National Poultry Improvement Plan

INFORMATION ABOUT PARTICIPATION IN THE NATIONAL POULTRY IMPROVEMENT PLAN

R. Scott Beyer, Secretary, Kansas Poultry Association and Kansas State University
(last update July 15, 2005)

What is the National Poultry Improvement PLAN?
The Kansas Poultry Disease Act, enacted in 1985 by the state legislature, requires that all hatcheries, hatchery supply flocks, poultry entered in public exhibits or shows, and pullorum-typhoid blood testing agents shall comply with the provisions of the National Poultry Improvement Plan (Plan). The following questions and answers provide information about these requirements.

The PLAN was started as a cooperative state-federal program in 1935 at the request of the hatchery industry. The original objectives of the program were to: A) improve poultry breeding stocks, B) control certain egg-transmitted diseases, and C) facilitate the interstate movement of hatching eggs and live poultry. The present objective of the plan is to control egg-transmitted diseases of poultry.

In the 1930's, Salmonella (S) pullorum and S. gallinarum (fowl typhoid) were the two main egg-transmitted diseases of poultry. As a result of a voluntary blood testing program of breeders for these two diseases, the incidence of these diseases is presently less than 1% in the U.S. As the poultry industry has developed in the U.S., blood testing breeders for other egg-transmitted diseases has come under the supervision of the PLAN. Examples are Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) which causes a respiratory infection in chickens and infected sinuses in turkeys, Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) which causes swollen and infected hocks in birds, Mycoplasma meleagridis (MM) which causes high embryonic and early death loss in turkeys, S. typhimurium and certain paratyphoids which infect turkeys, and S. enteritidis (SE) which infects egg-type chickens and may contaminate their eggs. This organism has the potential to cause food borne illness in humans when contaminated eggs are improperly handled and cooked. Except for S. pullorum and S. gallinarum, the other egg-transmitted diseases are primarily a concern to the commercial poultry industry.
How is the PLAN Administered in Kansas?
The Plan is administered on the national level by the U.S.D.A. and in Kansas by the Kansas Livestock Commissioner. All questions about the PLAN should be directed to the Kansas Livestock Commissioner. Certified testers are educated and trained by Kansas State University. For more information about certification, contact Dr. Scott Beyer, 130 Call Hall, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506-1600 (785) 532-1201.
What are Pullorum and Typhoid Diseases?
These two diseases that belong to a large family of bacteria called Salmonella. This family contains over 2,000 different seratypes, S. pullorum and S. gallinarum (fowl typhoid) being two members of this family. These two diseases are primarily transmitted from generation to generation via infected hatching eggs laid by infected breeders. A less common method of transmission is via inhalation or consumption of contaminated dust, down, litter, feed, water, or other materials in the incubator, shipping container, brooder, and pen. Wild birds and rodents are also potential sources of infection. These diseases can be fatal to young chickens and turkeys.

Pullorum disease causes heavy death losses in chicks and poults during the first 3 weeks of age. Pullorum may reduce productivity in adult birds. Although infected adults usually show no evidence of an infection, they may remain life long carriers. Fowl typhoid is closely related to pullorum. Birds infected with fowl typhoid react to the pullorum test because the two organisms share a common antigen.

Eradication is the main method of preventing these two diseases. This is accomplished by blood-testing for pullorum-typhoid diseases all breeders supplying hatching eggs and removing the carriers. Good sanitation practices, such as incubating clean eggs, and proper cleaning and disinfection of incubators and other equipment are effective tools for reducing an infection. For years formalin was used to fumigate eggs and incubators as a means of controlling pullorum and other disease. However, the use of formalin has been restricted because of its potential danger to human health. Household bleach, hydrogen peroxide, quaternary ammonium compounds are suitable substitutes.
Can a Person Become Infected with Pullorum-Typhoid and Other Salmonella Organisms?
The possibility that a person may become infected from eating eggs or meat infected with S. pullorum-gallinarum and/or other salmonella organisms is very limited. Some serotypes of salmonella such as S. enteritidis (SE) have the potential to cause a food borne illness when sufficient numbers are ingested. Proper storage, handling, and preparation of eggs, foods containing eggs, and poultry meat will reduce the chances of an infection. Proper cooking (160 F) destroys these bacteria. However, poor food handling practices after cooking can result in recontamination.
What are the Requirements for Participating in the PLAN?
The main requirement is that hatcheries, breeder flocks, and birds going to public exhibits meet the requirements of the PLAN's U.S. Pullorum-Typhoid Clean status. These requirements are: Hatcheries - All hatching eggs and young poultry (i.e. chicks, poults, ducklings, goslings, keets, and game birds) handled by a Kansas hatchery meet the requirements of the PLAN. A hatchery is defined as any firm or individual that hatches young poultry for sale. Hatchery Supply Flocks - Chicken, turkey, guinea, peafowl, game bird, and waterfowl breeders flocks must be certified U.S. Pullorum-Typhoid Clean as evidenced by an official blood test conducted in accordance with the regulations of the PLAN. No poultry and/or hatching eggs shall be shipped into Kansas Other than from a Pullorum-Typhoid Clean source. Exhibitions - All chickens, turkeys, guineas, peafowl, and game birds, but excluding waterfowl entered in a public exhibition or show, shall be Pullorum-Typhoid Clean.
How Does a Hatchery Supply, Exhibition, and/or Game Fowl Flock Meet the Requirements of the PLAN?
A flock is considered Clean when no positive reactors for pullorum-typhoid are found when an official blood test is done on all birds in the flock a minimum of every 12 months. Poultry should be 4 months of age or older when tested.
What if a Positive Reactor is Found in a Flock?
The PLAN requires that all birds or a sample of birds showing a positive reaction to the rapid whole blood plate test for pullorum-typhoid diseases be submitted to the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, VCS Bldg., Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506 for further tests. The flock or bird(s) is considered clean if these tests are negative. The rapid whole blood plate test tends to pick up false reactors. These additional tests require disposing of the bird. The Association pays for these tests which require 2-3 weeks. Contact the Association office if you find a reactor.

If the tests conducted by Veterinary Diagnosis are positive, samples are forwarded to the Animal Disease Center, Ames, IA for determination of the specific serotype of salmonella in the samples. If serotyping indicates that the organism is S. pullorum-gallinarum, the Association may request that the flock be quarantined by the State Livestock Commissioner until the flock is destroyed or marketed. The flock may be considered Clean if no reactors are found on two subsequent consecutive tests conducted a minimum of 21 days apart.
What is an Official Test?
For most specie of poultry, it is the stained antigen rapid whole blood plate test. The test is based on the fact that birds infected with S. pullorum-typhoid carry in their blood immune substances called antibodies. These antibodies will combine or agglutinate with the killed S. pullorum-typhoid bacteria suspended in a purple-colored solution which is called an antigen. The blood of a noninfected bird does not contain pullorum-typhoid antibodies, thus no agglutination will occur and the sample is considered negative.

The stained antigen rapid whole blood plate test involves the following steps:
1. Place a drop of antigen on a warm to the touch (70-80 F) test plate. Be sure the antigen is not outdated and has been kept refrigerated when not in use.
2. Using the blood testing tool, prick the vein that runs across the first joint on the under side of the wing and remove a loop full of blood and thoroughly mix it with a drop of antigen. Make the sample about the size of a quarter.
3. Rinse the needle and loop in water and blot dry before taking the next sample.
4. Rock the plate from side to side a few times to agitate the sample.
5. Observe each sample for evidence of agglutination. A positive reaction should appear within 30-45 seconds after mixing. Borderline samples should be retested and the reaction timed. Disregard samples that show clumping after the time limit.
Other official tests for pullorum-typhoid diseases, which are conducted in a laboratory, are the rapid serum plate test, the tube agglutination test, and the micro agglutination test. Some major turkey producing states, such as Nebraska, Minnesota, and Iowa, require that turkey hatching eggs and poults entering their states be from flocks that have been "tube tested" for S. typhimurium. This test requires taking a sample of blood from each breeder and forwarding the samples to an Official Laboratory. Please check with the Association about this procedure.
How Does a Person Qualify as a Certified Blood Testing Agent?
By successfully completing an official blood testing school or by being certified on an individual basis by a representative of the Association. A minimum of 8-10 people is needed to justify a school. You can also be certified by viewing a video and taking the test if you have watched a certified tester test birds. Individuals desiring to become certified blood testing agents should contact the Association.
What Forms Are Used in the PLAN?
VS 9-2 "Flock Selecting and Testing Report" should be filled out each time birds or a flock of birds are tested. The white copy plus a bird recording fee should be sent to the Kansas Animal Health Department, 708 SW Jackson, Topeka, KS 66603-3714 (phone: (785) 296-2326 or fax: (785) 296-1765). Click here to enter their web site. Indicate on the form if the entire flock has been tested. The bird recording fee is whichever is the greater amount, 5 cents per bird tested or $1.00 . Attach a separate list of breeds/varieties tested if that is not sufficient room on the form. This form is supplied to certified blood-testing agents upon request.

VS Form 9-3 "Report of Sales of Hatching Eggs" should be used when hatching eggs and/or young poultry are shipped into another state for sale or exhibition. This form is issued upon request to the Association only to individuals whose flock's are currently classified as U.S. Pullorum-Typhoid Clean. Flock owners who plan to show or ship birds into another state should notify the Association office 2 weeks prior to the show and give the name and address of the buyer or show, date of shipment or show, and numbers and types of birds involved. When shipment is made, return the blue and pink copies to the Association. The white copy should accompany the shipment and the yellow copy is the flock owner's.

The "Exhibitor's List" form should be filled out by the secretary or superintendent of each poultry show held in Kansas. Copies of this form are sent to each County Extension Office prior to the fair season and to each poultry show management prior to a show. This form should be mailed to the Association office at conclusion of the show.
What are the Requirements for Shipping Hatching Eggs and Poultry Into Other States?
Kansas and most other states have regulations governing the importation of poultry and poultry hatching eggs. These regulations are not uniform between states. The minimum requirement is that the products are from U.S. Pullorum-Typhoid Clean sources. We recommend that you check with the Association if you are not sure about the import regulations of another state-it could shave you problems.

Kansas requires an import permit for the legal importation of poultry and hatching eggs. An "Application For Permit to Import Poultry and/or Hatching Eggs Into Kansas", which is available from the Association, should be completed by the individual or firm desiring to ship products into Kansas. A import permit may be issued upon receipt of this application. Kansas regulations specify that in addition to products being Pullorum-Typhoid Clean, turkeys over 4 months of age and chickens and other poultry over 5 months of age may be brought into the state for purposes other than for immediate slaughter, provided they are accompanied by an official health certificate certifying that such poultry are U.S. Pullorum-Typhoid Clean, free from the evidences of any infectious or contagious diseases, and that such poultry have not been exposed to any such diseases.
What are the Requirements for Exhibiting Poultry at a Public Show?
Exhibitors of all poultry (chickens, turkeys, guineas, peafowl, pheasants, quail, chukars), but excluding waterfowl, must show proof that their birds are Pullorum-Typhoid Clean at time of entry by one of the following methods.
1. The birds are from a certified U.S. Pullorum-Typhoid Clean flock as evidenced by either an official VS Form 9-3 or VS Form 9-2 that certifies that all birds over 4 months of age in the flock or on the premises have had a negative test for pullorum-typhoid within the past 12 months.
2. Show proof that the entries were purchased from a U.S. Pullorum-Typhoid Clean source and are either the only poultry on the premises of the owner or have been physically separated (e.g. housed in separate pens or houses) from untested poultry on the premises. This method is most applicable to 4-H entries.
3. Present an official VS Form 9-2 signed by a certified blood testing agent showing that the entries have had a negative pullorum-typhoid test within 90 days prior to the exhibition. These entries should be banded with a sealed band and the band numbers written on the form. This method is applicable in cases where the entries are not from a Pullorum-Typhoid Clean flock.
4. Entries not qualifying under A, B, or C must have a negative test for pullorum-typhoid at time of entry. The show management is not required to test birds at time of entry.
Where Can Blood Testing Supplies be Obtained?
For some time now, antigen supplies have been a problem. This is because there is ONLY ONE supplier in the US who is manufacturing the antigen (Vineland, Laboratories, a subsidiary of Fort Dodge). The number of makers has shrunk mostly due to a monopoly that has been created as drug companies have bought each other out. As you can imagine, two things have resulted: the price has gone up and the antigen is harder to get. When you see antigen for sale in a catalog, it all came from the same lab, so if they run out, it is hard to find. There seems to be little incentive for the manufacturer to have product ready at all time. Of course, you'd think that you could just order a supply for future use, but don't forget, it expires after a certain date. This is all very frustrating.

Forms may be obtained from the Kansas Animal Health Department. Antigen and testing supplies may be order from commercial sources. Some suppliers are listed in our July, 2005 Newsletter.
Where can I Obtain Additional Information About the PLAN?
Contact the Kansas Animal Health Department, 708 SW Jackson, Topeka, KS 66603-3714 phone: (785) 296-2326 fax: (785) 296-1765 or the Kansas Poultry Association, Dr. Scott Beyer, 130 Call Hall, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506-1600 (785) 532-1201.