The isolation of Salmonella thompson from outbreaks of disease in chicks

Abstract

During the years 1943 and 1944 S. thompson, not hitherto reported in poultry in this country, has been isolated on forty-four occasions from thirty-one outbreaks in chicks, and two outbreaks in ducklings. Two extensive outbreaks are described in detail, and the epidemiology of the disease and its possible importance to public health are discussed.We wish to record our appreciation of the help given by the late Dr R. B. Haines and by Miss E. M. L. Elliot, Ministry of Food, Department of Pathology, Cambridge, in the identification of some of the strains isolated from outbreak no. 1, and for the gift of a stock strain of S. thompson which was used in the typing of strains 2768 and 3845.We also wish to thank Dr Joan Taylor, Emergency Public Health Laboratory, Oxford, for supplying us with factor 5 (absorbed) serum.