Pullorum Disease

History of Pullorum Disease

Raising chickens, turkeys, and other types of poultry--whether done for profit or pleasure--entails undertaking the serious responsibility of disease prevention. Probably the greatest single factor which limited the early expansion of the U.S. poultry industry was the disease known as Bacillary White Diarrhea (BWD), caused by Salmonella pullorum. This disease, later called pullorum disease, was rampant in poultry and could cause upwards of 80 percent mortality in baby poultry. Poultrymen recognized the problem, but were unable to manage it until the causative organism was discovered by Dr. Leo Rettger in 1899 and a diagnostic blood test was developed by Dr. F.S. Jones in 1913.

Following these two discoveries, individual poultry men started to test their birds for pullorum disease and eliminate the reactors from the breeding flocks. But the disease was so widespread that a coordinated effort was necessary. A number of States started statewide pullorum testing programs in the early 1920's; and before long, a few breeding flocks were being identified as free of pullorum.

Kentucky has been recognized as being a US Pullorum-Typhoid Clean State since 1984.

As news of the availability of better stock spread and as better transportation of baby poultry became available, largely through the U.S. mail, breeders became overwhelmed with orders for baby poultry from all over the country. It was then more important than ever, that stock be free of pullorum disease and that production efficiencies be improved to even higher levels.