[Salmonella gallinarum field isolates of the biovars pullorum and gallinarum].

In 40 cases salmonellae of the serovar Salmonella (S.) gallinarum were culturally isolated from domesticated gallinaceous birds submitted for diagnostic purposes in the period of 1979-1989. On the basis of the cultural and biochemical features found 35 of them could be assigned to the biovar Pullorum and 5 to the biovar Gallinarum. Of 35 isolates of the biovar Pullorum, 29 were isolated from pure bred chickens of small fancy-exhibition type flocks, 4 from floor-housed adult brown hybrid laying hens and one each from broiler chicks and pheasant chicks (Phasianus colchicus). Acute to subacute courses of the pullorum disease were observed in the 4 flocks of brown hybrid hens. Of 5 isolates of the biovar Gallinarum, 4 were isolated from adult brown hybrid laying hens kept in battery cages and one from floor-housed brown hybrid pullets of the laying type. First cases of fowl typhoid occurred early in the summer of 1988. The disease was characterized by a peracute course in the 4 flocks of brown laying hens and by a more acute course in the pullet flock. The primary source of the fowl typhoid producing organisms was not elucidated.