Ocular lesions in chickens inoculated with Escherichia coli.

Specific-pathogen-free chickens (two, four and ten weeks of age) which were inoculated via the air sac with Escherichia coli developed ocular lesions. Histologically, the main ocular lesions consisted of hyphema, hemorrhages of the iris, hypopyon, keratitis and uveitis. Hyphema was associated with hemorrhages of the iris, and hypopyon with keratitis and uveitis. Cyclophosphamide treatment enhanced the incidence and severity of hyphema and hemorrhages of the iris in the chickens.