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Studies on Coccidiosis III. Observations on Paralysis With Special Reference to Coccidial Infection
Studies on Coccidiosis III. Observations on Paralysis With Special Reference to Coccidial Infection R O Y L. M A Y H E W
Louisiana Experiment Station, Baton Rouge (Received for Publication August 28, 1931)
C
only. Since it is known that infected birds often cease to give evidence of infection by fecal examination or postmortem soon after the appearance of the disease, a postmortem, therefore, does not preclude an earlier infection. Beach and Freeborn (1930) state as follows: "In California, such a high percentage of pullets with paralysis have been found to be affected with chronic coccidiosis that paralysis is at present regarded as a reasonably accurate indication of the presence of chronic coccidiosis. It has not been determined, however, that coccidiosis infection is a direct causative factor of paralysis." GENERAL CONDITIONS
During the course of 151 inoculations with "cultures" of coccidia in which 204 inoculated and 191 control chickens were involved 27 cases of paralysis developed. Almost all these birds were kept under experimental conditions until twenty weeks of age, and a few as long as two years. In addition 52 others were used on certain types of inoculations which did not require that the chickens be kept so long under experimental conditions. The chickens used in these experiments were Single Comb Rhode Island Reds, and all except 80 were hatched from eggs obtained from the same flock of hens. During the entire time of the experiments they were kept on wire floors and under screen, and all lots received the same feed. Upon showing symptoms of paralysis the birds were isolated in compartments of
[289]
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at UCSF Library on April 19, 2015
ONSIDERABLE work has been done recently on fowl paralysis in an attempt to understand the disease and to determine its cause. Since coccidial infection is of such common occurrence in cases of paralysis, it is the opinion of many that it is the cause or a contributing factor in the development of the disease. Since the writer has had the opportunity to observe rather closely a number of cases while carrying out artificial inoculations with coccidia under controlled conditions, it has seemed advisable to report certain data which have accumulated with the hope that it will add to the information about this disease and especially clarify the question as to its relationship to coccidial infection. Some experiments have been conducted by various authors with the intention of showing the relation of coccidia and parasitic worms to paralysis. Stafseth and Johnson (1927) secured a number of affected birds from a group they inoculated while the controls showed no symptoms, and concluded that "This experiment and the results of autopsies on birds sent in for examination . . . . indicate that duodenal coccidiosis is the most important cause." Stafseth (1931) finds duodenal coccidiosis associated with leg weakness both in chickens sent in for examination and in experimental chickens. Pappenheimer, Dunn, and Cone (1926) find no correlation between paralysis and coccidial infection basing their conclusions upon postmortem examinations
290
POULTRY
a fattening battery in a screened building and constantly provided with feed and water. For a more detailed description of the methods employed in rearing these chickens, the reader is referred to Mayhew (1932). DESCRIPTION OF THE DISEASE
ly short time. A few of these cases have died within a week, while others linger on for months before death occurs without showing any improvement. Birds with this affliction do not show any indications of pain as they move about in their crippled condition or when the joints are bent with the hands. The joints do not become stiff in the cases observed except as due to the abnormal pulling of the muscles. Only one of these chickens, No. 24, has recovered to date. This bird, a male, was hatched May 7, 1930, and appeared normal in every way until September 4,1930, when the first symptoms of paralysis were noted. There was a marked drop in the weight following this date, then a rapid increase as recovery began. Both legs were affected and showed atrophy of the muscles but especially was this true of the left. At the end of a month the bird was still nervous and was unable to balance himself correctly especially if he were disturbed by one attempting to catch him. He was apparently normal in every respect on July 25, 1931, and his weight was 3300 grams. Another interesting case is that of No. A131. This pullet showed the first symptoms when 17 weeks of age, and gradually grew worse during the next five weeks until she almost completely lost the use of her right leg. During the next three weeks she rapidly recovered the use of her leg until she was nearly normal, and made considerable gain in weight. At 27 weeks of age a decline was detected in her condition, and during the next two weeks she became completely paralysed. The muscles of the legs and breast showed a very marked atrophy. She was in no pain and the joints could be flexed without causing any discomfort apparently, she being able to kick and move the legs in an incoordinated manner. She showed a very rapid decline in weight from 1740 to 1140 grams during the four weeks of the relapse. Another interesting case is that of No.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at UCSF Library on April 19, 2015
One of the first symptoms to be observed is that the chicken prefers to sit down, and, when disturbed, will rise, walk a short distance and sit down again, while the normal chicken will stand. A number of these cases have been isolated when observed, and, while by no means all have become paralyzed, yet by this method a number of cases have been observed in the early stages and the course of the affliction studied in detail. In almost all cases a marked atrophy of the muscles on the affected limb has been detected. In some cases this occurs on one portion of the leg (either the femoral or tibial), in others on both portions, and in a few instances one or both wings have been involved. In some cases the muscles on the front or the posterior side of the thigh (femur) only were involved with the result that the limb was drawn forward or backward by the unaffected muscles. Some birds lack proper coordination of the muscles and do not balance properly. As the disease of this type progresses the individual fails to balance at all and falls forward or backward and will be found with legs braced and head or tail downward in the corner of the compartment. Most of these chickens eat and drink well if feed and water are placed within reach, and the muscular atrophy does not, therefore, seem to be due to lack of food. The digestive organs seem to function properly except in a few cases where there seemed to be a partial paralysis of the intestine as there was an unusually large accumulation of fecal material in the cloaca at postmortem. Death sometimes occurs within a relative-
SCIENCE
SEPTEMBER,
291
19.32. V O L . X I , N o . 5
the remainder from different hens. While there is more or less inbreeding in the pedigree records, it is not possible to draw any conclusions from this limited number of cases. It is of interest to note that Pappenheimer et al. failed to find lesions in young chicks hatched from paralyzed hens such as they found in paralyzed adults.
1014, a pullet which became entirely blind before paralyzed. Her weights are given in Table 1. She lived about three months in a paralyzed condition and never showed any parasitic infection. Pappenheimer, Dunn, and Cone (loc. cit.) report similar cases of blindness and describe the microscopic condition of the eye.
TABLE 1. Age, sex, and weight of birds developing paralysis Wing Band No.
Sex
Age a t first symptoms
Weight when affected (grams)
Weight at death (grams)
18 W 11W4D 8W5D 10W 8 W4D
1930 1000 760 870 480
1180 K 765 740 282
17 W 13 W 10W 13 W 15 W 8W
1540 1260 940 980 1290 480
Recovered 690 700
8 mo. 13 W 14 W 5 D 12 W 17 W 14 W 15 W 10W 14 W 14 W 12 W 13 W 13 W
2080 1000 1540 340 1450 760 1240 520 1060 1040 622 900 1060
1670 603 2930 570 1120 1940K 790 454 596 830
15 W 16 W 15 W
1530 820 1140
2140K 600 HOOK
952 713 716 148 271
cf
1/ 7/30 9/22/29
c?
10/ 3/30 4 / 3/30
24 53 1086 1093 1014 1187
& 9
5 / 7/30 u 12/17/29
1678 1646 1986 1070 A131» A43 126 A35 A70 A77 A468 A403 A392
9
A391 A402 A439
tf1
& 9 c?
"
U
a
2/19/30 1/29/30 u
9 / 8/29 12/17/29 1/10/31 u
9/19/30 1/10/31
" " "
2/28/31
" " "
840 2050
t
1240 960K
Tenure of disease
Parts affected
Both legs Both legs 9D Left leg 3D Right leg Right leg—espe23 D cially thigh 51 W Both legs—breast 34 D Nearly generalized 17 D Both legs 7 mo. Left leg Both legs 3 mo. About 8 mo. Right first—then both 11 D Left leg 5D Both legs 7 mo. Both legs 5 mo. Right leg 15 W 4 D Right leg 18 W Both legs 7D Both legs 7W3D Right leg 5D Right leg 22 D Both legs Both legs 5W5D Gen. paralysis Right wing and 11W lacks coordination 10W Both legs 9W Both legs and wings 10W Both legs and wings
Fecal Exam.
+
-
3 4
6 4 2 3 3
15 D
2 3 5 3 5 9 1 1
3 2 2
3 1 3 4 5 2 1 2 6 1 1 1 3 2 2 1 1 1
2
1 1 1
Postmortem
_ — — — + — ~ — — — — — — + — + ~ .
* Reached maximum weight 1740 grams on 7/11/31, then relapsed 7/18/31, and lost to 1140 grams on 8/3/31, died 8/25/31 weight 1120grams. t Living 3 months after appearance of symptoms. K =Killed W=Weeks D =Days.
There does not seem to be any relation between the disease and the close confinement, the lack of green feed, or the rather limited amount of sunshine to which these chickens have had access since five definite cases have developed in a small flock under the close observation of the author which had access to green feed and unlimited sunshine.
WEIGHTS OF AFFECTED BIRDS
Usually chickens have been observed to lose weight almost with the first appearance of the disease. Sometimes this is partly recovered if the bird lives any length of time, but if death occurs soon the loss is usually considerable. Pullet No. S3 lost nearly 45 percent of her weight in two weeks, and male No. 950 38 percent in two weeks. Pullets 1070 and 1014 maintained about the PEDIGREE RECORD An examination of the pedigree records same level for about three months, the one of such of these birds as were pedigree dying without much loss while the other lost hatched shows that two were hatched from 250 grams during the week previous to eggs from No. 4113, two from No. 84, and death. Some birds seem to be affected in a
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at UCSF Library on April 19, 2015
Date Hatched
292
POULTRY
different manner and live for weeks or for months, gaining in weight fairly regularly after the first two or three weeks after the appearance of the symptoms. FECAL EXAMINATIONS
SUMMARY
1. A type of paralysis in chickens is described in which there is usually loss in
weight and atrophy of the muscles on the affected parts. Recovery is rare. 2. The evidence indicates that nearly 41 percent of the affected birds were not infected during their lifetime with coccidia. None of the birds developing paralysis were infested with roundworms, tapeworms or other intestinal parasites. 3. Cases were observed in chicks as young as 8 weeks and as old as 8 months. Thirteen of the 27 cases developed between 13 and IS weeks of age. 4. Of the 27 cases studied 14 were males and 13 were females. Eight of the males were among the inoculated birds and 6 among the controls. Of the females 8 were among the inoculated and 5 among the control chickens. REFERENCES
Beach, J. R., and S. B. Freeborn, 1930. Diseases and parasites of poultry in California. Calif. Agri. Ext. Circ. 8:1-73. Johnson, W. T., 1928. Coccidiosis of the chicken. Ore. Agri. Exp. Sta. Bull. 238:1-16. May, H. C , R. P. Tittsler, and K. Goodner, 192S. Field observations and laboratory findings in "Paralysis" of the domestic fowl. R.I. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bui. 202 :1-18. Mayhew, Roy L., 1932. Studies on coccidiosis, I. Poul. Sci., 11:34-39. Pappenheimer, A. M., L. C. Dunn, and V. Cone, 1926. A study of fowl paralysis. Conn. (Storrs) Agr. Exp. Sta. Bui. 143:187-290. Stafseth, H. J., and E. P. Johnson, 1927. Range paralysis of poultry. Mich. Quart. Bui. 9:10S-09. Stafseth, H. J., 1931. Studies on the pathology of avian coccidiosis. Jour. Amer. Vet. Med. Assoc, 78:793-816.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at UCSF Library on April 19, 2015
A summary of the fecal examinations is given in Table 1. An examination of this data reveals the fact that 11 of the 27 paralyzed birds never showed infection with coccidia and none with intestinal parasites. It will also be noted that postmortem examinations were made in most cases and that they agree with the other findings except in the cases of A392 and A402, which were not kept under fully controlled conditions at the last. That these examinations are reasonably accurate is indicated by the fact that 191 control chickens have been raised in these experiments in 16 separate lots at all times of the year without infection. A total of 1839 fecal examinations have been made on the 447 chickens raised under experimental conditions to check the course of the disease in the inoculated chickens and to determine the freedom of the controls from infection. These examinations were made on both controls and the groups to be inoculated before the inoculations were made, during the period of illness, and, of a number of the lots, at approximately monthly intervals until the end of the experiment.
SCIENCE
Louisiana Experiment Station, Baton Rouge (Received for Publication August 28, 1931)
C
only. Since it is known that infected birds often cease to give evidence of infection by fecal examination or postmortem soon after the appearance of the disease, a postmortem, therefore, does not preclude an earlier infection. Beach and Freeborn (1930) state as follows: "In California, such a high percentage of pullets with paralysis have been found to be affected with chronic coccidiosis that paralysis is at present regarded as a reasonably accurate indication of the presence of chronic coccidiosis. It has not been determined, however, that coccidiosis infection is a direct causative factor of paralysis." GENERAL CONDITIONS
During the course of 151 inoculations with "cultures" of coccidia in which 204 inoculated and 191 control chickens were involved 27 cases of paralysis developed. Almost all these birds were kept under experimental conditions until twenty weeks of age, and a few as long as two years. In addition 52 others were used on certain types of inoculations which did not require that the chickens be kept so long under experimental conditions. The chickens used in these experiments were Single Comb Rhode Island Reds, and all except 80 were hatched from eggs obtained from the same flock of hens. During the entire time of the experiments they were kept on wire floors and under screen, and all lots received the same feed. Upon showing symptoms of paralysis the birds were isolated in compartments of
[289]
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at UCSF Library on April 19, 2015
ONSIDERABLE work has been done recently on fowl paralysis in an attempt to understand the disease and to determine its cause. Since coccidial infection is of such common occurrence in cases of paralysis, it is the opinion of many that it is the cause or a contributing factor in the development of the disease. Since the writer has had the opportunity to observe rather closely a number of cases while carrying out artificial inoculations with coccidia under controlled conditions, it has seemed advisable to report certain data which have accumulated with the hope that it will add to the information about this disease and especially clarify the question as to its relationship to coccidial infection. Some experiments have been conducted by various authors with the intention of showing the relation of coccidia and parasitic worms to paralysis. Stafseth and Johnson (1927) secured a number of affected birds from a group they inoculated while the controls showed no symptoms, and concluded that "This experiment and the results of autopsies on birds sent in for examination . . . . indicate that duodenal coccidiosis is the most important cause." Stafseth (1931) finds duodenal coccidiosis associated with leg weakness both in chickens sent in for examination and in experimental chickens. Pappenheimer, Dunn, and Cone (1926) find no correlation between paralysis and coccidial infection basing their conclusions upon postmortem examinations
290
POULTRY
a fattening battery in a screened building and constantly provided with feed and water. For a more detailed description of the methods employed in rearing these chickens, the reader is referred to Mayhew (1932). DESCRIPTION OF THE DISEASE
ly short time. A few of these cases have died within a week, while others linger on for months before death occurs without showing any improvement. Birds with this affliction do not show any indications of pain as they move about in their crippled condition or when the joints are bent with the hands. The joints do not become stiff in the cases observed except as due to the abnormal pulling of the muscles. Only one of these chickens, No. 24, has recovered to date. This bird, a male, was hatched May 7, 1930, and appeared normal in every way until September 4,1930, when the first symptoms of paralysis were noted. There was a marked drop in the weight following this date, then a rapid increase as recovery began. Both legs were affected and showed atrophy of the muscles but especially was this true of the left. At the end of a month the bird was still nervous and was unable to balance himself correctly especially if he were disturbed by one attempting to catch him. He was apparently normal in every respect on July 25, 1931, and his weight was 3300 grams. Another interesting case is that of No. A131. This pullet showed the first symptoms when 17 weeks of age, and gradually grew worse during the next five weeks until she almost completely lost the use of her right leg. During the next three weeks she rapidly recovered the use of her leg until she was nearly normal, and made considerable gain in weight. At 27 weeks of age a decline was detected in her condition, and during the next two weeks she became completely paralysed. The muscles of the legs and breast showed a very marked atrophy. She was in no pain and the joints could be flexed without causing any discomfort apparently, she being able to kick and move the legs in an incoordinated manner. She showed a very rapid decline in weight from 1740 to 1140 grams during the four weeks of the relapse. Another interesting case is that of No.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at UCSF Library on April 19, 2015
One of the first symptoms to be observed is that the chicken prefers to sit down, and, when disturbed, will rise, walk a short distance and sit down again, while the normal chicken will stand. A number of these cases have been isolated when observed, and, while by no means all have become paralyzed, yet by this method a number of cases have been observed in the early stages and the course of the affliction studied in detail. In almost all cases a marked atrophy of the muscles on the affected limb has been detected. In some cases this occurs on one portion of the leg (either the femoral or tibial), in others on both portions, and in a few instances one or both wings have been involved. In some cases the muscles on the front or the posterior side of the thigh (femur) only were involved with the result that the limb was drawn forward or backward by the unaffected muscles. Some birds lack proper coordination of the muscles and do not balance properly. As the disease of this type progresses the individual fails to balance at all and falls forward or backward and will be found with legs braced and head or tail downward in the corner of the compartment. Most of these chickens eat and drink well if feed and water are placed within reach, and the muscular atrophy does not, therefore, seem to be due to lack of food. The digestive organs seem to function properly except in a few cases where there seemed to be a partial paralysis of the intestine as there was an unusually large accumulation of fecal material in the cloaca at postmortem. Death sometimes occurs within a relative-
SCIENCE
SEPTEMBER,
291
19.32. V O L . X I , N o . 5
the remainder from different hens. While there is more or less inbreeding in the pedigree records, it is not possible to draw any conclusions from this limited number of cases. It is of interest to note that Pappenheimer et al. failed to find lesions in young chicks hatched from paralyzed hens such as they found in paralyzed adults.
1014, a pullet which became entirely blind before paralyzed. Her weights are given in Table 1. She lived about three months in a paralyzed condition and never showed any parasitic infection. Pappenheimer, Dunn, and Cone (loc. cit.) report similar cases of blindness and describe the microscopic condition of the eye.
TABLE 1. Age, sex, and weight of birds developing paralysis Wing Band No.
Sex
Age a t first symptoms
Weight when affected (grams)
Weight at death (grams)
18 W 11W4D 8W5D 10W 8 W4D
1930 1000 760 870 480
1180 K 765 740 282
17 W 13 W 10W 13 W 15 W 8W
1540 1260 940 980 1290 480
Recovered 690 700
8 mo. 13 W 14 W 5 D 12 W 17 W 14 W 15 W 10W 14 W 14 W 12 W 13 W 13 W
2080 1000 1540 340 1450 760 1240 520 1060 1040 622 900 1060
1670 603 2930 570 1120 1940K 790 454 596 830
15 W 16 W 15 W
1530 820 1140
2140K 600 HOOK
952 713 716 148 271
cf
1/ 7/30 9/22/29
c?
10/ 3/30 4 / 3/30
24 53 1086 1093 1014 1187
& 9
5 / 7/30 u 12/17/29
1678 1646 1986 1070 A131» A43 126 A35 A70 A77 A468 A403 A392
9
A391 A402 A439
tf1
& 9 c?
"
U
a
2/19/30 1/29/30 u
9 / 8/29 12/17/29 1/10/31 u
9/19/30 1/10/31
" " "
2/28/31
" " "
840 2050
t
1240 960K
Tenure of disease
Parts affected
Both legs Both legs 9D Left leg 3D Right leg Right leg—espe23 D cially thigh 51 W Both legs—breast 34 D Nearly generalized 17 D Both legs 7 mo. Left leg Both legs 3 mo. About 8 mo. Right first—then both 11 D Left leg 5D Both legs 7 mo. Both legs 5 mo. Right leg 15 W 4 D Right leg 18 W Both legs 7D Both legs 7W3D Right leg 5D Right leg 22 D Both legs Both legs 5W5D Gen. paralysis Right wing and 11W lacks coordination 10W Both legs 9W Both legs and wings 10W Both legs and wings
Fecal Exam.
+
-
3 4
6 4 2 3 3
15 D
2 3 5 3 5 9 1 1
3 2 2
3 1 3 4 5 2 1 2 6 1 1 1 3 2 2 1 1 1
2
1 1 1
Postmortem
_ — — — + — ~ — — — — — — + — + ~ .
* Reached maximum weight 1740 grams on 7/11/31, then relapsed 7/18/31, and lost to 1140 grams on 8/3/31, died 8/25/31 weight 1120grams. t Living 3 months after appearance of symptoms. K =Killed W=Weeks D =Days.
There does not seem to be any relation between the disease and the close confinement, the lack of green feed, or the rather limited amount of sunshine to which these chickens have had access since five definite cases have developed in a small flock under the close observation of the author which had access to green feed and unlimited sunshine.
WEIGHTS OF AFFECTED BIRDS
Usually chickens have been observed to lose weight almost with the first appearance of the disease. Sometimes this is partly recovered if the bird lives any length of time, but if death occurs soon the loss is usually considerable. Pullet No. S3 lost nearly 45 percent of her weight in two weeks, and male No. 950 38 percent in two weeks. Pullets 1070 and 1014 maintained about the PEDIGREE RECORD An examination of the pedigree records same level for about three months, the one of such of these birds as were pedigree dying without much loss while the other lost hatched shows that two were hatched from 250 grams during the week previous to eggs from No. 4113, two from No. 84, and death. Some birds seem to be affected in a
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at UCSF Library on April 19, 2015
Date Hatched
292
POULTRY
different manner and live for weeks or for months, gaining in weight fairly regularly after the first two or three weeks after the appearance of the symptoms. FECAL EXAMINATIONS
SUMMARY
1. A type of paralysis in chickens is described in which there is usually loss in
weight and atrophy of the muscles on the affected parts. Recovery is rare. 2. The evidence indicates that nearly 41 percent of the affected birds were not infected during their lifetime with coccidia. None of the birds developing paralysis were infested with roundworms, tapeworms or other intestinal parasites. 3. Cases were observed in chicks as young as 8 weeks and as old as 8 months. Thirteen of the 27 cases developed between 13 and IS weeks of age. 4. Of the 27 cases studied 14 were males and 13 were females. Eight of the males were among the inoculated birds and 6 among the controls. Of the females 8 were among the inoculated and 5 among the control chickens. REFERENCES
Beach, J. R., and S. B. Freeborn, 1930. Diseases and parasites of poultry in California. Calif. Agri. Ext. Circ. 8:1-73. Johnson, W. T., 1928. Coccidiosis of the chicken. Ore. Agri. Exp. Sta. Bull. 238:1-16. May, H. C , R. P. Tittsler, and K. Goodner, 192S. Field observations and laboratory findings in "Paralysis" of the domestic fowl. R.I. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bui. 202 :1-18. Mayhew, Roy L., 1932. Studies on coccidiosis, I. Poul. Sci., 11:34-39. Pappenheimer, A. M., L. C. Dunn, and V. Cone, 1926. A study of fowl paralysis. Conn. (Storrs) Agr. Exp. Sta. Bui. 143:187-290. Stafseth, H. J., and E. P. Johnson, 1927. Range paralysis of poultry. Mich. Quart. Bui. 9:10S-09. Stafseth, H. J., 1931. Studies on the pathology of avian coccidiosis. Jour. Amer. Vet. Med. Assoc, 78:793-816.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at UCSF Library on April 19, 2015
A summary of the fecal examinations is given in Table 1. An examination of this data reveals the fact that 11 of the 27 paralyzed birds never showed infection with coccidia and none with intestinal parasites. It will also be noted that postmortem examinations were made in most cases and that they agree with the other findings except in the cases of A392 and A402, which were not kept under fully controlled conditions at the last. That these examinations are reasonably accurate is indicated by the fact that 191 control chickens have been raised in these experiments in 16 separate lots at all times of the year without infection. A total of 1839 fecal examinations have been made on the 447 chickens raised under experimental conditions to check the course of the disease in the inoculated chickens and to determine the freedom of the controls from infection. These examinations were made on both controls and the groups to be inoculated before the inoculations were made, during the period of illness, and, of a number of the lots, at approximately monthly intervals until the end of the experiment.
SCIENCE