Fowl Typhoid (F T) is an economically important egg transmitted/hatchery borne infection, causing high early mortality in chicks and drop in egg production and mortality among adult flocks resulting in severe economic losses.

Salmonella gallinarum belongs to enterobacteriaceae family and is a potential pathogen of poultry.

Horizontal and vertical transmission is very common. The infected birds become carriers and are the most important means of perpetuation and spread. Chronic carriers of poultry cause severe outbreaks of FT among chicks.

Incubation period is 4-5 days. The course of the disease is about 5 days or more. In a flock the losses may extend over 2-3 weeks with a tendency for recurrence.

Chicks: Moribund and dead chicks may be seen in the hatching trays during the hatch. Infected chicks show somnolence, poor growth, weakness, inappetence and adherence of whitish material to the vent. Labored breathing or gasping may be noted as a result of lung involvement.

An acute outbreak cause sudden drop in feed consumption, droopy, ruffled feathers and pale heads and shrunken combs. Death may occur within 4 days after exposure but usually in 5-10 days.

In adult birds mortality varies from 10 to 50% or more while in chicks it may be up to 90% within 16-20 days.