Disease Summary

See also: Salmonellosis and Fowl Typhoid

Alternative Names (Synonyms)

• Salmonella pullorum Infection
• Bacillary white diarrhoea

See also: Salmonellosis and Fowl Typhoid

Disease Type

Infectious/Non-Infectious Agent associated with the Disease

N.B. Infection with paratyphoid salmonellae are more important in waterfowl: see Salmonellosis.

Infective "Taxa"

• Salmonella pullorum

Non-infective agents

Physical agents

References

Disease Author

Major References / Reviews

Code and Title List

Other References

Code and Title List

Detailed Clinical and Pathological Characteristics

General

Clinical Characteristics

• Peracute infection -sudden death.
• Acute infection in first few days - weakness, somnolence, anorexia, poor growth, pasting of vent with chalky white excreta may be seen before death.
• In slightly older birds (e.g. two to three weeks old), lethargy, huddling under brooders, wing droop and sometimes dyspnoea.
• Growth retardation and poor feathering of survivors.

In older growing and adult birds:

• Anorexia, depression, diarrhoea and dehydration may be seen, also sometimes decreased egg production.

(B32.3.w24).

Incubation

Mortality / Morbidity

Pathology

In chicks:

• Gross lesions may be seen in chronic disease, but are usually absent in peracute disease.
• Liver, spleen and kidneys may be enlarged and congested.
• Yolk sac retention may occur, with yolk appearing creamy or caseous.
• Lung and heart may have white nodules, pericardium may be thickened, with yellow or fibrinous exudate.
• Gastro-intestinal tract - may have white nodules on the gizzard, caeca, large intestinal wall. Caseous cores may be seen in the caeca.
• Joints may be swollen with yellow viscous fluid.

In adults

• May be minimal lesions. Pericarditis and (in females) misshapen, discoloured, cystic ova; sometimes peritonitis and abdominal adhesions.

(B32.3.w24)

Human Health Considerations

Disease has been reported in either the wild or in captivity in:

• Ducks (B32.3.w24, B36.9.w9).
• Ducks, geese and swans (J5.36.w6).
• S. pullorum was isolated from a Muscovy duck Cairina moschata in Maine, USA (J5.7.w3).

Host Species List

Disease has been specifically reported in Free-ranging populations of:

Host Species List

Regions / Countries where the Infectious Agent or Disease has been recorded

Regions / Countries where the Infectious Agent or Disease has been recorded in Free-ranging populations

General Information on Investigation / Diagnosis

• Physical Examination - General
• Necropsy - General
• Chapter 2 - B36 Field Manual of Wildlife Diseases - Specimen Collection and Preservation
• Chapter 3 - B36 Field Manual of Wildlife Diseases - Specimen shipment
• Appendix A - B36 Field Manual of Wildlife Diseases - Sample specimen history form

Similar Diseases (Differential Diagnosis)

Specific Medical Treatment

• Treatment and Care - General

General Nursing and Surgical Techniques

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Preventative Measures

WATERFOWL

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Environmental and Population  Control Measures

WATERFOWL

• Preventative Medicine for Birds - General
• Environmental and Population Management - General