7. Purchase of stock in the form of adults, chicks, and eggs should be from 

 known puUorum-disease-free flocks. Consult your county agent regarding addi- 

 tions or replacements in your flock. 



8. Eggs should not be saved for hatching until after a flock has. been tested 

 and all the infected birds removed. Early pullet testing will permit early hatch- 

 ing. 



9. Fresh and infertile eggs from unknown or infected sources should not be 

 fed to chickens or exposed to animals such as crows, sparrows, and skunks that 

 may carry or spread the infection. 



10. Poultrymen should not custom hatch for untested or infected flocks (in- 

 cluding fowl other than chickens). 



11. Owners of pullorum-disease-free flocks should not have hatching done 

 where infected eggs or stock may be found. 



12. Poultrymen should not buy feed in bags that have been used or exposed 

 to infection. (Such bags if properly disinfected w-ll be safe for further use.) 



13. Poultrymen should regard fowl other than chickens as a possible source 

 of pullorum infection unless tested and found free from pullorum disease. 



14. Poultrymen should not use equipment that has been exposed to or con- 

 taminated with infective material unless it is properly cleaned and sterilized or 

 disinfected. 



Testing of Fowl Other Than Chickens 



During the past season 8,522 turkeys, 6 pheasants, and 2 guinea fowl were 

 tested for pullorum disease. No reactors were detected among the pheasants 

 and guinea fowl. Eighty-four turkey reactors were detected, all of which were 

 in one flock. The reactions observed were not very definite and conclusive but 

 upon necropsy of a few of the reacting birds, the causative organism of pullorum 

 disease was isolated. The flock history also revealed that pullorum infection 

 had been found in the poults raised from the infected breeding flock. Aside from 

 this one flock, pullorum disease appears to be of little or no significance in Massa- 

 chusetts turkey flocks. Owners of turkey breeding flocks are cautioned about 

 introducing new stock because pullorum disease can readily be introduced through 

 such a practice. Also, avenues of infection must be considered such as raising 

 chickens on the same premises and disregarding the pullorum status of the chick- 

 ens. Custom hatching for infected or untested chicken and turkey flocks or 

 having eggs hatched where infection may be present are in some instances re- 

 sponsible for introducing infection into turkey breeding flocks. Massachusetts 

 turkey breeders should exercise every precaution in protecting and safeguarding 

 their flocks against pullorum infection. 



Only a small number of turkeys were tested for paratyphoid infection. A test 

 fluid containing 5. typhi-nmrium was used. No paratyphoid reactors were de- 

 tected. While in some instances the test may aid in partial control of the Infec- 

 tion, for the most part the agglutination test cannot be relied upon to eliminate 

 the infection from the flock. Turkey flock owners must recognize this fact and 

 not be led astray by sales or advertising talk that stock tested for paratyphftid 

 infection is free of such infection when no reactors have been found. There are 

 many different types of organisms in the paratyphoid group and a test fluid 

 prepared with one type might not be effective in detecting carriers of other types. 

 If turke>' buyers wish to make an effort to avoid paratyphoid infection, the flock 

 histor}- should serve as the niost reliable guide. The state diagnostic laboratories 

 can usually give one the desired information that may be available. 



