Serological response of chickens to Salmonella thompson and Salmonella pullorum infections.

Chickens were experimentally infected with Salmonella thompson (serogroup C, paratyphoid) and Salmonella pullorum (serogroup D). Five serological methods and one cultural method were used in detecting the infections. The microantiglobulin test was superior to all other methods for detection of paratyphoid (S. THOMPSON) infection and was followed in efficacy by the microagglutination test, rapid serum plate test, cloacal swab culture, macroscopic tube agglutination test, and rapid whole-blood test, in that order. Birds infected with S. pullorum showed much higher agglutinin titers than the birds infected with paratyphoid. The microagglutination and microantiglobulin tests were not significantly different for detection of pullorum infection and were followed in efficacy by the rapid serum plate, macroscopic tube agglutination, rapid whole-blood, and cloacal swab culture tests, in that order. The cloacal swab culture test was totally inadequate for the detection of pullorum infection.