Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-04-02
MEANS Of PROTECTION
AGAINST COCC|D|0S|S
Original Source of Infection Found
to Be in 0vary of
the Hen.
Methods of Treatment of Eggs,
Chicks and Fowls as
Precaution.
Copyright, 1850
BY PROF. JAMES B. NORMAN.

| D 16kOF. JAMEo d. HUFFMAN
! Though it is not generally known
mature hens are the original source of
white diarrhea. 1t arises in the ovary
Of the mother hen. The ovary develops
the yolk of the egg. The danger of
transmission to young chicks comes
when these eggs are affected by the
spores of the parasite.
A minute animal parasite is the cause
of white diarrhoea. This organism lives
and multiplies within the intestines of
young chicks. The physiological effect
of the parasite is to destroy the cells
in the food passage where the main
digestive processes are carried on.
The spores or cysts are resistant
forms of the parasite. If some cysts
are swallowed by a well chick with
food or water, they remain unchanged
until they reach the duodenum. Here
the spores escape from the cyst and at
tach themselves to the cells of the in
testines, which they finally penetrate.
Once inside, the parasite grows rapidly
at the expense of the cell it has in
vaded.
How the Disease Is Spread.
Infection from chick to chick usually
takes place during the first three or
four days of their life. The droppings
of affected chicks are the chief source
of communicating soil. food and water.
By this means the grass on an open
poultry run, or the soil of a pen or
yard, is easily contaminated. When the
droppingS become dry they crumble
and are blown from place to place by
the wind. Infected dust containing,
spores is deposited on the food plants
of chickens or mature hens, and thus
they become diseased. 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
contamination becomes of the greatest
Importance.
Infection is spread by older fowls one
to the other. mainly by coming in con-
tact with infected droppings. Birds.
such as pigeons or SparrowS, eat con-
taminated food, but the parasites pass
through the bodies of small birds I'M
changed. The droppings of these birds
in clean yards are liable TO start new
centers of infection. The spread of the
disease in these various ways renders
1T absolutely necessary to take all pre-
cautions against it.
Symptoms of the Disease.
There may be no prominent symp-
toms of white diarrhea, except weak
ness and lack of vitality, if death &C
ours within few days after the chicks
are Matched. When the disease becomes
pronounced the victims soon become
listless, sleepy, and sometimes droop
their wings. If they are incubator
chicks they Will huddle together I'M
der the hover; If they are with mot n
er hen, they want to be brooded most
of the time. They lose appetite and do
not eat much.
In severe cases the chicks stand
around with eyes closed. They become
indifferent to everything around them
except that many will chirp constantly
as If cold or in distress. Frequently,
when chicks try to void excrement,
they will utter shrill. painful twitter.
the breathing is labored and they gasp
for breath.
In such cases the discharge from the
vent may be slight or abundant, in
color white or creamey, and sometimes
mixed with brown This discharge fire.
quently sticks to the down and may
even stop UP the vent. During this
stage of the disease the chick may die
suddenly even while apparently still
strong. But If the disease is prolonged,
the victims gradually grow thinner and
weaker until they succumb With few
exceptions, the death of chicks from
white diarrhea will occur within a
month OF DelnS ndIcneu IL CHICKS
which have had the disease survive.
they are so weakened that they fall
an easy prey to ailments which would
easily be resisted by chicks with nor
NAL health and vigor.
Breeding From Sound Stock.
The best protection against white
diarrhoe is to breed only from sound
stock Violation of this principle has
frequently brought financial ruin to
producers of eggs for incubation. For
the complete eradication of this disease
from poultry farms, stock which give
evidence of weakness or the least signs
of the disease should not be used for
breeding purposes.
The average poultry keeper may not
be able to determine whether all his
fowls are free from white diarrhea or