Table 6. Comparison of 1936-37 and 1937-38 Testing 



County 



Barnstable 



Berkshire 



Bristol 



Dukes 



Essex 



Franklin 



Hampden 



Hampshire 



Middlesex 



Norfolk 



Plymouth 



Worcester 



Totals 307 448,519 



1937-1938 Season 



Barnstable 4 3,685 



Berkshire 11 12,019 



Bristol 33 54,358 



Essex 30 31,244 



Franklin 28 38,514 



Hampden 20 16,077 



Hampshire 21 20,347 



Middlesex 53 71,895 



Norfolk 31 119,440 



Plymouth 29 41,982 



Worcester 48 70,666 



Totals 308 480,227 



461,762 



0.37 



497,769 



0.17 



Testing of Fowl Other Than Chickens 



It is recognized that the domestic chicken is not the only host of pullorum 

 disease. Several species of fowl other than the chicken have been observed 

 to contract pullorum disease. Natural outbreaks of pullorum disease have been 

 reported more frequently among turkeys than among any other species of fowl 

 except chickens. Field investigations have revealed that in most cases the in- 

 fection was directly or indirectly traceable to infected chicken flocks by way of 

 the incubator or brooder house. 



In Massachusetts no definite pullorum infection has been encountered in the 

 testing service in birds other than the chicken and the turkey. However, in 

 order to lessen the risk of introducing pullorum infection into a flock it would 

 seem expedient to test all fowl on the premises. Owners of "pullorum passed" 

 and "pullorum clean" flocks should by all means avoid the practice of hatching 

 eggs from birds whose pullorum disease status is not known. This precaution 

 also applies to other diseases such as fowl typhoid and paratyphoid infections, 

 which may be transmitted through the egg. 



Table 7 gives the testing results of fowl other than chickens. Pullorum disease 

 reacting birds were detected in two turkey flocks. Reacting adult turkeys were 

 subjected to necropsy and 5. pullorum was isolated. Investigations are being 

 continued in the two turkey flocks and the results will be published at a later date. 



(9) 



