Abstract
Among approximately 190 fowls received between November and May from a poultry dealer for postmortem examination, 4 birds had a neoplasm and 2 others exhibited the pathological changes commonly termed leucemia of the fowl. One of these, a white Leghorn hen, showed on gross examination moderately enlarged, grayish kidneys and heart and on microscopic examination, an extensive diffuse infiltration of the kidney, heart, and thyroid gland, and a nodular infiltration of the liver with mostly mononuclear cells of medium size. The character of these cells could not be determined with certainty; the numerous transitional cells to red cells suggest that they may be hemoglobin-free precursors of erythrocytes. The number of white cells in the blood stream, as seen in sections, was not increased.
Emulsions of organs of this chicken have been injected (Passage I) into the veins of 4 white Leghorn and 3 barred Rock chickens. In about two and a half months one of the injected barred Rock chickens developed a severe anemia. There were many polychromatophile erythrocytes, numerous large lymphocyte-like cells in the blood stream and transitional forms between them. On microscopic examination the capillaries of several organs, particularly those of the liver and kidney, were found to be studded with such cells, which, in all probability, are progenitors of erythrocytes. This picture corresponds to what was called by Ellerman 1 “leucostasis” and the disease may be termed with him erythroleucosis.
The blood of this bird was injected (passage 11) into the vein of 6 chickens, of which one developed in about 8 weeks a disease identical with that of the clonor. Two other birds, one in about 6 and one in 11 weeks, showed an enormous increase of the white blood cells in the blood stream.
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