Oedema disease in chickens caused by Mexican poppy (Argemone mexicana) seed

Ground Mexican poppy (Argemone mexicana) seed produced growth depression, oedema and death when fed at 1% and 3% of a basal ration to day-old, layer strain, cockerel chickens. The mortality rate was increased by raising the sodium chloride content of the basal ration from 0.18% to 1.68%. Clinical signs consisted of subcutaneous oedema, a high pitched chirp and terminal gasping. Hydropericardium, oedema of the lungs, and subcutaneous oedema of the thorax, abdomen, wings, neck and throat were the major lesions. Foci of calcificaton were present in the ventricular myocardium of some chickens fed 3% A. mexicana.