17 
IS LEUCOCYTOZOON AN AT 18 THE CAUSE OF 
A NEW DISEASE IN DUCKS? 
By a. B. WICKWARE, 
Assistant Pathologist, Health of Animals—Biological Laboratory, 
Ottawa, Canada. 
(With Plates I—III.) 
During the past summer numerous inquiries were received by 
Professor Elford, Dominion Poultry Husbandman, Experimental Farm, 
Ottawa, with regard to an apparently infectious disease appearing among 
ducks. So frequent and insistent were the appeals for aid in this 
connection that the co-operation of the Health of Animals Branch was 
requested. This resulted in an investigation being undertaken to 
ascertain the clinical nature of the disease; to demonstrate, if possible, 
the cause; and also institute measures for its prevention. 
x4s a serious outbreak had occurred on a poultry farm in the vicinity 
of Ottawa, Ont., which threatened to jeopardize the existence of the 
plant, this place was chosen as a favourable location for commencing 
studies. 
On arrival at the poultry farm in question, it was learned that the 
young ducks had been dying on an average of 20 a day. The losses 
would continue thus for a few days, after which there appeared to be 
a remission for about a ten day period, with a recurrence at the expira¬ 
tion of this time when the fatalities would again be enormous. 
Symptoms of the Disease. The affection runs a rapid and fatal 
course with very slight prodromal symptoms to indicate its onset. 
The first clinical feature observed is an impaired appetite. This 
reluctance to take the ordinary amount of food is particularly noticeable 
in ducks having access to swimming pools. These birds prefer to remain 
in the cool water undisturbed, evincing no response to the call for feeding, 
and this fact is indeed significant. 
Parasitology vni 
2 
