Poultry Judging Practice Test

Which bacterial disease is transmitted through eggs?

1. Salmonella

2. Pullorum

3. E. coli

4. Campylobacter

The correct answer is: Pullorum

The bacterial disease that is most notably transmitted through eggs is Pullorum disease. This disease is caused by the bacterium Salmonella pullorum, which primarily affects young poultry and can be transmitted from hen to egg. When an infected hen lays eggs, the bacteria can be present inside the egg, posing a risk of infection to chicks that hatch from these eggs. Pullorum disease is significant in the poultry industry because it can lead to high mortality rates in young birds, and it impacts poultry production and trade. Effective control measures include testing and culling infected birds, as well as maintaining strict biosecurity practices to prevent the spread of the disease. While other bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli can also be associated with poultry and may be found in eggs, Salmonella enteritidis is primarily the strain linked to egg transmission and is not specific like Pullorum. Thus, Pullorum is distinctly recognized for its direct transmission through eggs in the context of poultry health.