Abstract
Extract
Between November 1972 and February 1973, severe outbreaks of a disease in broilers, characterized by congestive heart failure,, hydropericardium, liver shrinkage, ascites, and sometimes subcutaneous oedema were observed in the North Island. The disease resembled enzootic fatal syncope (toxic heart degeneration) described earlier in laying hens in New Zealand (Fischel, Citation1946), chick edema disease seen in the U.S.A. (Schmittle et al., Citation1958; Sanger et al., Citation1958), possible fat intoxication in chickens reported from Britain (Wannop and Chubb, Citation1961), and alimentary toxaemia or water belly ascites experienced in Australia (Sinkovic, Citation1961).