THE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF FOWL CHOLERA : IV. FIELD OBSERVATIONS OF THE "SPONTANEOUS" DISEASE

Field studies of fowl cholera on two commercial poultry farms are described. One farm, previously free of cholera, was studied during an active epidemic, which occurred during the winter months. The strains of P. avicida recovered, both from "autopsy" and from "healthy carriers" proved generally similar, and to be of the "fluorescent" or "intermediate" colony type, which is of relatively high virulence. After the subsidence of the epidemic, these strains tended to disappear. The second flock consisted of a small group of birds which had survived an epidemic of cholera the previous year, and in which the infection was prevailing in endemic form. No deaths occurred during the period of observation, but the number of birds with localized lesions and the number of carriers increased to a high level during the winter months. The strains of P. avicida were apparently of the "blue" colony form, although some, as shown by their acid and serum agglutination reactions, resembled the "intermediates." These strains appeared to be spreading rather than dying out. The individual fowls differed in their response to the presence of infection; some showed localized lesions, others were carriers, while still others seemed entirely refractory.