THE STATE COLLEGE OF WASHINGTON INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES ~ ot')~ ~ • Ot-JL~J- p No. 27 (R evi<;ed) ,,.~ --~ AGRICULTURAL EXTENSIONSERVICE E xtension Bulletin Num ber 351 June 1952 PULLORUM DISEASE, FOWL TYPHOID, PARA­ TYPHOID, AND FOWL CHOLERA IN CHICKENS AND TURKEYS The Poultry CounciP of The State College of Washington Fig. 1. Chicks affected with pullorum disease. Salmonella diseases of domestic fowl include pullorum disease, fowl typhoid, and paratyphoid. Each one of these results from infection by certain germs. Pullorum is caused· by the organism, Salmonella pullorum, fowl typhoid by Salmonella gallinarum, while paratyphoid may be due to one of 50 or more closely related organisms of the salmonella group. Pullorum and paratyphoid cause losses in young birds under 4 weeks of age. While older birds may get either of these diseases, 1 THE POULTRY COUNCIL of The tate College of Washington is composed of staff members of The State College of Washington at Pullman and Puyallup who a re engaged in teaching, research, and extension work in po ultry science and pathology. death losses are few and the birds usually do not seem to be sick. However, losses in partly-grown turkeys are reported once in a while. Pullorum disease may lower egg production in some hens and may be the cause for lowered fertility and hatchability. Fowl typhoid is more often the reason for losses in partly-grown and adult birds. Pullorum is found in both chickens and turkeys. Fowl typhoid is mainly a disease of chickens although it may be found in turkeys. Paratyphoid is most often found in turkeys although sometimes ap­ pearing in chickens. Fowl cholera is a disease of chickens and turkeys. It is not in the same group as the above diseases, but is discussed here for conveni­ ence sake. Transmission With one difference to be noted, (see 6 below), the means of transmission or carrying of the 3 salmonella diseases of birds are the same and include : 1. Egg. A ll three of the salmonella diseases of birds may be egg carried. Egg transmission probably is most important in pullorum. 2. Incubator. Infected eggs which hatch may infect healthy birds at hatching time. 3. Direct contact. The organisms of all 3 of the salmonella dis­ eases may be in the droppings of infected birds both young and old. Organisms passing from the infected dropping to the litter, feed, and water containers is one of the main ways of transmitting these diseases. 4. Indirect contact. Shipping boxes and other equipment, in­ cluding feed bags, used with or without infected birds may carry disease to healthy stock. The disease can also be carried on the feet of workers. 5. Egg and offal eating. The vice of egg-eating by adult bi.rds or the practice of feeding raw eggs or uncooked offal from slaughtered birds is a common means of transmitting these diseases. 6. Contact with other types of livestock. Paratyphoid may be carried to birds through contact, direct or indirect, with other types of livestock as well as wild life. Some possibilities are pigs, cattle, sheep, horses, dogs, rats, and snakes. Poults, for instance, have been known to get paratyphoid after drinking irrigation ditch water. Birds are usually infected. with pul­ lorum through contact, direct or indirect, with other infected birds. 2 Diagnosis of Salmonella Diseases in Young Birds Look for pullorum or paratyphoid in unusual losses of chicks or poults under four weeks of age when the loss is not caused by faulty feeding or management. For accurate diagnosis, however, take typically-affected live birds to a diagnostic laboratory for bac­ teriological examination. It is not possible to tell the difference be­ tween pullorum and paratyphoid in birds under 4 weeks without laboratory examination. It is important to know which disease is causing the loss because good ways of control vary. PULLORUM Diagnosis of Pullorum in Adult Birds The 3 methods of testing chickens and turkey breeders for pul­ lorum infection (and typhoid) are rapid whole blood test used in the field; and the tube and the rapid serum plate tests used in the laboratory. In this state, the laboratory tests are used for. turkeys. For information about pullorum testing of turkeys, write the Veterinary Division, Western Washington Experiment Station, Puyal­ lup. Persons wishing to act as pullorum testers for chickens should Fig. 2. O vary on left shows numerous diseased ovules (Yolks). O vary on right shows 2 d iseased ovules, the 2 small misshapen ones at u pper left of cluster. Other ovules in right ovary a re normal. 3 • attend a state pullorum tester school. For information, write Exten­ sion Poultryman, The State College of Washington, Pullman, Wash­ ington. Birds showing a reaction to the pullorum test must be taken out promptly and marketed. Clean and disinfect the premises, including all buildings and grounds. For detailed information about cleaning and disinfection, see your county extension agent or secure Wash­ ington State College Extension Bulletin No. 245. J t is important to remember that it is rarely possible to wipe pul­ lorum out of a breeder flock by taking out reacters after a single blood test. R epeated tests every 3 to 6 weeks are necessary. Flock Classification with Respect to Pullorum Control F ollowing pullo,rum testing, flocks taking part in the National Poultry Improvement Plan in this state are placed in the " pullorum passed" or "pullorum clean" classes. For turkeys in this plan, only the "pullorum clean" class is allowed. If no infected birds are found on the first test, the flock -is classified as "pullorum clean." "Pullorum passed" mean5 infected birds were found on the first test, but the flock was retested until no infected birds were found on the last test. A "pullorum passed" flock may qualify for "pullorum clean" class provided it has one additional negative test. Prevention of Pullorum The best thing to prevent · and control pullorum m both chickens and turkeys is to build fl ocks from a source known to be "pullorum clean." This is very practical in Washington. There are many "pul­ lorum clean" flocks, both chickens and turkeys, to serve as founda­ tion stock. To keep " pullorum clean" flocks, the following recom­ mendations are made : 1. Blood test the breeder flock every year before the egg-laying season. Every type of bird on the farm, such as ducks, geese, and guineas, should be tested since they might be carriers. Remove all reactors promptly; clean and disinfect premises. If reactors are found, retest every 21 days until there are no reactors on the last test. 2. Only hatch eggs from "pullorum clean" flocks in incubators containing eggs from other "pullorum-clean" flocks. Because pullorum is generally found more often in chickens than in 4 • turkeys, it is recommended not to hatch turkey eggs m incu­ bators handling chicken eggs. If both chicken and turkey eggs come from "pullorum clean" flocks, they can be hatched to­ gether. It is recommended, however, that they be hatched in separate rooms and machines. 3. Raise the birds upon clean premises and away from all adult birds. 4. Provide against pullorum by not adding infected breeders or other birds to the flock. Infected male birds can carry pullorum. 5. Guard against the introduction of the disease through birds shown at fairs, shows, and egg-laying contests. 6. Do not feed uncooked eggs or offal from slaughtered birds to poultry. 7. Any material or equipment, such as shipping boxes, feed bags, and shoes of workers, which has been used around an infected flock, may cause pullorum. 8. Dispose of dead birds by burning or means that will not allow future contact with carriers or birds. Order Regarding Sale of Pullorum-Infected Birds in Washington Washington and the Pacific Coast are high among states for the amount of pullorum control which has been carried out in chicken and turkey fl ocks. In order to keep this up and hold. the marketing advantages gained, the State Department of Agriculture has made the following ruling. ' Regulation I. It shall be unlaw ful for any person, firm or cor­ poration to sell, offer for sale, or otherwise di s- , tribute baby chicks and/ or poults in the state of Washington that are affected with pullorum dis­ ease Penalty : Any person, firm or corporation violating this regulation shall be deemed guilty of a misde- mean or. The State Department of Agriculture accepts a positive diagnosis of pullorum only after a bacteriological or laboratory examination. It is important to remember also that the State Department investi­ gates pullorum outbreaks mainly to help find and stop its source or sources. The penalty is used only when a person does not work with officials in stamping out the disease. 5 PARATYPHOID Paratyphoid is much like pullorum, being a disease that causes heavy losses in poults and chicks under 4 weeks of age. Older birds might become infected, but do not often show signs of illness. Para­ typhoid, like pullorum, may be egg carried. Because of the similarity to pullorum, causes of paratyphoid, birds affected, transmission, and diagnosis in young birds have been discussed in the first part. The diagnosis of paratyphoid in adult birds differs, however, from that of pullorum. There is not and probably never will be a practical blood test for finding paratyphoid in adult birds. Since the disease is egg transmitted, and since no practical way is known for detecting infected grown birds, it is recommended that entire flocks in which paratyphoid has appeared should be marketed. No breeder birds must be retained. Replace the flock from a source known to be free from paratyphoid and pullorum.