Comparison of six methods of detecting Salmonella typhimurium infection of chickens.

Six methods were used in testing for prior exposure of chickens to Salmonella typhimurium (ST). The most sensitive and reliable was the microantiglobulin (MAG) TEST; LESS RELIABLE WERE THE TUBE AGGLUTINATION, MICROAGGLUtination, rapid-whole-blood, and rapid-serum-plate tests. It was assumed that the agglutinins demonstrated by the MAG test method were the direct result of exposure to ST, and that the MAG test detected the maximum number of birds previously exposed to ST. The cloacal swab culture method was inadequate.