In summation it may be stated that pullorum disease in turkeys is an in- 

 significant problem providing the stock (eggs and poults) is not exposed to 

 sources of infection. Eggs should not be incubated at custom hatcheries which 

 select eggs from stock (chickens or other fowl) that is not officially recognized 

 as being free from pullorum disease. In case valuable breeding lines are 

 infected with the disease the infection may be eliminated through intensive 

 testing of the young mature birds. A low diagnostic dilution appears most 

 effective in detecting the infected individuals. 



Comments and Suggestions 



During the past 17 years of pulLorum-disease testing, marked progress has 

 been made in the establishment and maintenance of pullorum-clean flocks. 

 However, if one considers that only about one-sixth of the Massachusetts 

 poultry population was tested during the 1936-37 season, it appears that 

 further progress can be made in establishing additional pullorum-clean flocks. 

 It seems appropriate to mention a few salient factors that may greatly expedite 

 the eradication program for Massachusetts. 



The practice of partial flock testing has been discussed elsewhere in this 

 bulletin. In official testing this practice does not receive recognition even in 

 flocks that have had a previous non-reacting test. Partial flock testing does 

 not determine the true status of the entire flock. V^ hile the tested portion of 

 the flock may not reveal reactors, one is unable to state that no infection exists 

 in the untested portion. With part of the flock to be regarded as an unknown 

 quantity as far as pullorum infection is concerned, such a flock should be 

 considered unsafe for breeding since it may contain infection and lead to 

 serious trouble. This fact has been experienced in routine testing. 



Since a number of poultrymen enter birds in contests and shows, it seems 

 important to mention the dangers associated with returning such birds to the 

 premises. On several occasions pullorum-disease "breaks" in pullorum-free 

 flocks have been due to infected birds being returned from contests. The 

 introduction of infection through this channel may be readily prevented by 

 one of two plans: either not returning the birds to the flock, which is also 

 preferable from the standpoint of other diseases; or holding the birds in rigid 

 quarantine and subjecting them to the agglutination test immediately upon 

 their return, and again within 30 days after the first test. The contest birds 

 are usually returned in early fall, and since testing facilities are available at 

 that time, this does not excuse one from not applying the test. The flock 

 owner should look upon these measures as a safeguard to his flock. 



In view of the fact that the testing work has increased considerably during 

 the 1936-37 season, and the outlook may indicate possible further increases, 

 the poultrymen are asked to cooperate with the laboratory in every way 

 possible so that the policy of rendering high-quality service may be carried 

 out. During the past two years the bulk of the testing work has been con- 

 ducted during November and December. If flock owners are in a position to 

 have their flocks tested during October or earlier, this will greatly relieve the 

 congestion during November and December. Furthermore, weather condi- 

 tions are more favorable for the collection of samples during the early fall 

 months, which makes possible a more satisfactory and economical service. 



Flock owners who know definitely that pullorum infection exists in their 

 flocks should consider carefully the possible advantage of having their flocks 

 tested. If such an owner is not in a position to eliminate the infection through 



(10) 



