Pseudotuberculosis among Stock-Doves in Hampshire

Abstract

DURING December 1952, many stock-doves were found lying dead under the trees where they normally roost in the Damerham–Martin district of Hampshire. They appeared to be in good condition, but postmortem examination of forty-two of them showed that death was due to a virulent strain of Pasteurella pseudotuberculosis. There were small caseating nodules in the liver and spleen, both of which organs were slightly enlarged. The outbreak continued throughout December and January, but began to decrease in February.