SUMMARYThe pathogenesis is described of renal lesions which developed in 1-dayold chicks fed a ration containing 10% sodium chloride for 25 successive days. The gross lesions are described. Microscopically the kidneys showed that nephrosis and glomerular changes were very prominent. These included glomerular hypertrophy, formation of epithelial crescents, fibrous adhesions, lobularity, shrinkage and collapse of the glomerular tuft and thickening of the basement membrane of the capillary tuft. Segmental hyalinosis of the tuft was also sometimes observed.

SUMMARYDuring neocropsy of 1248 adult chickens, 126 non-leukotic neoplasms were diagnosed as follows: 83 (65.9%) peritoneal carcinomatosis, 24 (19.0%) myxosarcomas, 17 (13.5%) leimyomas, and 2 (1.6%) haemangiopericytomas. In addition, three tumours in pigeons were found to be basal cell carcinomas. Haemangiopericytomas in chickens and basal cell carcinomas in pigeons are recorded here for the first time. The ovarian origin of the neoplasms designated as peritoneal carcinomas is confirmed and discussed.

The occurrence of unusual cases of generalised, tumour-like cutaneous swellings in 2-3-month-old chickens, from which A. flavus or C. albicans could be isolated, is described. Histologically similar but clinically different lesions could be produced experimentally in 1-month-old chickens by intradermal inoculation of A. flavus alone or combined with C. albicans. The latter organism alone failed, however, to produce the cutaneous lesions by the same route of inoculation. Intracardiac inoculation of A. flavus into chickens of the same age resulted in a systemic infection, including the nervous tissue, but without apparent involvement of the skin.

A study of the clinical and pathological changes in pigeons experimentally inoculated with a herpesvirus isolated recently from natural cases of a condition termed contagious paralysis was carried out. Signs and pathological findings similar to those recorded in natural cases were produced after inoculation of the isolate via different routes. The incubation period differed according to the route of inoculation from 2 to 10 days and the course of the disease from 5 to 21 days. The mortality ranged from 100% in the intracerebrally inoculated pigeons to 61% in the orally infected ones. The clinical signs and the gross and histopathological changes included mainly progressive paralysis, meningo-encephalomyelitis, pancreatitis and sometimes enteritis.

Summary The occurrence of reproductive disturbances in a flock of laying hens dipped in a high concentration of Diazinon suggested a study of the effect of this insecticide on the gonads of the fowl. The levels of gonadotrophic, thyrotrophic and adrenocorticotrophic hormones in the pituitary and serum of the treated hens were significantly lower than in control birds. A causal relationship between these low levels and the extensive retrogressive changes observed grossly and microscopically in the ovaries of the treated hens is suggested. In contrast, the gonads of cocks treated in a similar manner showed no changes. Zusammenfassung Toxische Effekte von Diazinon auf die Keimdrüsen von Hühnern Fortpflanzungsstörungen bei Hühnern, welche in einer ziemlich stark konzentrierten Diazinon‐Lösung gebadet wurden, gaben Anlaß, den Effekt des genannten Insektizids auf die Keimdrüsen von Hühnern zu untersuchen. Die Spiegel des gonadotropen‐, thyreotropen und adrenocorticotropen Hormones in der Hypophyse und im Serum der behandelten Hennen waren signifikant niedriger als bei den Kontrolltieren. Es dürfte eine kausale Beziehung zwischen den reduzierten Hormonspiegeln und den sowohl makroskopisch als auch mikroskopisch feststellbaren regressiven Veränderungen der Ovarien bestehen. Bei Hähnen, welche in ähnlicher Weise behandelt wurden, zeigten die Gonaden hingegen keine Veränderungen. Résumé Effets toxiques du «Diazinon» sur les gonades des poules Des troubles de la reproduction chez des poules baignées dans une solution assez concentrée de lrquo;Diazinon» ont suggéré une recherche sur l'effet de l'insecticide sur les gonades des poules. Le taux des hormones gonadotropes, thyreotropes et adrénocorticotropes dans l'hypophyse et le sérum fut nettement plus bas chez les poules traitées que chez les animaux de contrôle. Il pourrait y avoir un rapport causal entre les taux hormonaux réduits et les modifications régressifs aussi bien macroscopiques que microscopiques constatées dans les ovaires. Les coqs traités de la même manière ne présentèrent aucune lésion des gonades. Resumen Efectos tóxicos de la diazinona sobre las gónadas de las aves domésticas Los trastornos en la reproducción observados en gallinas que habían sido bañadas en una solución bastante concentrada de diazinona incitaron a examinar el efecto de este insecticida sobre las gônadas de gallinas. Los niveles de hormonas gonadotropa, tireotropa y adrenocorticotropa en la hipófisis y en el suero sanguíneo de las ponedoras tratadas eran bastante inferiores a los de los animales testigos. Se supone que existe una relación causal entre los niveles reducidos de hormonas y las modificaciones regresivas en los ovarios, observadas tanto macro como microscópicamente. En contraste, las gónadas de los gallos tratados de manera similar no mostraban modificación alguna.