Gr. H. F. Nuttall 
263 
Spirochaetosis in Binds. 
In the year 1891, Sacharoff, in the Trauscaucasus, demonstrated that 
a spirochaete, called by him Spirochaeta anserina, was the cause of 
a very fatal epidemic disease in geese. The spirochaetes appeared in the 
birds’ blood shortly before the onset of symptoms, multiplied enormously, 
and disappeared at the approach of death. He transmitted the disease 
to geese and fowls by inoculation. In the year 1903, Marchoux and 
Salimbeni, working in Brazil, observed a similar disease in fowls, and 
since that date fowl spirochaetosis has been recorded from many parts of 
the world, the causative agent being now generally known as Spirochaeta 
gallinarum. We know to-day that spirochaetosis in fowls occurs in 
S. E. Europe, in Asia, Africa, S. America and Australia, and, in all places 
where the disease exists is found, what Marchoux and Salimbeni were 
the first to show to be the carrier, the tick, Argas persicus. I have seen 
blood-films and determined the tick from many different places where 
the disease has been recorded. Personally, there is no longer any doubt 
in my mind as to the identity of S. anserina Sacharoff and S. gallinarum. 
A. persicus has accompanied the fowl in its distribution in many 
parts of the world, but the fowl has got rid of the pest in colder climates 
as the tick is unable to develop at low temperatures. 
Spirochaetosis in fowls is a very fatal febrile disease; the mortality 
in a yard may attain 40-100 "/o- The disease begins with diarrhoea, 
followed by loss of appetite and somnolence. The birds’ feathers appear 
rufiSed, the comb pale, the birds cease to perch, and, as the disease 
advances, they lie prostrate upon the ground. Death may occur 
suddenly during a convulsive attack. The disease occurs at times in 
a chronic form, the emaciated birds developing paralytic symptoms after 
appai’ent recovery. Death takes place,, in anywhere from 3 to 15 or 
more days, according to the type of the disease, the body-temperature 
at the time of death being frequently subnormal. Whereas, in chronic 
cases, the liver and spleen appear atrophied, these organs are much 
enlarged in acute cases, the liver showing fatty degeneration and at 
times focal necroses. The fowl spirochaete from Brazil kills geese in 
five to six days after inoculation, and produces a fatal infection in 
ducks, guinea-fowls, turtle-doves, and other birds. 
Thanks to the kindness of Dr Marchoux, I was able, at an early date, 
to confirm his and Salimbeni’s results with infected A. persicus 
(= miniatus) which he sent me from Brazil. Since that date Marchoux, 
Borrel, and others, also Hindle, in my laboratory, have materially 
