Genetics of resistance to Salmonella typhimurium in newly hatched chicks

1. A survey of inbred and partially inbred lines of chickens showed pronounced differences in mortality following challenge of the newly hatched chicks with Salmonella typhimurium. Lines W, 6(1) and N were highly resistant to challenge, whereas lines C and 15I were highly susceptible. 2. This difference in susceptibility was observed with a range of 5 strains of S. typhimurium of different degrees of virulence and also following both oral and intramuscular challenge. 3. The inheritance of resistance was studied in detail by examining a series of crosses between the susceptible line C and resistant line W. The pattern of mortality in crosses and back-crosses between these lines indicated resistance is dominant and was consistent with the inheritance of a dominant autosomal resistance gene. 4. There was no evidence of maternal effects in these crosses, and no evidence of association with the major histocompatability complex.