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PATHOGEN SAFETY DATA SHEET

Pullorum Disease

SECTION I: DISEASE / INFECTIOUS AGENT

SYNONYM / CROSS REFERENCE: Salmonella pullorum, Salmonella Pullorum ⁽¹⁾

ETIOLOGY / TAXONOMY: ⁽²⁾
Family: Enterobacteriaceae
Genus: Salmonella
Species: Salmonella enterica serovar Gallinarum biovar Pullorum (Salmonella Pullorum)

ORGANISM CHARACTERISTICS:

• Gram negative nonsporogenic rod ⁽³⁾
• 1.0-2.5 µm in length and 0.3-1.5 µm in width ⁽³⁾
• Nonmotile, aerobic and facultatively anaerobic ⁽⁴⁾
• Somatic antigen ⁽⁴⁾

SURVEILLANCE:

Pullorum Disease is a reportable disease in Canada. Animal owners, veterinarians and laboratories are required to immediately report the presence of any bird that is infected or suspected of being infected to a CFIA district veterinarian. Control or eradication measures will be applied immediately (http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/H-3.3/fulltoc.html).

DISTRIBUTION:

• The status of Pullorum Disease in Canada is indigenous, however it has been eradicated from commercial poultry flocks. The disease may remain in wild and game birds and in background flocks only ⁽³⁾.
• Distribution is worldwide ^(2,3,4)

SECTION II: ANIMAL HEALTH HAZARD AND EPIDEMIOLOGY

CLINICAL DISEASE / PATHOGENESIS:

Pullorum disease is caused by Salmonella Pullorum.

1) Clinical signs:

• Septicaemic disease ^(3,5)
• Young birds - anorexia, diarrhoea, dehydration, weakness and death; highest mortality occurs in birds two to three weeks of age ^(1,3,5)
• Growing and mature birds - the disease is less severe as compared to young birds but decreased egg production, poor hatchability and some increased mortality may occur ^(1,3,5)

2) Infectious dose (Salmonella): ⁽⁶⁾

• Day old chicks: 1-5 cells
• Four week old: 100-1,000 cells
• Adult: 10,000 or more cells

3) Incubation period (Salmonella):

• Six to 72 hours, usually about 12-36 hours ⁽⁴⁾

SOURCE / MODE OF TRANSMISSION / COMMUNICABILITY:

• The infected bird is the most important means of perpetuation and spread of the organism ⁽²⁾
• Transovarian infection can occur, resulting in infection of the egg and subsequently the chick or poult ⁽⁶⁾
• Other modes of transmission include shell penetration, feed contamination, contact transmission, ingestion of contaminated feed water or litter ^(1,2,5,6)

VECTORS:

• None

HOST RANGE:

• Avian species ⁽³⁾

ZOONOTIC POTENTIAL:

• S. Pullorum is highly adapted to avian species, therefore it poses a minimal zoonotic risk ⁽⁵⁾

RESERVOIR:

• Fowl are the principle reservoir host ⁽²⁾
• Recuperating and apparently healthy birds can be reservoirs of infection ⁽²⁾.

Section III: DIAGNOSIS

NECROPSY / HISTOPATHOLOGY FINDINGS:

Young birds:

• Hepatitis, splenitis, typhlitis, omphalitis, myocarditis, ventriculitis, pneumonia, synovitis, peritonitis and ophthalmitis ⁽⁵⁾
• Unabsorbed yolk sac ⁽¹⁾
• Focal necrosis of liver and spleen ⁽¹⁾
• Grayish nodules in the lungs, heart and gizzard ⁽¹⁾
• Firm, cheesy material in the caeca and raised plaques in the mucosa of the lower intestine are sometimes seen ⁽¹⁾

Mature fowl:

• Lesions include oophoritis, salpingitis, orchitic, peritonitis and perihepatitis ⁽⁵⁾
• Distorted ovarian follicles with coagulated contents ⁽¹⁾
• Often no gross lesions are seen ⁽¹⁾

LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS:

Identification of the agent:

• Cultural isolation ⁽³⁾

Serological tests (serological typing of an isolate is the confirmatory test):

• Rapid whole blood agglutination test ^(3,7)
• Macroscopic tube agglutination test ^(3,5)
• Rapid serum agglutination test ^(3,5)
• Stained antigen while blood test ⁽⁵⁾
• Micro-agglutination test ^(3,5)
• Immunodiffusion ⁽³⁾
• Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) ⁽³⁾

DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY:

• Antibiotics can be used to treat Pullorum disease, but will not eliminate it ⁽⁵⁾

DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS:

The following diseases may show clinical similarity to Pullorum disease:

• Infections with Salmonella serovars other than S. Pullorum may produce similar lesions in the liver, spleen and intestine ⁽⁹⁾
• Acute infections produce lesions that are indistinguishable from those of Fowl typhoid ⁽¹⁾

SECTION IV: DECONTAMINATION PROCEDURES

Select a registered disinfectant with a drug identification number (DIN). Use according to label directions for concentration and contact time. Consider organic load and temperature. It is recommended that laboratories evaluate the effectiveness of the disinfectant using a validated method (eg. Quantitative Carrier Test). See table 1 to help select a registered disinfectant for use against Salmonella Pullorum.

Table 1: Active ingredients considered to be effective against Salmonella spp.

PHYSICAL INACTIVATION:

• Stable at pH of 4-8 ^(2,6)
• Does not survive at temperatures above 70°C ⁽²⁾

SURVIVAL OUTSIDE OF HOST:⁽³⁾

• Survives in a favorable environment for several years ^(2,4)
• Can resist dehydration for a very long time, both in feces and in food ⁽²⁾

SECTION V: LABORATORY HAZARDS FOR HUMANS

LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS:

• None reported

BIOSAFETY PRECAUTIONS :

• None

SECTION VI: PHYSICAL AND OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS:

All physical containment and operational practices for containment level 2, as per the Containment Standards for Veterinary Facilities must be met. In addition, respiratory protection must be used when performing aerosol-prone procedures. The Standards can be accessed at : http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/sci/lab/convet/convete.shtml.

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT :
Laboratory:

• Disposable gloves (e.g. intact nitrile, vinyl or latex)
• Laboratory coats or gowns

Post Mortem:

• Disposable gloves (e.g. intact nitrile, vinyl or latex)
• Laboratory coats or gowns
• Cut resistant gloves, steel toed/steel shanked rubber boots

HANDLING INFORMATION :
Spills in laboratory:
Spill protocol must be in place and include the following scenarios:

• Spills inside the Biological Safety Cabinet (BSC)
• Spills outside the BSC
• Spills while performing aerosol generating procedures
• Also consider entry and exit procedure modifications if necessary, appropriate PPE, disinfection of spill and surroundings including contact time, flow (pattern) of the clean up and disposal of contaminated materials.

Refer to Table 1 for disinfectant selection.

STORAGE: All cultures and infected material should be stored in leakproof, sealed containers that are accurately labeled and clearly identified as a biohazard risk. The access to infectious material should be controlled at all times. Records must be kept to describe the use, inventory and disposal of infectious material.

DISPOSAL: Decontaminate all infectious material prior to disposal. Use steam sterilization, incineration or chemical disinfection.

REFERENCES:

1. The Merck Veterinary Manual, Eighth Edition. 1998. Pages 1947.
2. Acha PD and Szyfres B. Zoonoses and Communicable Diseases Common to Man and Animals. Third Edition. Volume I. Bacterioses and Mycoses. Scientific and Technical Publication No. 580. Pan American Health Organization. 2003. Pages 233-43.
3. Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals, OIE World Organisation for Animal Health. Fowl Typhoid and Pullorum Disease, updated 2004/07/23. http://www.oie.int/eng/normes/mmanual/A_00106.htm.
4. Public Health Agency of Canada. Material Safety Data Sheet, Infectious Substances. Salmonella spp. Updated 15/05/2001.http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/msds-ftss/msds135e.html.
5. Shivaprasad HL. Fowl typhoid and pullorum disease. Rev Sci Tech. 2000 Aug; 19(2): 405-24.
6. Salmonella spp. UC Davis Veterinary Medicine, http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/PHR/PHR150/2005/15005B6-Salm-MH.PDF.
7. Gast RK. Detecting infections of chicken with recent Salmonella pullorum isolates using standard serological methods. Poult. Sci. 1997 Jan; 76(1): 17-23.
8. Block SS. Disinfection, Sterilization, and Preservation. Fifth Edition. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. 2001. Page 195 and 365.
9. Shivaprasad, HL. Pullorum Disease and Fowl Typhoid. In: Calnek, BW, Barnes, HJ, Beard CW. Et al (Eds) Diseases of Poultry, 10^th Edition, Ames Iowa,. Iowa State university Press. 1997. Pages 82-96.

LAST UPDATED (DATE): 2005/10/18

PREPARED BY: The Biohazard Containment and Safety Unit, CFIA

Disclaimer: Although the information and recommendations in this Pathogen Safety Data Sheet are compiled from reliable sources, there is no guarantee, warranty or any assurance that the information and recommendations are correct, accurate, sufficient, reliable or current and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency shall not be responsible for any loss or damage resulting from or in connection with the use of or reliance upon the information and recommendations.

The user assumes all risks and responsibility for and shall be liable for the use of and any reliance on the information and recommendations and the results thereof and any loss or damage resulting therefrom.