Question

Pullorum disease in fowls is caused by:
A. Salmonella
B. Clostridium
C. Haemophilus
D. Mycobacterium

Answer 1

Disease is defined as an abnormal condition that affects the structure of an organism. The pullorum disease affects mainly young chicks and also affects older chickens and domestic fowl.

Complete Answer:
- Fowls are birds that belong to one of two biological disorders, gamefowl and waterfowl.
- Pullorum disease in poultry is caused by bacterium salmonella pullorum. The historical name for this disease is bacillary white diarrhea. Pullorum disease is caused by salmonella enterica pullorum.
- Pullorum disease is characterized by high mortality in chickens and turkeys. The affected birds huddle near the heat source. The affected birds are anorectic, weak, depressed. The birds can have respiratory disease, blindness.
- Mycobacterium is the genus of actinobacteria. This genus has pathogens which cause serious diseases in mammals such as tuberculosis and leprosy.
- Clostridium is a genus which includes human pathogens. It is a causative agent of tetanus and botulism.
- Haemophilus is the genus of gram negative bacteria.
-Signs of pullorum disease: Inappetance, white diarrhoea, loud chirping, closed eyes, gasping etc.
- Pullorum disease is an infectious disease. The infection by salmonella pullorum has been found in pigs, cattle, dogs.
- The chickens are the natural host of salmonella pullorum. Infection is spread by bird to bird contact, wound contamination and fecal contamination.

So, the correct answer is A.

Note: A hen that has recovered from pullorum disease passes this disease on the bacteria to one-third of her eggs. Treatment of pullorum disease is not feasible. Even the recovered birds can become carriers of the bacteria.