immunity with attenuated or non-virulent cultures. This 

 organism belongs in the same group as the hog-cholera 

 bacillus (B. suiseptieus) , rabbit septicaemia and many other 

 destructive bacteria. 



In the diseased bird the organism can be found in the blood 

 and in nearly all the organs. When inoculated into the 

 breast of a pigeon or fowl it causes a characteristic hemor- 

 rhagic swelling. 



This organism is pathogenic for all kinds of poultry and 

 domestic birds and for nearly all kinds of wild birds. It is 

 also very pathogenic for rabbits and many other animals. 

 For larger animals, such as cattle, horses, sheep, and swine, it 

 will cause severe or even fatal disease if injected intrave- 

 nously. When fed to these animals it does not produce a 

 diseased condition. Dogs and cats can eat great quantities of 

 meat from birds dead from this desease without experiencing 

 any inconvenience. For man this organism appeared to be 

 pathogenic to some extent. In any case birds infected with 

 cholera should not be used for food. 



This organism is easily destroyed by drying, by the or- 

 dinary disinfectants, by a temperature of 132° F. for fifteen 

 minutes, and by direct sunlight. 



Diagnosis. — The earliest indication of the disease is a 

 yellow coloration of the urates, or that part of the excrement 

 which is excreted by the kidneys. This in health is a pure 

 white, though it is frequently tinted with yellow as a result 

 of other disorders than cholera. While therefore this yel- 

 lowish coloration of the urates is not an absolutely certain 

 proof of cholera, it is a valuable indication when the disease 

 has appeared in a flock and an effort should be made to check 



1 Pasteur, L., "Sur le cholera des poules et I'attenuation du 

 virus du cholera des poules." Comptes Rendus, 1880. 



