Epizootiological investigation of an outbreak of pullorum disease in an integrated broiler operation

An integrated broiler company experienced a major outbreak of pullorum disease during 1990. The outbreak resulted in the distribution of Salmonella pullorum-infected birds to more than 150 roaster flocks in five states. Twenty-two parent (multiplier) breeder flocks became infected. An epizootiological investigation uncovered a grandparent male line breeder flock as the index flock supplying males to the affected parent flocks. Transmission apparently occurred vertically through the egg and horizontally by contact in the hatcheries and by placement of chicks on contaminated litter.