Pullorum Signs and Symptoms

A list of clinical signs the animal may or may not display.

Clinical signs of pullorum disease is usually seen in chicks younger than 3 weeks old. Often the first indication of disease is an excessive number of dead-in-shell chicks and deaths shortly after hatching.

Young Birds: In young birds lesions usually include unabsorbed yolk sacs; focal necrosis of the liver and spleen; and grayish nodules in the lungs, heart, and gizzard. Firm, cheesy material in the ceca and raised plaques in the mucosa of the lower intestine are sometimes seen. Occasionally, synovitis is prominent. Clinical signs in chicks and poults includes anorexia, diarrhea, dehydration, weakness and death.

Adult Birds: In mature birds disease is less severe but decreased egg production, poor hatchability and some increased mortality may occur. Adult bird carriers usually have pericarditis, peritonitis, or distorted ovarian follicles with coagulated contents; however, sometimes no gross lesions are seen. In mature chickens, acute infections produce lesions that are indistinguishable from those of fowl typhoid.