ERADICATION OF PULT.ORUM DISEASE 1930-31 



3 



absorbed yolk are characteristic of the disease. Both conditions, however, 

 may be found in young chicks that die during this early period of life from 

 causes other than pullorum disease. Lung and heart lesions, often encountered 

 in pullorum diseased chicks, may also be found in chicks affected with other 

 diseases. Mortality among chicks during their first two or three weeks of 

 chicklihood may lead the poultrymen to suspect pullorum disease, but it 

 must be remembered that other chick ailments may be responsible for similar 

 mortalities during this early period of life. Laboratoiy examination is the 

 most accurate, expedient, and economical means of diagnosing pullorum dis- 

 ease, as well as other diseases of chicks. 



J Mmc/r MAY 

 SPfiEAD inrecTioN 



//V /A/CUBATOf^ 



Cycle: or Infection 



CHICKS W B/fOOOC/f HOUSE. 



Figure 1. Infection in a Flock May Follow This Cycle. 

 The cycle of infection can best be broken by eliminating the infected birds from 

 the young and adult stock by means of the agglutination test. 



In iuunature and adult birds, tlie disease may occasionally manifest itself 

 in an acute form causing slight to heavy losses. Usually in diseased adults, 

 the infection is localized in one or more organs such as the ovary, heart sac 

 and heart wall, oviduct, and cysts, attached or free in the body cavity. The 

 most common seat of infection is the ovary, where diseased ova appear dis- 

 colored, cystic, odd-shaped and pedunculated. The organism is generally 

 found in the diseased ova. These ova may be found free in tiie body cavity 

 and also in the lumen of the oviduct. One may assume tiiat such ova may be 

 eliminated tlirough the oviduct and thereby become a means of spreading the 

 disease if eaten by other birds. Normal appearing ova may also be infected, 

 and in this manner the organism may become part of the egg. When infective 



