ERADICATION OF PULLORUM DISEASE 1931-32 59 



pullorum antigen in a lesser degree were called doubtful, and no agglutination 

 was regarded as negative. 



The results of the tests for both methods for Group I are given in Table 23. 

 As is shown in the table, all the birds with a few exceptions were tested 12 times 

 with both methods over a period of approximately 23^ months. In five instances 

 no tests were recorded for the whole blood test and in one instance, one serum 

 was unsatisfactory for the tube test. Both methods showed complete agreement 

 in all tests for 12 birds. Reactions such as either slightly suspicious or negative 

 for the whole blood test and either doubtful or positive for the tube test or 

 conversely so, were considered disagreements. The total number of tests made 

 with both methods was 260, and 17.31 per cent did not agree. A total of 45 

 disagreements was recorded among the tests of 13 birds. Five birds were ne- 

 cropsied during the period the birds were tested. Culture material, in the major- 

 ity of cases, was selected from pericardial fluid, fiver, bile, spleen, peritoneum, 

 ovary, oviduct, testicle, and suspicious lesions in birds necropsied throughout 

 this investigation. The necropsy results for the 5 birds are presented in the 

 foUowing table : 



The results of both tests for Group II are given in Table 24. AU but 3 birds 

 were tested 8 times. Both methods showed complete agreement in all tests for 

 24 birds. Among a total of 209 tests with both methods, there were 5 disagree- 

 ments (2.39 per cent). Two birds were necropsied during this period of testing. 

 The results of the necropsies are presented in the following table: 



Three commercial flocks which were diagnosed as infected in the routine 

 testing for pullorum disease were selected for this investigation. Flock I revealed 

 11.89 per cent reactors, according to the tube agglutination test. The reactors 

 were distributed throughout the entire flock. This flock had passed a negative 

 test the previous season but through mismanagement, infection was introduced. 



This flock, including aU birds on the premises, was tested 3 times at approxi- 

 mately 4-week intervals with the whole blood and the tube tests. The whole blood 

 test was conducted in the following manner: The equipment consisted of stained, 

 preserved antigen, received from the ^ame source as that used in the first part 

 of this investigation; glass plate (15 x 11 inches") ; microscopic shdes; dish for used 

 slides; bleeding knife; tumbler containing cotton and 5 per cent phenol for bleed- 

 ing knife; leg bands; leg band pliers; records; and improvised crates for holding 

 tested birds. The personnel consisted of the tester and two assistants. The 

 duties of each were as follows: One assistant caught the birds which were con- 

 fined in one corner of the pen with wire netting; the other assistant reported 

 the leg band number, held the bird for the tester, and placed it in a retaining 

 crate. The tested birds were removed from the retaining crate by personnel 



