Encephalitis attributed to dactylariosis in Japanese quail chicks (Coturnix coturnix japonica).
Dactylaria gallopava was isolated from brain tissue of 1-to-3-week-old quail chicks. Successive batches demonstrated elevated (15-20%) mortality preceded by incoordination and lateral recumbency. Chicks exhibited cerebellar and cerebral encephalitis characterized by brown-red discoloration of affected brain tissue. Decontamination of setters and hatchers resulted in abrupt cessation of mortality in subsequent placements, implicating incubators as the source of infection.
D000818:Animals; D003370:Coturnix; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D009181:Mycoses / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary*; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*