Pullorum (Bacillary White Diarrhea - BWD) and Fowl Typhoid

24.1.3 Pullorum (Bacillary White Diarrhea - BWD) and Fowl Typhoid Pullorum and Fowl Typhoid are very similar diseases. In fact, the treatment and diagnosis are so similar that they will be discussed as one disease for this book.

Pullorum is also called “Bacillary White Diarrhea” (BWD). It is an acute or chronic infection caused by a bacteria called Salmonella pullorum. Fowl typhoid is also an infectious disease, caused by a closely related bacteria, Salmonella gallinarum. Both diseases are egg-transmitted diseases. This means that birds which survive the infection remain carriers and transmit the disease to the next generation through the eggs. Carrier hens can be detected by a blood test. The eggs of carrier hens should not be hatched.

Symptoms of Pullorum:

 Chickens are listless (sleepy) and often have white diarrhea.

 Many chicks die in the first two or three weeks of life.

 Sick birds appear to be cold. They crowd together and do not eat.

Symptoms of Fowl Typhoid:

 Depression and lack of appetite.

 Increased thirst - probably from fever.

 Diarrhea, yellow-green in color.

 Pale comb and ruffled feathers.

Postmortem findings of Pullorum:

 Inflammation (redness) of the intestines.

 Small yellow spots on the heart, lungs and liver.

Postmortem findings of Fowl Typhoid:

 Enlarged liver with green discoloration.

 Enlarged spleen and kidneys.

 Enlarged small intestine with “watery” contents.

Diagnosis for both Pullorum and Fowl Typhoid:

 Based on symptoms and postmortem findings.

Treatment for both Pullorum and Fowl Typhoid  Give the chickens “sulfa drugs” or “furacin”

 Sulfa drugs can be given in drinking water or a sulfa tablet can be given by inserting it deep inside the chickens mouth. Use an appropriate dose found in the medicine table.

Sulfa by tablet

 Furacin can be dissolved in the drinking water. Follow the instructions on the label which usually indicate 0.5 grams Furacin powder per liter of water. Give for 5 to 10 days Furacin by drinking water  Important: Provide clean, fresh water that is easily accessible to encourage affected chickens to drink.

Prevention / Control:

 Start baby chicks on drinking water containing Furacin.

 Select hatching eggs from hens that test negative by the “rapid plate blood test.” Hens that test positive or had BWD should be butchered. Do not save their eggs for hatching.

 Sanitation.