38 SEPTICEMIA IN CHICKENS 
APOPLECTIFORM SEPTICEMIA IN CHICKENS 
Characterization. A rapidly fatal septicemia in chickens caused 
by a streptococcus. 
History. This disease was recently discovered and described by 
Norgaard and Mohler. Although the symptoms and lesions given 
correspond somewhat closely to those mentioned by Mazza and 
Rabieux, there is a marked difference in the etiological factor. It 
is caused by a streptococcus which is readily obtained from the blood 
or organs. 
Geographical distribution. ‘This disease has been described from 
Virginia, New York, Hawaiian Islands, and several placesin Europe. 
Etiology. This disease is due to a streptococcus which grows in 
short or longer chains with segments varying from 0.6 to 0.8u in 
diameter. In some cases elongated forms are observed. It is an 
erobe, and a facultative anzerobe. When cultivated on artificial 
media it does not liquefy gelatin, it does not change the appearance of 
milk, but causes slight acidity and thickening of the lower stratum 
without coagulation of the casein. The reaction of alkaline bouillon 
is changed to an acid one. It does not give a visible growth on potato. 
It stains by Gram’s and Gram-Weigert’s methods. In bouillon it 
grows in somewhat flaky masses while the medium remains clear. It 
was fatal to fowls, mice, rabbits and swine; guinea pigs, dogs and 
sheep were not destroyed by inoculation. This streptococcus has 
not been specifically named. 
The period of incubation is very short. 
Symptoms. It is not at all uncommon to find the fowls dead and 
ving under the roosts. Occasionally capons were observed to be sick 
for from 12 to 24 hours prior to death. In these cases the feathers 
became ruffled and the fowl showed evidence of extreme depression. 
The onset of the disease is very sudden and its course a very rapid one, 
usually terminating in death. 
Morbid anatomy. Norgaard and Mohler described the morbid 
anatomy as follows: ‘The spleen is more or less enlarged, showing 
hyperplasia of the Malpighian corpuscles. The pulp contains 
numerous areas of .extravasated blood. When a stained section is 
examined by means of a hand lens a number of circular semi-trans- 
parent foci, the size of a pin hole, may be noted. These are found on 
microscopic examination to be centers of necrobinsis, consisting of 
