Abstract
In a former communication 1 I have identified a previously unrecognized, Gram-negative, anaerobic bacillus as the specific cause of ulcerative enteritis of quail (so-called “quail disease”). I also gave details of the technic by which the organism may be demonstrated in suitable material, directed attention to the chronic carrier as a factor in maintaining and spreading the infection and recorded observations indicating transmission of the infection to young quail chicks through eggs laid by carriers.
The purposes of the present communication are: (a) to correct and contradict a statement in the previous paper relative to spore formation, (b) to give technic for isolation of the organism in pure culture, (c) to call attention to coprophagy as an important source of transmission in captive quail, and (d) to record successful immunization of birds by vaccination with killed cultures of the specific organism.
(a) The statement previously made that “occasionally spores can be found on slide preparations made direct from lesions” has been found to be incorrect. Examination of hundreds of specimens made from pure cultures and from lesions has failed to show spores. Reexamination of some of the original specimens on which the first statement was based reveals that what were taken for spores were something else, therefore contradicting the previous statement relative to spores.
(b) Pending development of differential culture media and cultural technic, and possibly more favorable culture media than is now available, attention is called to a medium and technic which are entirely satisfactory for isolation and maintenance of pure cultures of the organism This medium is the thioglycollate medium of J. H. Brewer, 2 which I modify slightly by the addition of 0.1% agar for semisolid cultures or 1% for solid cultures.
Infusion from 37.5 g pork per 100 cc.
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