10 



Table 6. Twenty-Year Pullorum Disease Testing Summary 



'Based on total birds tested: 1927-28, 190,658 birds; 192S-29, 254,512 birds. 



Pullorum Disease in Turkeys 



During the past year 26 turkey flocks representing 7,079 samples were 

 tested. Reactors were detected in three flocks. Ten reactors were 

 necropsied from these three flocks and the causative organism was isolated 

 from all three. In two flocks pullorum disease had been diagnosed in 

 young poults earlier in the season. The testing of turkey flocks with the 

 tube test revealed that, in cases where the infection may be present, 

 reactions in varying degrees are likely to be observed; whereas in flocks 

 which have not been infected, few or no reactions are encountered. In 

 general it appears that infected turkeys do not react as strongly as do 

 infected chickens. A diagnostic dilution not higher than 1:25 should be 

 employed to detect turkey "carriers" of pullorum infection. Infected 

 turkey flocks can be retested at short intervals until reactors are no longer 

 detected. Whether a flock in such a status is free <>f the infection requires 

 further observation. 



Turkey raisers should exercise every precaution in selecting pullorum- 

 free stock. Owners of turkey breeding flocks should determine the 

 pullorum status of their flocks by testing. The tube agglutination method 

 is the most reliable means of determining the presence or absence of 

 infection. 



