ANNUAL TESTING EFFECTIVE IN ERADICATION 



Table 2 shows that 244 flocks were tested, representing 281,124 tested birds. 

 Of this total, 37 flocks were tested for the first time, representing 19,474 birds 

 and 22,790 tests, of which 2.17 percent were positive. The percentage of positive 

 tests in this group was the highest among the four groups of tested flocks. How- 

 ever, it is encouraging that 27 of the flocks were non-reacting, which shows that 

 among flocks tested for the first time, the incidence of pullorum disease is becoming 

 less as the result of dissemination of pullorum-disease-clean stock. 



In the intermittent-testing group, 18 flocks were tested, representing 11,315 

 birds, which revealed 0.41 percent reactors. In this group 14 non-reacting flocks 

 were detected. Some of these flocks were established through the purchase of 

 stock from pullorum-disease-clean sources, while in others their owners were 

 successful in preventing the introduction of infection. The infection in the four 

 positive flocks is attributed to faulty practices in disease eradication and pre- 

 vention. 



In the group tested for three or more consecutive years, 247,087 samples were 

 tested, representing 161 flocks of which 149 were non-reacting and 12 were in- 

 fected. The percentage of positive tests was 0.18, the lowest ever attained for this 

 group during the testing history. It is clearly evident that continuous testing is 

 successful in establishing and maintaining flocks free from the disease. It is 

 reasonable to assume that all flocks which have been tested for three or more 

 consecutive years will in the near future qualify for the negative group at the end 

 of each testing season. 



The average percentage of infection among the 244 tested flocks was 0.39. 

 The total number of positive tests was 1,182, as compared with 1,512 in the 

 1933-34 season. This is a substantial decrease in the number of positive tests 

 which is further evidence that progress is being made on eradication. The total 

 number of non-reacting flocks was 213, of which 163 were 100 percent tested. 



The percentage of flock owners v/ho tested all the birds on the premises has 

 increased from 66.8 in 1933-34 to 74.5 in 1934-35. The soundness of testing all 

 birds on the premises cannot be ignored because the exact status of a flock cannot 

 be determined with any degree of certainty by testing only part of the birds. 



Table 2. -Annual Testing Versus Single and Intermittent Testing 



