ANNUAL REPORT, 1945-46 65 



The testing results for turkeys are not so encouraging. A total of 21,473 birds, 

 representing 103 flocks, was tested. Approximately 25 percent of the tested 

 birds are in infected flocks. This situation may be improved through more per- 

 sistent education regarding pullorum disease eradication and prevention. 



During the past year natural pullorum infection was identified in pheasants 

 for the first time in Massachusetts. The history of the flock showed that the 

 rifected birds were part of a group of pheasants imported from a Midwestern 

 State by a Massachusetts State Game Farm. This observation suggests that 

 pheasants may be a potential hazard to pullorum-free flocks. 



2. Diagnostic Service. During the calendar year of 1945, 4224 specimens 

 were received in 939 consignments, of which 509 were delivered in person. This 

 is the largest number of consignments and specimens ever examined in a single 

 year. The specimens were classified as follows: 3340 chickens; 715 turkeys; 75 

 ducks; 24 rabbits; 11 bovine semen; 9 each of canine feces, pheasants, and pigeons; 

 5 fish; 4 guinea pigs; 3 each of canaries, swabs from horses, and swine; 2 each of 

 swine organs and bovine organs; and 1 each of bovine fetus, canine, deer, fox, 

 goat feces, junco, rat, robin, and sheep. 



Coccidiosis, tumors, pullorum disease, infectious bronchitis, and fowl paralysis 

 were the conditions encountered most frequently. On the basis of gross examina- 

 tion, the tumors were classified as follows: 



Lymphocytoma 31 Carcinoma 4 Fibroma „ 1 



Myelocytoma 14 Embryonal nephroma 4 Hematoma 1 



Leukosis 8 Leiomyoma.^ 2 Melanoma 1 



Hemangioma 6 Myxoma 2 Neurogenic sarcoma.... 1 



Unidentified 2 



Avian tuberculosis was idemified in three flocks. Fowl typhoid reappeared 

 in serious proportions and 14 cases were called to the attention of the laboratory, 

 12 of which represented new known foci of infection and were located principally 

 in two new areas. Fowl cholera was identified in 25 instances including 12 new 

 premises. Fowl cholera was found also in turkeys, ducks, and a robin. The 

 infection in the robin was believed to have originated from a flock of chickens on 

 range where an acute outbreak of the disease was in progress. Newcastle disease 

 was found in chickens in November, and 10 cases were identified before the end 

 of the year. The recognition of this disease calls into question the diagnoses of 

 infectious bronchitis made earlier in the year without the benefit of embryo 

 inoculations. 



An unusually large number of cases of poisoning in chickens was noted and 

 confirmed by the Feed Control Service Laboratory when necessary. These 

 included 1 arsenic; 9 coal tar, creosote oil, and derivatives; 4 salt; 1 cocoa bean; 

 1 kerosene; 1 naphthalene; and 2 phosphorus. Attempts to confirm the diag- 

 nosis of cocoa bean posioning by feeding a small quantity of beans and shells to 

 three birds were unsuccessful, but other observations indicated that the beans 

 were the source of injury. 



The 715 turkeys were received in 154 consignments and represent nearly twice 

 the number of the previous year and ten times that of ten years ago. Pullorum 

 disease, enterohepatitis, rickets, and paratyphoid were the diseases encountered 

 most frequently. Coccidiosis, ulcerative enteritis, and perosis were each recog- 

 nized in eight instances. Fowl typhoid was found in six poults and in one bird 

 five months of age. 



