Experimental Eimeria mitis infections in chickens

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Abstract
1. Methods are described for the isolation and maintenance of a pure strain of Eimeria mitis.2. The prepatent period of the infection in chicks was 101 hr. The mean dimensions of the oocysts were 15·38 × 13·83μ, and sporulation occurred after 48 hr. at 60° F. (15·5° C.). The production of oocysts following infection with known numbers of oocysts is recorded.3. When 500,000 or more oocysts of E. mitis were given to chicks aged 6, 17 or 26 days the growth rate of the birds was markedly reduced. Young chicks were most susceptible and a few deaths occurred when 6-day-old chicks received 2·5 million oocysts. E. mitis is unlikely to be of pathological importance under normal conditions of good husbandry practice.4. Pathological lesions due to this species of Eimeria were not found in sections of intestinal tissues.5. Developmental stages of this parasite were found throughout the whole of the small intestine.6. The growth-retarding effects and oocyst production by E. mitis were controlled when 0·2% sodium sulphadimidine was given in the drinking water.

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