Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-04-13

Though it is not generally known. ma
ture female fowls ars the original source
of white diarrhoea, 1t arises in the ovary
of the mother hen. The ovarv develops
the volk Of the egg. The danger Of trans
mission to young chicks comes when
these eggs are affected by the spores of
the parasite.
Since the yolk forms the nourshment
for the developing embryo during incu-
baton, many chicks have the disease
when Matched. But this is not the only
danger White diarrhoea is easily trans
mitted to well chicks in various ways,
which can he clearly understood by study
ing the organism which causes the dis
ease
CAUSE OF WHITE DIARRHOEA
minute animal parasite is the cause
Of white diarrhoea. This organism lives
and multipies within the intestines of
young chicks. The physiological effect
of the parasite is to destroy the cells in
the food passage where the main diges-
tive processes are carried on
In one stage of its growth the parasite
Is passed from the diseased chick within
it's droppings. Thus the soil first becomes
affected Then, if the soil contamnates
either the food or the water, so that the
spores Of the parasite are swallowed by
other chicks, they also become afflicted
with the disease.
The spores or cysts are resistant forms
OF the parasite. They pass with the eX-
crement of an infected chick. If some
cysts are swallowed by n well chick with
food or water. they remain unchanged un-
til they reach that part of the digestive
tract called the duodenum. Here the
spores escape from the cyst and attach
themselves to the cells of the intestines,
which they finally penetrate. once in
side, the parasite grows rapidly at the
expense of the cell it has invaded. The
life cycle Of the spore is completed in
about eight days.
HOW THE DISEASE is SPREAD
Infection from chick to chick usually
takes place during the first three or four
days of their life. This is the most crit
ical period for the spread of the disease
10y external means. The droppings of af-
fected chicks are the chief source of con-
Eliminating soil, food and water. 10y this
means the grass on an open poultry run,
or the soil of a pen or yard, is easily
contaminated. When the droppings be-
from place to place by the wind Infect
ed dust containing spores is deposited on
the food plants of chickens or mature
hens. and thus they become diseased. If
the spores drop into the food or water
whore younger chicks are kept outbreaks
Of the disease will occur among them.
Forty days of exposure of white diarrhoea
spores in water does not destroy them.
Since young chicks are more susceptible
TO the disease than more mature birds.
protection of food and water against con-
tamination becomes OF the greatest i'm
portance.
Infection is spread by older fowls one
20 the other. mainly b. coming in contact
with infected droppings. Birds. such as
pigeons or sparrows, eat contaminated
food hut the parasites pass through the
bodies of small birds unchanged The
droppings of these birds in clean Yards
are liable to start new centers of infec-
ton. The cysts of white diarrhoea also
pass through the bodies of flies unchanged
or in any way impairing their vitality.
Even such minute objects as the excre-
ment OF files become Il means of infect
ing young poultry, The spread of the dis
ease in these various ways renders it
absolutely necessary to take the best pre-
cautions against 1t.
During the first week of infection. the
effect of white darrhoea is most fatal,
After this time. the deaths are not so
frequent. The chicks with stronger vi
| tally may recover, But, as rule, such