- Email: [email protected]
Can Bacillary White Diarrhea be Transmitted by Droplet Infection?*
CAN BACILLARY W H I T E DIARRHEA BE TRANSMITTED BY DROPLET INFECTION?* RALPH P. TITTSLER Division of Bacteriology, Pennsylvania State College
PATHOLOGY OP INFECTED
LUNGS
The presence of pathological conditions in the lungs of many infected chicks was first described in 1908, by Graham 7 , of Ontario, as follows: '' The lungs will usually show white spots on them; these are generally seen on the side of the lungs next to the ribs. The white spots are generally quite hard and cheesy. These spots are not always present, but from our examinations I would judge they are in fifty per cent of the cases. * Published by permission of the Director of the Pennsylvania Agricultural Experiment Station as Technical Paper No. 436. 79
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Serials Section, Dixson Library on June 3, 2015
(Received for Publication 8-1-27) Several facts indicate that bacillary white diarrhea of chicks may be transmitted through the respiratory system. There are several practical reasons why we should consider these facts and their possible significance in the spread of this highly fatal disease which is of such enormous economic importance to the poultry industry. It is, of course, admitted that the main attack in fighting the disease should be directed toward the site of infection—the "carrier." However, we must strive to reduce mortality to a minimxim in infected flocks and areas as it may be years before it will be physically possible to test all breeders even though the chick-buying public demands and is willing to pay for disease-free chicks. The purpose of this paper is not to report experimental data but to present and discuss the question, "Can Bacillary White Diarrhea be Transmitted by Droplet Infection?" The discussion will be based upon the literature which has reported certain pathological conditions in the lungs of many infected chicks, the writer's own observations, the common failure to check mortality by means of strict sanitation and the use of disinfectants in the drinking water, and the fact that Hinshaw, Upp and Moore9 were able to produce the disease either by injecting Sal. pullorum into the nostrils or by placing infected down in the incubator at hatching time.
80
POULTRY
SCIENCE
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Serials Section, Dixson Library on June 3, 2015
I have seen these in chicks on every poultry farm that uses incubators where I have been this year. Some lungs have no white spots, but are red, sometimes fleshy.'' His autopsy records show that of 463 postmortems, 207 chicks or 44.7 per cent had cheesy spots in their lungs. Jones 10 in 1910, noted the presence of congestion in the lungs and, in 1917, Beach1 stated that "the lungs are usually congested." Spray and Doyle11, in 1920, reported that "pneumonia was found in about 70% of the affected chicks. Quite frequently yellowish friable nodules were found in the lungs" and later (1922) Doyle2 in a popular description of the disease again called attention to the usual presence of these conditions. Beaudette 2 in 1921, mentioned the frequent presence of lung congestion and later 3 described the appearance of the lungs at autopsy as being of a bright red color. In 1924, he5 reported the finding of small caseous nodules in the lungs of a large number of affected chicks and stated that although they had been described before he believed that their presence was being overlooked by most investigators. Eecently, Gwatkin 6 reported marked pathological conditions in the lungs of 55 out of 65 infected chicks. He designated three conditions; congested, pneumonic and nodular. He made cultures from all the lungs in addition to the liver and heart. Sal. p>:llorum was obtained from the lungs of 61 out of the 65 chicks. In three cases the organisms were found to be present in the lungs but not in either the liver or the heart. Nine lung cultures gave more growth than the corresponding ones from the heart and liver. Sal. pullorum was isolated from every nodular lung. He believes that it is necessary to culture the lungs in addition to the liver and heart in routine examinations since some infected chicks give negative liver and heart cultures. The first accurate description of the macroscopic lesions was made by Brunett 3 . His description is accompanied by excellent photographs. He called attention to the fact that these lesions may be present only on the dorsal surface and therefore may be unnoticed unless the lungs are carefully removed and examined. During the hatching season of 1927 the writer autopsied 235 diseased chicks from 71 sources, of which 117 or 51 per cent had
BACILLARY
WHITE
DIARRHEA
81
TRANSMISSION THROUGH THE AIR
The recent investigation of Hinshaw, Upp and Moore9 upon the "Transmission of Bacillary "White Diarrhea in Incubators" is of great practical significance. It shows, at least under artificial conditions, that this disease can be spread through the air of the incubator. The placing of artificially infected down in a compartment of forced-air-draught incubator at hatching time caused the infection of 32.4 per cent of the chicks in that compartment and 11 per cent in an opposite one. When the down of hatching chicks was infected and those chicles allowed to remain in the incubator for 38 hours, they found that 60 per
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Serials Section, Dixson Library on June 3, 2015
either decidedly congested or nodular lungs. An additional number were very slightly congested. Cultures were made from the lungs of many of the infected chicks and Sal. pullorum was isolated in every instance. The appearance of affected lungs varied greatly. In most cases there was only a congestion of the tissues as manifested by the presence of either a bright or dark red color. In a few cases there was a "fleshy" or pneumonic condition which indicated hemorrhages into the alveoli. The yellowish-white nodules which were present in about half of the abnormal lungs were usually quite hard and caseous but in many cases they were rather soft and cheesy. Their average diameter was about two millimeters. They were usually more numerous on the side of the lungs next to the ribs. It is believed that these nodules have been often mistaken for Aspergillosis. It is not at all unlikely that the presence of congestion caused by bacillary white diarrhea has been attributed to injurious temperatures during transportation or in the brooder. All of this review shows that the presence of these pathological lesions in the lungs of diseased chicks is very common, and that Sal. pullorum can be isolated from the lungs in as many cases as from either the liver or heart. It establishes the fact that the lungs of most diseased chicks are invaded by the causative organism. Therefore, it would appear that the moisture laden breath of a diseased chick contains organisms which are even more virulent than those expelled through the feces. The real significance of this will be discussed later.
82
POULTRY
SCIENCE
DISCUSSION
The data reviewed in this paper suggests a source of bacillary white diarrhea dissemiation not reported previously. It is logical to believe that the disease germs are expelled in the moisture of the breath and that healthy chicks will contract the disease from inhaling the infected air. This hypothysis is presented after making a very careful study of the pahology of the lungs from diseased chicks as reported by others and also as observed repeatedly by the writer while making routine examinations during the past several years.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Serials Section, Dixson Library on June 3, 2015
cent of those in the infected compartment and 26 per cent of those in the non-infected compartment, but exposed to the end of the incubator, developed disease. They were able to isolate Sal. pullorum from the air of the incubator by exposing agar plates for one minute. The injection of one drop of Sal. pullorum broth culture into the nostrils produced disease in every instance. These results show that bacillary white diarrhea can be spread through the air to healthy chicks and that disease will occur when the organisms enter the body through the nostrils A mortality of 40% is not unusual in flocks where the feed is exposed to practically no infection, the brooder house cleaned carefully at short intervals and chemicals are used in the drinking water in amounts sufficient to bring about rapid sterilization. The percentage infection through the egg yolk is rather low, so low that a decided mortality must be due to posthatching infection. It appears that this must come, at least in many cases, from some source other than infected food, water or the picking up of infected droppings. Can it be that the organisms are expelled from the diseased lungs and inhaled by healthy chicks? Such a source of infection might explain why Gwatkin isolated Sal. pullorum from the lungs but not from the liver or heart of three chicks. However, if the organisms are taken into the lungs it is probable that they would soon pass into the circulatory system and therefore would be present in the heart and liver of most chicks before death. Probably the organisms from infected air may enter either the respiratory tract or the digestive tract or perhaps both. Perhaps this source of spread was considered by the investigators who stated that the disease is spread by '' close contact.''
BACILLARY
WHITE
DIARRHEA
83
If the disease is spread in this m a n n e r infection may occur in spite of o r d i n a r y control measures. While the incubators can be cleaned a n d disinfected when empty there is no available means of sterilizing the air in it while chicks are hatching. The frequent cleaning a n d disinfection of the brooder, the protection of feed a n d the use of chemicals in the drinking water have proved beneficial but will not prevent infection from being t r a n s m i t t e d t h r o u g h t h e air. While no positive statements can be made, at this time, to the effect t h a t the germs of bacillary white diarrhea are expelled from the lungs of diseased chicks a n d t h a t they m a y enter either the nostrils or mouth directly from the air, it is desired to call the attention of p o u l t r y investigators, hatcherymen a n d chickraisers to such a possibility. I t is hoped t h a t this will stimulate a desire to use eggs from tested hens only a n d furthermore t h a t it will emphasize the danger associated with custom h a t c h i n g unless all eggs are from disease-free flocks. LITERATURE CITED
i BEACH, J. R., 1917. Bacillary White Diarrhea or Fatal Septicemia of Chicks and Coccidiosis or Coccidial Enteritis of Chicks. Calif. Sta. Circ. 162. 2 BEAUDETTE, F. R., 1921. Clinical Aids in the Differential Diagnosis
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Serials Section, Dixson Library on June 3, 2015
Certain facts, which contributed to this hypothysis, a p p e a r to be well established. M a n y investigators have reported the common occurrence of congestion a n d nodules in the lungs of diseased chicks. Several workers have isolated Sal. pullorum from the lungs. Hinshaw a n d his associates showed t h a t the disease germs can be spread t h r o u g h the air of the incubator. They were able to produce disease by introduction of Sal. p u l lorum into the nostrils of healthy chicks. If infected chicks expel the disease germs from their lungs it m a y be possible for even a single egg-yolk-infected chick to infect an entire batch either before the chicks are t a k e n from the incubator or after they are placed in the brooder. P e r h a p s this source of dissemination is more i m p o r t a n t t h a n infected down, droppings, water or feed because of the almost immediate transfer of bacteria from chick to chick a n d also because such infection would take place in the incubator d u r i n g the most susceptible age, which is the first 24 hours.
84
POULTRY
SCIENCE
a H I N S H A W , W. R.,
U P P , C. W.,
and
MOORE, J. M.,
in 1926.
Studies
in
Transmission of Bacillary W h i t e D i a r r h e a in Incubators. J o u r n American Vet. Mad. Assoc. 58 (n.s. 2 1 ) : 631-641. io JONBS, F . S., 1910. F a t a l Septicemia or Bacillary W h i t e D i a r r h e a in Young Chickens. N. Y. S t a t e Vet. Col. A n n u a l Report, pp. 111-129. n SPRAY, R. S., and DOYLE, D. P., 1921. P a r a t y p h o i d Bacilli from Chicks. Jour. Infect. Diseases, 28: 43-47.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Serials Section, Dixson Library on June 3, 2015
of t h e common Poultry Diseases. J o u r n . American Vet. Med. Assoc. 3 BRUNETT, E. L., 1926. Bacillary W h i t e D i a r r h e a . N. Y. S t a t e Vet. Col. A n n u a l Report, pp. 131-145. 4 1924. Diseases of Baby Chicks. H i n t s to Poultrymen. Vol. 12, No. 6, N. J. Agri. Exp. Sta. s 1925. Diagnosis of Poultry Diseases. N. J. Sta. Report 1924, pp. 119-132. 6 DOYLE, L. P., 1922. Bacilliary W h i t e D i a r r h e a in Chicks. P u r d u e Agri. E x t . Leaflet 73. ? GRAHAM, W. R., 1908. General Symptoms of W h a t is Commonly Called W h i t e D i a r r h e a in Young Chicks. Ontario Dept. Agri. Bui. 163, pp. 10-11. s GWATKIN, R., 1926. L u n g Infections in Chicks. Ontario Vet. Col. Rpt. 1926. pp. 46-48.
PATHOLOGY OP INFECTED
LUNGS
The presence of pathological conditions in the lungs of many infected chicks was first described in 1908, by Graham 7 , of Ontario, as follows: '' The lungs will usually show white spots on them; these are generally seen on the side of the lungs next to the ribs. The white spots are generally quite hard and cheesy. These spots are not always present, but from our examinations I would judge they are in fifty per cent of the cases. * Published by permission of the Director of the Pennsylvania Agricultural Experiment Station as Technical Paper No. 436. 79
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Serials Section, Dixson Library on June 3, 2015
(Received for Publication 8-1-27) Several facts indicate that bacillary white diarrhea of chicks may be transmitted through the respiratory system. There are several practical reasons why we should consider these facts and their possible significance in the spread of this highly fatal disease which is of such enormous economic importance to the poultry industry. It is, of course, admitted that the main attack in fighting the disease should be directed toward the site of infection—the "carrier." However, we must strive to reduce mortality to a minimxim in infected flocks and areas as it may be years before it will be physically possible to test all breeders even though the chick-buying public demands and is willing to pay for disease-free chicks. The purpose of this paper is not to report experimental data but to present and discuss the question, "Can Bacillary White Diarrhea be Transmitted by Droplet Infection?" The discussion will be based upon the literature which has reported certain pathological conditions in the lungs of many infected chicks, the writer's own observations, the common failure to check mortality by means of strict sanitation and the use of disinfectants in the drinking water, and the fact that Hinshaw, Upp and Moore9 were able to produce the disease either by injecting Sal. pullorum into the nostrils or by placing infected down in the incubator at hatching time.
80
POULTRY
SCIENCE
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Serials Section, Dixson Library on June 3, 2015
I have seen these in chicks on every poultry farm that uses incubators where I have been this year. Some lungs have no white spots, but are red, sometimes fleshy.'' His autopsy records show that of 463 postmortems, 207 chicks or 44.7 per cent had cheesy spots in their lungs. Jones 10 in 1910, noted the presence of congestion in the lungs and, in 1917, Beach1 stated that "the lungs are usually congested." Spray and Doyle11, in 1920, reported that "pneumonia was found in about 70% of the affected chicks. Quite frequently yellowish friable nodules were found in the lungs" and later (1922) Doyle2 in a popular description of the disease again called attention to the usual presence of these conditions. Beaudette 2 in 1921, mentioned the frequent presence of lung congestion and later 3 described the appearance of the lungs at autopsy as being of a bright red color. In 1924, he5 reported the finding of small caseous nodules in the lungs of a large number of affected chicks and stated that although they had been described before he believed that their presence was being overlooked by most investigators. Eecently, Gwatkin 6 reported marked pathological conditions in the lungs of 55 out of 65 infected chicks. He designated three conditions; congested, pneumonic and nodular. He made cultures from all the lungs in addition to the liver and heart. Sal. p>:llorum was obtained from the lungs of 61 out of the 65 chicks. In three cases the organisms were found to be present in the lungs but not in either the liver or the heart. Nine lung cultures gave more growth than the corresponding ones from the heart and liver. Sal. pullorum was isolated from every nodular lung. He believes that it is necessary to culture the lungs in addition to the liver and heart in routine examinations since some infected chicks give negative liver and heart cultures. The first accurate description of the macroscopic lesions was made by Brunett 3 . His description is accompanied by excellent photographs. He called attention to the fact that these lesions may be present only on the dorsal surface and therefore may be unnoticed unless the lungs are carefully removed and examined. During the hatching season of 1927 the writer autopsied 235 diseased chicks from 71 sources, of which 117 or 51 per cent had
BACILLARY
WHITE
DIARRHEA
81
TRANSMISSION THROUGH THE AIR
The recent investigation of Hinshaw, Upp and Moore9 upon the "Transmission of Bacillary "White Diarrhea in Incubators" is of great practical significance. It shows, at least under artificial conditions, that this disease can be spread through the air of the incubator. The placing of artificially infected down in a compartment of forced-air-draught incubator at hatching time caused the infection of 32.4 per cent of the chicks in that compartment and 11 per cent in an opposite one. When the down of hatching chicks was infected and those chicles allowed to remain in the incubator for 38 hours, they found that 60 per
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Serials Section, Dixson Library on June 3, 2015
either decidedly congested or nodular lungs. An additional number were very slightly congested. Cultures were made from the lungs of many of the infected chicks and Sal. pullorum was isolated in every instance. The appearance of affected lungs varied greatly. In most cases there was only a congestion of the tissues as manifested by the presence of either a bright or dark red color. In a few cases there was a "fleshy" or pneumonic condition which indicated hemorrhages into the alveoli. The yellowish-white nodules which were present in about half of the abnormal lungs were usually quite hard and caseous but in many cases they were rather soft and cheesy. Their average diameter was about two millimeters. They were usually more numerous on the side of the lungs next to the ribs. It is believed that these nodules have been often mistaken for Aspergillosis. It is not at all unlikely that the presence of congestion caused by bacillary white diarrhea has been attributed to injurious temperatures during transportation or in the brooder. All of this review shows that the presence of these pathological lesions in the lungs of diseased chicks is very common, and that Sal. pullorum can be isolated from the lungs in as many cases as from either the liver or heart. It establishes the fact that the lungs of most diseased chicks are invaded by the causative organism. Therefore, it would appear that the moisture laden breath of a diseased chick contains organisms which are even more virulent than those expelled through the feces. The real significance of this will be discussed later.
82
POULTRY
SCIENCE
DISCUSSION
The data reviewed in this paper suggests a source of bacillary white diarrhea dissemiation not reported previously. It is logical to believe that the disease germs are expelled in the moisture of the breath and that healthy chicks will contract the disease from inhaling the infected air. This hypothysis is presented after making a very careful study of the pahology of the lungs from diseased chicks as reported by others and also as observed repeatedly by the writer while making routine examinations during the past several years.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Serials Section, Dixson Library on June 3, 2015
cent of those in the infected compartment and 26 per cent of those in the non-infected compartment, but exposed to the end of the incubator, developed disease. They were able to isolate Sal. pullorum from the air of the incubator by exposing agar plates for one minute. The injection of one drop of Sal. pullorum broth culture into the nostrils produced disease in every instance. These results show that bacillary white diarrhea can be spread through the air to healthy chicks and that disease will occur when the organisms enter the body through the nostrils A mortality of 40% is not unusual in flocks where the feed is exposed to practically no infection, the brooder house cleaned carefully at short intervals and chemicals are used in the drinking water in amounts sufficient to bring about rapid sterilization. The percentage infection through the egg yolk is rather low, so low that a decided mortality must be due to posthatching infection. It appears that this must come, at least in many cases, from some source other than infected food, water or the picking up of infected droppings. Can it be that the organisms are expelled from the diseased lungs and inhaled by healthy chicks? Such a source of infection might explain why Gwatkin isolated Sal. pullorum from the lungs but not from the liver or heart of three chicks. However, if the organisms are taken into the lungs it is probable that they would soon pass into the circulatory system and therefore would be present in the heart and liver of most chicks before death. Probably the organisms from infected air may enter either the respiratory tract or the digestive tract or perhaps both. Perhaps this source of spread was considered by the investigators who stated that the disease is spread by '' close contact.''
BACILLARY
WHITE
DIARRHEA
83
If the disease is spread in this m a n n e r infection may occur in spite of o r d i n a r y control measures. While the incubators can be cleaned a n d disinfected when empty there is no available means of sterilizing the air in it while chicks are hatching. The frequent cleaning a n d disinfection of the brooder, the protection of feed a n d the use of chemicals in the drinking water have proved beneficial but will not prevent infection from being t r a n s m i t t e d t h r o u g h t h e air. While no positive statements can be made, at this time, to the effect t h a t the germs of bacillary white diarrhea are expelled from the lungs of diseased chicks a n d t h a t they m a y enter either the nostrils or mouth directly from the air, it is desired to call the attention of p o u l t r y investigators, hatcherymen a n d chickraisers to such a possibility. I t is hoped t h a t this will stimulate a desire to use eggs from tested hens only a n d furthermore t h a t it will emphasize the danger associated with custom h a t c h i n g unless all eggs are from disease-free flocks. LITERATURE CITED
i BEACH, J. R., 1917. Bacillary White Diarrhea or Fatal Septicemia of Chicks and Coccidiosis or Coccidial Enteritis of Chicks. Calif. Sta. Circ. 162. 2 BEAUDETTE, F. R., 1921. Clinical Aids in the Differential Diagnosis
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Serials Section, Dixson Library on June 3, 2015
Certain facts, which contributed to this hypothysis, a p p e a r to be well established. M a n y investigators have reported the common occurrence of congestion a n d nodules in the lungs of diseased chicks. Several workers have isolated Sal. pullorum from the lungs. Hinshaw a n d his associates showed t h a t the disease germs can be spread t h r o u g h the air of the incubator. They were able to produce disease by introduction of Sal. p u l lorum into the nostrils of healthy chicks. If infected chicks expel the disease germs from their lungs it m a y be possible for even a single egg-yolk-infected chick to infect an entire batch either before the chicks are t a k e n from the incubator or after they are placed in the brooder. P e r h a p s this source of dissemination is more i m p o r t a n t t h a n infected down, droppings, water or feed because of the almost immediate transfer of bacteria from chick to chick a n d also because such infection would take place in the incubator d u r i n g the most susceptible age, which is the first 24 hours.
84
POULTRY
SCIENCE
a H I N S H A W , W. R.,
U P P , C. W.,
and
MOORE, J. M.,
in 1926.
Studies
in
Transmission of Bacillary W h i t e D i a r r h e a in Incubators. J o u r n American Vet. Mad. Assoc. 58 (n.s. 2 1 ) : 631-641. io JONBS, F . S., 1910. F a t a l Septicemia or Bacillary W h i t e D i a r r h e a in Young Chickens. N. Y. S t a t e Vet. Col. A n n u a l Report, pp. 111-129. n SPRAY, R. S., and DOYLE, D. P., 1921. P a r a t y p h o i d Bacilli from Chicks. Jour. Infect. Diseases, 28: 43-47.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Serials Section, Dixson Library on June 3, 2015
of t h e common Poultry Diseases. J o u r n . American Vet. Med. Assoc. 3 BRUNETT, E. L., 1926. Bacillary W h i t e D i a r r h e a . N. Y. S t a t e Vet. Col. A n n u a l Report, pp. 131-145. 4 1924. Diseases of Baby Chicks. H i n t s to Poultrymen. Vol. 12, No. 6, N. J. Agri. Exp. Sta. s 1925. Diagnosis of Poultry Diseases. N. J. Sta. Report 1924, pp. 119-132. 6 DOYLE, L. P., 1922. Bacilliary W h i t e D i a r r h e a in Chicks. P u r d u e Agri. E x t . Leaflet 73. ? GRAHAM, W. R., 1908. General Symptoms of W h a t is Commonly Called W h i t e D i a r r h e a in Young Chicks. Ontario Dept. Agri. Bui. 163, pp. 10-11. s GWATKIN, R., 1926. L u n g Infections in Chicks. Ontario Vet. Col. Rpt. 1926. pp. 46-48.