FIFTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT ON PULLORUM 

 DISEASE ERADICATION IN MASSACHUSETTS 



1934-1935 



By the Poultry Disease Control Laboratory^ 



INTRODUCTION 



Pullorum-disease testing has been carried on for Massachusetts poultrymen 

 for the past fifteen years. During this period marked progress has been made 

 in eradicating the disease from flocks. This outstanding accomplishment has 

 greatly benefited the poultry industry, and it is the result of employing a reliable 

 and efficient testing method together with sound and effective eradication and 

 preventive measures, through the splendid cooperation of flock owners. As the 

 pullorum-disease testing is continued, the benefit to the Massachusetts poultry 

 industry will become progressively greater. It is seemingly evident that with an 

 expansion in testing and an increase in the number of pullorum-disease-free 

 breeding flocks, the losses from pullorum disease will be reduced to a minimum. 



Summary of Service Rendered 



Applications received 252 



Applications cancelled 5 



Flocks tested 247* 



Number of tests 302,237 



Chickens: 



Routine 289,464 



Experimental 1 2,423 



Fowl other than chickens: 



Routine 137 



Experimental 213 



Owners receiving necropsy service 29 



Necropsies of reacting birds 74 



♦Includes three flocks of poultry- othei than chickens. 



Distribution of Tests and Reactors 



. Table 1 shows the distribution of tests and reactors by counties and breeds. 

 A total of 301,887 samples received from 12 counties was tested. The percentage 

 of positive samples was 0.39, the lowest ever attained during the 15-year testing 

 period. No reactors were detected among birds tested in Barnstable, Plymouth 

 and Suffolk Counties. Only three reactors were detected among 57,622 samples 

 tested for Norfolk County, revealing a percentage of positive tests of 0.005. 

 In every county the percentage of positive tests was less than one. Norfolk, 

 Middlesex and Bristol lead in the number of tested samples. No reactors were 

 detected among the 10,610 samples collected from White Plymouth Rocks and 

 the 2,042 samples collected from White Wyandottes. 



^Poultry Disease Control Laboratory Staff:— H. Van Roekel, Chief of Laboratory; K. L. Bullis. 

 Assistant Veterinary Pathologist; O. S. Flint, Assistant Research Professor; Miriam K. Clarke 

 and Felicia Zimnoski, Laboratory Assistants. Appreciation is extended to Dr. J. B. Lent/, for 

 assistance given to the testing work. 



