DIAGNOSIS OF FAVUS (AVIAN DERMATOPHYTOSIS) IN ORIENTAL BREED CHICKENS

Chickens of various Oriental breeds (Shamo and Aseel) and crossbreeds in California's Central Valley were observed to have an unusual skin c ondition and feather loss. The appearance of white plaques on the comb , face, and/or ear lobes was followed by feather loss starting at the caudal base of the comb and progressing down the neck. Although the co cks were affected first, the condition spread to the hens paired with those cocks. The birds showed no other signs of illness. The affected areas were scraped and biopsied. The samples were examined histologica lly and by culturing on Sabouraud's dextrose agar and dermatophyte tes t medium. Microsporum gallinae, the causative agent of favus (avian de rmatophytosis), was identified by the histological and mycological tes ts.