I 10 



POULTRY DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 



air passages. When the bird begins to improve, give a grain 

 of quinine, or lO drops of cod liver oil twice a day.' (Sal- 

 mon.)" 



Tuberculosis. 



This disease in birds does not usually affect the respiratory 

 system, but is more commonly confined to the abdominal vis- 

 cera, and is discussed with the diseases of the organs of ali- 

 mentary tract (Chap. V). 



The Air-Sac Mite. 



A species of mite (Cytodites nudus) infects the air-sacs and 

 bronchi of poultry. 



Diagnosis. — When the birds are not badly infeste:! there are 

 no external symptoms. If badly infested the bird may Ijecome 

 anjemic and listless and finally die of exhaustion. Or. if the air 

 passages are seriously oljstructed by the collection of parasites 

 and mucus there will be a rattling in the throat and coughing, 

 and death may result from suffocation. The presence of the 

 parasites is often found only on examination of deafl birds. 

 They appear as a yellow or white dust, each particle of which 

 is a mite. If closely watched the particles may be seen to move. 



Etiology. — The mite probably 

 enters the air-sacs by crawding 

 in the nostrils and finding its 

 way down the trachea and bron- 

 chi to the sacs. The parasites 

 are able to live only a short time 

 outside the bird's body. The 

 mouth parts of these mites are 

 modified into sucking tubes. 



The)' attack the mucous mem- 

 brane of the air-sacs and bron- 

 chi. AVhen the number of para- 

 sites is small they cause no seri- 



y 





/ 



^m^c^^ 



\ 



ous mconvcnience to the bird. 



"ig. 23. Cyloditcs nudus. The 

 ail- s;ic tuitc. Gr.atlv enlarged. 



AVhen there are a large number (After Theobald), 

 present they may cause inflammation of the membrane and secre- 

 tion of mucus or they may seriously ob-trnct the air passages. 

 Treatineiif.--Treatment of infested Ijirds is proliablv useless. 

 Feeding sulphur with the food or compelling the birds to inhale 



