TWENTIETH ANNUAL REPORT OF PULLORUM DISEASE 



ERADICATION IN MASSACHUSETTS 



1939—1940 



By the Poultry Disease Control Laboratory! 



Introduction 



Twenty years ago, pullorum disease was a serious menace to the poul- 

 try industry in Massachusetts. Since that time effective testing has 

 eliminated the infection from the majority of breeding flocks. This dis- 

 ease control and eradication service has greatly aided the Massachusetts 

 poultry industry to become established on a profitable and growing basis. 



Summary of Service Rendered 



Applications received 384 



Applications cancelled 18 



Flocks tested 355 



Chicken flocks 340 



Chicken and turkey flocks 6 



Turkey flocks 20 



Number of tests 689 377 



Chickens: 



Routine 649,717 



Experimental 26,894* 



Fowl other than chickens: 



Routine 7,07'' 



Experimental 5,687** 



Owners receiving necropsy service 40 



Necropsies of reacting birds 76 



*Includes 3,312 fowl typhoid tests and 7 7 paratyphoid tests. 

 **Includes .">.402 paratyphoid tests. 



Distribution of Tests and Reactors 



Table 1 gives the number of tests and reactors for each breed and each 

 county. A total of 673,222 samples was tested in 12 counties. Norfolk, 

 Middlesex, and Worcester counties led in the number of tests. The 

 average percentage of positive tests was 0.51. In six counties no reactors 

 were found among the tested birds. Only one county (Norfolk) had . 

 more than 1 percent infection. All reactors were confined to five breeds. 

 Among 26,355 White Plymouth Rock tests, only 4 reactors were detected. 

 Among the New Hampshires and White Leghorns, the reactors were 

 confined to one and two counties, respectively. 



The following breeds and varieties were tested: Bantam, Barnevelder, 

 Barred Plymouth Rock, Back Australorp, Brahmas, Columbian Plymouth 

 Rock, Cornish Game, Guinea fowl, Jersey Black Giant, Jersey White 



tPoultry Disease Control Laboratory Staff: II. Van Roekel, Chief of Laboratory; K. L. 

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

 K. Clarke, Research Assistant; Felicia Jewett, Laboratory" Assistant. Appreciation is 

 extended to Dr. J. 1$. Lentz, Head of the Department of Veterinary Science, for the admin- 

 istrative assistance given to the testing' work. 



