The Fecal Pellet Group Deposition Rate of Domestic Sheep

Abstract

adult bird showed a slight rise in parasitemia at the September 9 interval, temporarily interrupting the even tenor of its apparently typical light-chronic infection (O'Roke, 1930). As a supplementary aid in the interpretation of Table 1, the following notes are given: Birds numbered 6538, 6539, 6550 and 6553 were almost certainly lost, not to malaria but to snake predation; birds numbered 6551, 6552, 6556, 6537 and 6548 were released in apparently good condition on October 9; birds numbered 6543, 6554, 6545 and 6547 were held in laboratory cages from October 6 to December 13, and during all that time they appeared to be in excellent health despite their malaria. At autopsy, breast contours of all four birds were found to be normal even after long confinement in the outdoor pen and laboratory cages. Average weight of the four birds on December 9 was 155 grams, which compares very favorably with the average weight of 152.9 grams determined by Campbell and Lee (1953) for 30 non-infected Gambel's quail of the same age class at La Joya. On December 13 the four laboratory birds were killed and autopsied, with the following results: No. 6543. Gross appearance of all viscera normal. Spleen 6x4 mm.; No. 6554. Spleen normal in color but enlarged (8x5 mm.). Gross appearance of all other viscera normal; No. 6545. Spleen black and enlarged (9x6 mm.). Liver pale with red streaks. Gross appearance of all other viscera normal; No. 6547. Spleen black and enlarged (9x6 mm.). Gross appearance of all other viscera normal. Evidence here presented is interpreted to mean that infections caused by the two malarial organisms probably had little if any consiste tly detrimental influence on survival and growth of 12 infected young Gambel's quail. Results appear to be in substantial agreement with the general conclusions drawn fo Gambel's quail populations in the main study referred to above. This was the only group of infected Gambel's quail which could be carefully observed from the very young stage through to young adulthood during the study mentioned.