FOWL CHOLERA
By: Peter J. Brown, First State Veterinary Supply, Inc.

 The Organ involved [pictured] is the Ovary Tree of the Hen. Each of the yellow looking balls is an egg yolk before it enters the Oviduct. If you look closely you will see that each one is a different size based on the order in which the next egg is to be laid....

Each Ovum is held in place by a clear transparent membrane called the Vitelin Membrane. If you look at each Ovum you will see that the Membrane is not clear but tinged throughout with blood red veins.

This disease is caused by a common Bacteria and not a Virus. The disease itself is not anything exotic but will kill chickens quickly.The symptoms that would most likely have been seen on the outside of the body would be the swollen Comb and Wattle area. These two areas can swell up real big and are the most obvious external signs that you will see. Cholera is caused by a very aggressive bacteria called Pasteurella Multocida.

It is possible with this disease that you will have no symptoms at all just a dead bird. Birds can be in good flesh and feather and just show up dead with no internal or external symptoms.

Prevention is through vaccination with Cholera Vaccine. Treatment is best with Baytril which has been shown to cure the disease.