Status of Salmonella gallinarum-pullorum Infections in Poultry in Zambia

Abstract

Ten outbreaks of Salmonella gallinarum-pullorum infections on poultry farms in Zambia were investigated. Three cases were seen in day-old broiler chickens and were diagnosed by culture as S. gallinarum-pullorum and characterized as pullorum disease because the mortality was only in the first few weeks. Another case was diagnosed by culture from broiler parent stock. Day-old chicks from two of the three cases were supplied by a hatchery. Five cases in 5-to-18-month-old layer chickens were diagnosed by culture as S. gallinarum-pullorum and characterized as fowl typhoid because of the clinical disease appearing after 5 months of age and the typical lesions of fowl typhoid. The last case was in 5-month-old village-bred fowls and was diagnosed by culture and clinical manifestation as fowl typhoid. Outbreaks of S. gallinarum-pullorum are still manifest in Zambia. Clinically, both pullorum disease and fowl typhoid were observed, and it was indicated that hatchery infection plays an important role in the transmission of S. gallinarum-pullorum.

Experimental infection of laying hens with Salmonella enterica serovar Gallinarum

“…In addition, the data from this work strongly suggest that the basic principles of hygiene and cleaning are very important in the prevention of fowl typhoid, possibly more so than the use of any kind of therapy (9).…”

Safety and efficacy ofSalmonellagallinarum9R vaccine in young laying chickens

“…Fowl typhoid is largely under control in countries with highly regulated industries with enclosed housing and relatively good management, but it is still a major problem in Latin America, South America, the Middle East, in parts of Africa and Korea (Silva, 1985;Sato et al ., 1997;Lee et al ., 2003). The most effective means of control is a combination of stringent management procedures and eradication (Calnek et al ., 1997).…”

Pathomorphological, immunohistochemical and bacteriological findings in budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) naturally infected withS.Gallinarum

“…In this study, mortality and morbidity rates were also found to be higher in the young budgerigars in the three different flocks. In addition, the mortality rate in budgerigars was observed to be higher compared with the other species, showing that budgerigars are highly susceptible to salmonellosis (Sato et al, 1997;Lee et al, 2001).…”

“…S. Gallinarum infection primarily causes disease in chickens and turkeys of all ages, whilst the disease has also been described in ducks, quail, ring doves, pheasants, peacocks, peafowl and canaries (Berchieri et al, 2001;Shivaprasad & Barrow, 2008). The morbidity and mortality of FT are highly variable in poultry and are influenced by host age, host susceptibility, nutrition, flock management, and virulence of S. Gallinarum (the latter being a major factor affecting the severity of the disease; Sato et al, 1997). Even though the disease has been well documented (Song et al, 2002;Shivaprasad & Barrow, 2008), there is no detailed report about the pathological and immunohistochemical findings of the disease in budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus).…”

“…To date, the causative agent of FT has been reported to cause acute and chronic infections with high morbidity and mortality rates in various young and adult avian species (Sato et al, 1997;Lee et al, 2001;Audisio & Terzolo, 2002). The disease usually follows the ingestion of food or water contaminated by the excreta of clinically infected birds or carriers but can also be transmitted by attendants through contaminated hands, feet and clothes (Lowry et al, 1999;Berchieri et al, 2001).…”