[Endomycoses--a problem in the diagnosis of Chlamydia psittaci infections in chickens]

Two hens, which died at an age of 42 respectively 45 weeks, showed firstly lesions of endomycosis as sole cause of illness or death at necropsy and in light microscopic investigations. With peroxidase-antiperoxidase-(PAP-)technique and in electron microscopic investigations, however, Chlamydia psittaci were also found in very large numbers in both chickens, and occurred here particularly in lungs, liver, kidneys, spleen, myocard and ovary. The results showed, that endomycosis and chlamydial infections can occur in chickens simultaneously. In such cases of mixed infections the PAP-technique may be very helpful for rapid and reliable detection of Chlamydia psittaci in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded chicken tissues.