title: Pathogenesis of reduced egg production and soft-shelled eggs in laying hens associated with Leucocytozoon caulleryi infection.
abstract: The pathogenesis of reduced egg production with soft-shelled eggs in laying hens naturally infected with Leucocytozoon caulleryi was investigated. Many large schizonts of L. caulleryi schizonts were seen in the ovary and oviducts of chickens. Granulomatous and lymphocytic inflammation, edema, and pressure atrophy were associated with these schizonts. The uterine region that secretes the egg shell exhibited the most severe damage. These lesions in the reproductive organs may explain the mechanism for causing the reduced egg production and soft-shelled eggs in laying hens infected with L. caulleryi.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Animal Health, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mitarai
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tanimura
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hara
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shimada
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Isobe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000469:parasitology*; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D016787:Haemosporida / Q000502:physiology*; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D010058:Oviposition; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology