How can I prevent Pullorum-Typhoid Disease? — AQAI

Pullorum-typhoid disease, is a septicemic disease spread through Salmonella Pullorum bacteria. It is usually symptomatic only in young birds, while typhoid variant also affects growing and adult poultry. The severity of these diseases can vary, depending on several factors including the bird’s breed, but mortality rates can approach 100% in highly susceptible birds. Fowl typhoid and pullorum disease are common in some countries but in India, where commercial poultry demand and production is high, this disease has been eradicated from commercial poultry through robust vaccination drives. However, Salmonella Pullorum may persist in backyard flocks, game birds and wild birds.

How does this disease spread?

Fowl typhoid and pullorum disease can be transmitted orally (e.g., in food and water or by cannibalism) and via the respiratory tract. The bacteria may also enter a chick’s body through wounds. With an incubation period of 4 to 6 days, Pullorum-typhoid is also known to spread through the egg route from mature hens to young ones and is usually found in reproductive organs of infected hens. The bacteria can exist at normal temperatures for a week in birds and eggs but is ineffective in severe sub — zero temperatures and is known to die in severe hot conditions.

How do I know if my flock has Pullorum-typhoid disease?

The typical symptoms to look out for in birds include decrease in egg production, fertility, joint swelling in mature birds, serious internal wounds, pasty white excreta, listlessness, drooping wings, loss of appetite, heavy breathing and deformed, undersized body. High fatalities are also observed in the initial three weeks after hatching and it can kill all the birds in the flock sometimes.

What should I do if my flock is diagnosed with the disease?

Once disease is suspected, the following precautions are done to stop its movement to other birds in the batch and to other batches in the hatcheries. The infected birds are to be isolated and till a veterinarian is contacted, no humans or machinery should be allowed near the birds. The flock of birds may also be safeguarded through a detailed bio-security plan.

How can I prevent this disease?

Research on finding ways to prevent and control flock infection, and hence, vertical and horizontal transmission of Pullorum-typhoid disease has been going on for years. Vaccination has been the most practical and effective strategy for controlling this infection. Salmonella vaccination can be used as part of a comprehensive control and prevention program because a complete immune response is usually observed. Live Salmonella vaccines induce better protection than killed vaccines, and oral vaccines lead to the induction of a strong cellular immune response and mucosal immunity in vaccinated birds.

Originally published at https://www.aqai.in.