An Outbreak of Pox in Turkeys with Notes on Diagnosis and Immunization

Abstract

ON JUNE 3, 1937, two Bronze turkey poults (Fig. 1) were presented at the Laboratory of Animal Pathology and Hygiene, University of Illinois, for diagnosis. The general condition appeared good and both poults manifested normal vigor, alertness, and appetite. Locomotion was somewhat impaired mechanically by a large exuberant swelling on the right foot of each specimen. This lesion, apparently originating within the outer web and mushrooming over the toes, was moderately firm and of uniform texture throughout, yet quite pliable to manipulation. The surface integument presented an irregular papillomatous appearance without evidence of an active inflamatory involvement.Except for the lesion at the right commissure of the mouth of the individual to the right in Figure 1, no abnormality was observed on clinical or necropsy examination of either bird. This lesion, unlike those of the feet, was suggestive of the early post-vesicle stage of fowl-pox infection. It was learned that .