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Retinopathy Globe Enlarged
Retinopathy globe enlarged (RGE) is an autosomal recessive disease that affects the Rhode Island Red chicken breed. The disease is characterized by progressive retinal degeneration resulting in blindness by the time the chick is 4 weeks of age. In the early 1980s, approximately 0.2% of chickens in several commercial flocks in the United Kingdom had RGE. Affected chickens exhibit a poor pupillary light response and development of cataracts.
Supportive care: Isolate the bird from the flock and place in a safe, comfortable, warm location (your own chicken "intensive care unit") with easy access to water and food. Limit stress. Call your veterinarian.:
Ritchey, E. R., et al. Form-deprivation and eye growth in the retinopathy, globe enlarged (RGE) chicken.. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 50.13 (2009)
Inglehearn, Chris F., et al. Genetic, ophthalmic, morphometric and histopathological analysis of the Retinopathy Globe Enlarged (rge) chicken. Mol Vis 9 (2003)
