28 CONTROL SERIES No. 63 



In Finland, Stenius (87) stated that ducklings are susceptible to the disease, 

 while geese are believed to be immune. Whether or not mature ducks could be 

 infected was not determined. Rabbits and guinea pigs could be easily infected 

 when inoculated. Beach (2) reports the isolation of S. pullorum from turkeys, 

 but considers the disease uncommon among this species. 



While it is recognized that pullorum disease does occvir among animals other 

 than chickens, some disagreement appears to exist among the observations 

 reported. Unfortunately, in a number of instances the information was too 

 incomplete to determine definitely the origin of the infection. It is hoped that 

 persons working with avian diseases will make every effort possible to determine 

 the origin, clinical features, pathological changes, and the identity of the cause 

 in cases that resemble pullorum disease in animals other than chickens. More 

 information on the disease concerning susceptible hosts would be of value in its 

 control and eradication because frequently species of fowl other than chickens 

 are found on the same premises with the chickens. Also there appears to be a 

 growing interest in pigeon, turkey, and game bird raising. Methods of manage- 

 ment employed in poultry husbandry are being adapted to turkey and game 

 bird raising. Therefore, if the pathogenicity of the organism is of some conse- 

 quence in turkeys and game birds, artificial incubation and brooding and breed- 

 ing on a large scale may be influencing factors in precipitating the disease which 

 may lead to great losses. 



In an effort to obtain additional information concerning birds other than 

 chickens, the investigations have been confined to adult stock almost entirely. 

 The birds employed were as follows: guinea fowl, pheasant, pigeon, and sparrow. 

 The results of the investigation for each group will be discussed in the order 

 listed. 



Guinea Fowl 



Twelve guinea fowl (Pearl variety) from one to two years of age were divided 

 into two groups. Group I consisted of 6 males and Group II, of 6 females. Each 

 bird was placed in a separate cage. AU birds were tested with the tube agglutina- 

 tion method and were found negative for puUorum disease. 



Group I was divided into four lots, the first three of which were exposed to 

 an infective agent which consisted of a saline suspension of S. pullorum prepared 

 from a 24-hour agar slant culture, with a turbidity equal to tube No. 1 of the 

 McFarland nephelometer scale. The fijst exposure was on February 19, and 

 each bird received 15 consecutive daily doses. Each bird in the different lots was 

 exposed as follows: Lot A (2 birds, Nos. 948 and 949) was exposed by instilling 

 2 drops (approximately 0.03 cc.) of a suspension into the eye; Lot B (2 birds, 

 Nos. 951 and 952) was inoculated intraperitoneally with 1 cc. of the suspension; 

 Lot C (1 bird, No. 9501 was fed 5 cc. of the suspension by introducing a pipette 

 well into the esophagus; and Lot D (1 bird. No. 953) was retained as a control. 



No external abnormal manifestations were observed during the period of the 

 exposure. All birds were tested in dilutions of 1:10 and higher by the tube 

 agglutination test at frequent intervals. The antigen employed for this and 

 succeeding experiments was identical with that used for Investigation No. 3. 

 Table 7 shows that no agglutinins were detected 4 days after the first exposure. 

 The next test was made 3 days later, and agglutination titers were observed in 

 sera from 2 birds inoculated intraperitoneally and from 1 infected through the 

 ocular route. Ten days after the first exposure, all birds revealed a titer. The 

 maximum titers were attained at approximately 3 weeks after the first exposure, 

 while from then on the titers gradually decreased. The bird which was exposed 

 to the organism by oral administration possessed the lowest titer. Considerable 

 diflBculty was encountered with sera becoming jeUied. Towards the latter part 



