PULLORUM DISEASE 3 



6. Are male birds affected? Yes. Males may contract the disease. The 

 percentage of reactors among tested males is usually less than among tested 

 females. In occasional flocks the percentage of reactors is greater among males 

 than among females. It is probable that the sex difference is not the only factor 

 responsible for the difference in the percentages of reactors. 



7. Do males play a role in dissemination? Field observations suggest very 

 strongly that the disease is transmitted by the male; although there is no con- 

 clusive evidence that males spread pullorum infection. Focal infections have 

 been observed in the testicles. Also, one might assume that the infected male 

 could eliminate the organism in the droppings, as occurs in diseased females. 

 Furthermore, males might act as mechanical carriers in transmitting the organism 

 from the cloaca of an infected female to the cloaca of a noninfected female. 



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Cycle or Infection 



CHICKS //Y B/fOOOEf? /iOUOE 



Figure 1. Pullorum Disease Infection in a Floclt May Follow This Cycle. 

 The disease can be eradicated either by breaking the cycle of infection through the elimination 

 of the infected birds by means of the macroscopic agglutination test, or by disposing of the entire 

 infected flock and replacing it with pullorum disease-free stock. 



8. What is a pullorum disease "carrier"? A "carrier" is an infected bird 

 that did not succumb to the disease during chickhood or became infected before 

 or during maturity. 



9. How is the organism eliminated by adult birds? The organism 

 eliminated in the droppings (secretions and excretions from the digestive, 

 and reproductive tracts), in eggs, through abrasions in the skin, and 

 from the mouth, nostrils, and eyes. The organism has been isolated 

 abscess in the foot, which at one time appeared to have communicated 

 exterior. The organism has also been found in the respiratory system, 

 ently the organism is eliminated most frequently in eggs and droppings. 



may be 

 urinary, 

 possibly 

 from an 

 with the 



Appar- 



