72 CONTROL SERIES No. 63 



Distribution of Tests and Reactors 



In Table 27 is given the distribution of tests and positive tests by breeds in 

 each county. Birds were tested in 12 counties. Plymouth, Middlesex, and Nor- 

 folk Counties had the largest number of tests. Barnstable and Suffolk Counties 

 had no positive tests, while 6 additional counties had less than 1 per cent posi- 

 tive tests. 



Six breeds and others grouped as miscellaneous were tested. The Rhode 

 Island Red is the predominating breed among those tested. Less than 1 per 

 cent positive tests were found among the Rhode Island Red, White Leghorn, 

 and White Wyandotte breeds. 



The total number of tests among chickens was 420,861, of which 0.90 per 

 cent were positive. The percentage of positive tests is the lowest attained in the 

 testing history of this State. 



Tested Aves Other Than Chickens 



During the past year, as shown in Table 28, 1,034 birds other than chickens 

 were tested for 25 flock owners, 19 of whom also tested their chickens. In 5 of 

 the chicken flocks, infection was detected. No reactors were found among the 

 txirkeys, pheasants, ducks, geese, guinea fowl, pigeons, and jungle fowl. Persons 

 engaged in raising aves other than chickens are encouraged to have such birds 

 tested in order to determine their importance in an eradication program. 



Table 28 — Tested Aves Other Than Chickens 



Number of Non-Reacting Flocks Increasing 



Table 29 shows that the number of non-reacting flocks was 355 during the 

 past season. Of this number, 180 were 100 per cent tested, representing 157,516 

 birds, and 175 were partially tested, representing 141,018 birds. In comparison 

 with the previous season, the number of 100 per cent tested flocks has decreased 

 and the number of partially tested flocks has increased in the non-reacting group. 

 Every effort should be made to change this trend because the true disease status 

 of a flock cannot be determined by testing only part of the flock. In order to 

 determine that the flock is free from pullorum disease, it is necessary to test 

 every bird on the premises annually. In the routine testing of flocks, infection 

 is occasionally detected in flocks which were non-reacting previously. This 

 may be expected to occur from time to time as long as the present conditions in 

 poultry traffic and in the eradication of the disease are tolerated. 



Plymouth and Middlesex Counties had the largest number of non-reacting 

 flocks. All the flocks tested in Barnstable and Suffolk Counties were non-reacting. 

 A total of 100 positive flocks was tested, of which 42 were 100 per cent tested and 

 58 were partially tested. 



