Variation in the reactions obtained in repeated agglutination tests of the same fowls
      with Bacterium pullorum antigen

Beach, J

Variation in the reactions obtained in repeated agglutination tests of the same fowls with Bacterium pullorum antigen

Author

J. R. Beach

Author Affiliations

J. R. Beach was Assistant Professor of Veterinary Science and Associate Veterinarian in the Experiment Station.

Publication Information

Hilgardia 2(15):529-544. DOI:10.3733/hilg.v02n15p529. April 1927.

PDF of full article, Cite this article

Abstract

Abstract does not appear. First page follows.

Introduction

The studies by Rettger and Rettger and Harvey, reported in four papers published between 1900 and 1909, definitely established the disease of young chicks commonly known as “white diarrhea” to be a specific infectious disease, the causative organism of which was designated Bacterium pullorum. Further studies by Rettger and his associates were reported in 1909, 1911 1912, and 1914. They determined that apparently healthy adult fowls may be carriers of Bact. pullorum. The infection in hens usually becomes localized in the ovaries and is eliminated in the eggs. When such eggs are used for hatching, the infection is transmitted to chicks. This is considered the usual source of Bact. pullorum infection in chicks. Jones⁽¹⁰⁾, ⁽¹¹⁾ in 1910 and 1911 and Gage in 1911 published the results of investigations which confirmed the findings of Rettger and his associates.

The most important problem in the prevention of the disease in chicks, therefore, became the detection and elimination of infected breeding stock. In 1913 Jones demonstrated that the agglutination test was of value for this purpose. His findings were confirmed by others and the testing of breeding flocks by this method has been practiced extensively for several years.

Literature Cited

[1] Rettger L. F. Fatal septicemia among young chicks. New York Med. Jour. 1900. 71:803-805.

[2] Rettger L. F. Fatal septicemia in young chicks. New York Med. Jour. 1901. 73:267-268.

[3] Rettger L. F., Harvey S. C. Fatal septicemia in young chickens or “white diarrhea”. Jour. Med. Res. 1908. 18:277-290.

[4] Rettger L. F. Further studies on fatal septicemia in young chickens, or “white diarrhea”. Jour. Med. Res. 1909. 21:115-123.

[5] Rettger L. F., Stoneburn F. H. Bacillary white diarrhea of young chicks. Storrs (Connecticut) Agr. Exp. Sta. Bul. 1909. 60:1-57. figs. 1-7.

[6] Rettger L. F., Stoneburn F. H. Bacillary white diarrhea of young chicks (second report). Storrs (Connecticut) Agr. Exp. Sta. Bul. 1911. 68:279-301. fig. 1-7.

[7] Rettger L. F., Kirkpatrick W. F., Stoneburn F. H. Bacillary white diarrhea of young chicks (third report). Storrs (Connecticut) Agr. Exp. Sta. Bul. 1912. 74:153-185. figs. 1-8.

[8] Rettger L. F. Ovarian infection in the domestic fowl and direct transmission of disease to offspring. Jour. Exp. Med. 1914. 19:552-561. DOI: 10.1084/jem.19.6.552 [CrossRef]

[9] Rettger L. F., Kirkpatrick W. F., Jones R. E. Bacillary white diarrhea of young chicks (fourth report). Storrs (Connecticut) Agr. Exp. Sta. Bul. 1914. 77:263-309. figs. 1-4.

[10] Jones F. S. Fatal septicemia or bacillary white diarrhea in young chickens 1910. pp.111-129. New York, State Vet. Col. Ann. Rpt. 1909-10

[11] Jones F. S. Further studies on bacillary white diarrhea in young chickens 1911. pp.69-88. New York State Vet. Col. Ann. Rpt. 1910-11

[12] Gage G. E. Notes on ovarian infection with Bacterium pullorum (Rettger) in the domestic fowl. Jour. Med. Res. 1911. 24:491-496.

[13] Jones F. S. The value of the macroscopic agglutination test in detecting fowls that are harboring Bacterium pullorum. Jour. Med. Res. 1913. 27:481-495.

[14] Beach B. A., Halpin J. G., Lampman C. E. Results of white diarrhea investigation. Jour. Amer. Vet. Med. Assn. 1927. 70:597-605.

Also in this issue:

The elimination of cloudy reactions by the use of formalin as a preservative for Bacterium pullorum antigen