Studies of the Chick Edema Disease

PREVIOUS studies have shown that various oral diuretics incorporated into diets containing the chick edema factor (CEF) are selectively beneficial in the prevention of edema associated with the development of the chick edema disease (Flick and O’Dell, 1968a). Further, by carefully grading the dietary level of diuretics fed concomitantly with a fixed level of toxic fatty material (TFM) containing CEF, the diuretic activity of the compounds can be assayed (Flick and O’Dell, 1968b). This report is a confirmation and extension of our previous studies and deals with the effects of the oral diuretic, hydrochlorothiazide, at various dietary levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS Day-old S. C. White Leghorn cockerels were used for these studies. On the day of receipt from the hatchery, the chicks were randomized in the shipping carton, wing-banded, weighed, and placed in battery brooders (10 chicks/cage) with raised wire-mesh floors. Feed and water were accessible at all times. Room . . .