Pullorum-Typhoid (P-T)

Quick Facts

What is P-T?

Pullorum Disease and Fowl Typhoid are caused by two related bacteria: Salmonella pullorum and Salmonella gallinarum, together called Pullorum-Typhoid (P-T). These were once among the most devastating poultry diseases in the U.S., leading to the creation of the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP). Pullorum mainly affects young birds. Fowl Typhoid can infect birds of any age. P-T has no cure and infected birds must be removed. NPIP testing and control programs have eradicated P-T in U.S. commercial flocks, but P-T still appears in some backyard flocks. All states require negative P-T testing for moving or selling poultry across state lines.

Signs of P-T

Pullorum

• Chicks/poults: droopy, huddled, white pasty diarrhea, poor growth, high mortality
• Older birds: often no signs, drop in egg production

Fowl Typhoid

• Sudden death in any age, poor appetite, pale combs, greenish diarrhea, drooping wings, listless

How does P-T Spread?

Pullorum-Typhoid is very rare, but occasionally is detected in backyard flocks. Infected hens can spread it to chicks via the egg. Birds can become infected when in direct contact with sick birds or droppings, contaminated feeders, water, clothing, or equipment. Wild birds or rodents can carry the bacteria. Carrier birds can shed bacteria without looking sick.

Pullorum disease and fowl typhoid spread from infected parent hens to chicks, from sick or carrier birds, through people, and by dirty equipment or environments.

How Do You Treat P-T?

There is no cure for P-T and positive birds must be reported to a state animal health official.

How Do You Prevent P-T?

Practice Biosecurity

• Limit contact with birds from other flocks.
• Wear coop-dedicated shoes to keep out germs.
• Wash hands and keep coop/equipment clean.
• Limit visitors and require boot covers.

Buy from Clean Sources

• Only buy birds from flocks that are P-T Clean (NPIP-certified) to keep this disease out.
• Do not buy birds from swaps, auctions, or unknown sources.

Separate New Birds

• Isolate new or returning birds away from your flock for at least 3 weeks and monitor for signs of illness.
• Disease can spread before birds show signs.

Handle Healthy Birds First

• Care for birds in this order: young → adults → sick, to avoid spreading germs.
• Wash or sanitize hands and equipment between different bird groups.

What if P-T is Found in Your Flock?

Report it Immediately

• P-T is highly contagious and reportable, contact your veterinarian if you suspect P-T in your flock.
• State animal health officials should be contacted immediately of any P-T cases.

Isolate Sick Birds

• Separate sick birds from the flock to limit spread of the bacteria.

Stop Movement

• Don’t move birds, eggs, or equipment on or off of your property, and avoid visiting other farms to prevent spreading disease.

Disease Control Steps

• Controlling the disease may require depopulation.
• Work with your state animal health official to clean, review biosecurity, and prevent more outbreaks.

Learn More

National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP)

Learn how the NPIP program helps monitor and prevent Pullorum disease and fowl typhoid.

Selling or moving birds

Understand the paperwork required when birds are sold, transported, or shown across state lines. This includes VS 9-3 forms, Certificates of Veterinary Inspection (CVI), and permits.