just a guess but it might be pullorum... (even though this article states that it has been virtually eleminated in
commercial flocks it is still a regular problem with hobby breeders and backyard flocks)
http://compepid.tuskegee.edu/syllabi/pathobiology/pathology/avianmed/chapter2.html
(excerpt)
2.1.1 Pullorum Disease.
Synonyms
Bacillary White Diarrhea, BWD
Definition
Primarily an acute disease of chicks during first month of lives, characterized by high mortality. It is often found in mature fowl as a chronic infection.
Etiology
Salmonella pullorum, isolated by Rettger in 1900, he described this disease as a "Fatal septicemia of young chicks". This bacteria is a long slender Gram-negative rod. Resistant to cold. sunlight, drying and disinfectants. The cells occur singly, nonmotile, non-liquefying, non-sporogenic and faculatively anaerobic. Does not ferment maltose and dulcitol.
Susceptibility
Chickens and turkeys are most susceptible. However, natural infections have been reported in pheasants, ducks, sparrows, guinea fowl, quail, canaries and pigeons. Among mammals, rabbits appear to be readily susceptible, and infection has been reported as occurring in hogs, foxes, mink and man.
Occurrence
World wide distribution. Pullorum is virtually eradicated in poultry in the U.S. since National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) was organized in 1940 for the purpose of controlling pullorum disease.
Epizootiology.
1. The most important source of infection is the infective egg laid by carrier hen.
2. Mode of dissemination of pullorum disease is described below:
a. Infected hen
b. Infected egg laid by infected hen.
c. Incubator containing infected egg.
d. Chick box in which infected chicks may be present.
e. Brooder.
f. Surviving infected pullet which may be a carrier.
Symptoms:
1. Incubation period of 5 - 7 days.
2. Age: usually under 3 weeks of age.
3. Action: Peracute type, no detectable symptom, die suddenly; Acute in baby chicks, chronic in mature fowls.
4. Mortality: If chicks are hatched from infective eggs, dead and sick chicks may be observed in the hatchery.
Those infected after hatching, mortality reach a peak at 7 - 10 days. Mortality as high as 30 - 40% has been recorded.
5. White diarrhea in a small percent of birds. (Septicemia). Dehydration, vent smear with fecal material.
6. Loss of appetite.
7. Squeaky chirp. Appear cold (fever).
8. Difficult breathing (pneumonia).
9. Swelling of joints - arthritis, more common in hens (chronic).
Post-Mortem Lesions.
1. Peracute type - no lesion.
2. Subacute type
a. Enlarged and congested liver. The normal yellow color may be streaked with hemorrhage.
b. Necrotic foci may be present in the cardiac muscle, liver, lungs, ceca, large intestine and muscles of the gizzard.
c. Unabsorbed yolk sac. (During the first few days of life, the yolk sac serves as source of nutrient.)
d. Cheesy core in ceca.
e. Pericarditis and epicarditis
f. Pneumonia - firm grayish nodules.
g. Liver is the most constant seat of gross lesions and followed in order by the lungs, heart, gizzard and ceca.
3. Chronic Form - Adult fowl
a. Oval and shrunken misshaped, greenish or leaden-colored egg yolk. The yolk is firm as if it has been cooked
b. There may be enlargement of heart. Small, grayish firm nodules may also be noted.
c. Salpingitis, atrophied testicles
d. Arthritis
4. Histopathology:
Infiltration of R.E. and mononuclear cells replacing necrotic parenchymatous cells.
Diagnosis:
1. Go by history, age, symptom
2. Laboratory diagnosis:
a. Definitive diagnosis: Isolation and identification of Salmonella pullorum bacteria.
b.Tissue samples from liver, spleen, heart, and yolk sac are good source for bacterial culture in septiemic cases.
c. In the case of chronic infection or carrier, serological tests are required.
