Please send this information out to your poultry superintendents for your fair.

UPDATE: Salmonella Pullorum Typhoid Testing For Poultry Exhibitors

By Dr. Dana Dobbs / Avian Health Lead

In years past, WSDA field veterinarians conducted Salmonella Pullorum Typhoid (PT) blood testing and Avian Influenza (AI) surveillance at select fairs. At this time, WSDA veterinarians are only collecting swabs for Avian Influenza surveillance. As such, private practitioners may be called upon to assist with PT blood collection and testing. The specific requirements are as follows:

In-State Poultry Exhibitor Requirements

All chickens, exotic fowl, and game birds must test negative for Pullorum-Typhoid within 90 days prior to exhibition. Waterfowl, doves, and pigeons are exempt from this rule. Exhibitors are exempt from this rule if they are members of NPIP.

To test poultry for Salmonella Pullorum Typhoid, 1 ml of whole blood can be collected from the brachial vein (medial aspect of the wing) and placed in a small red top Vacutainer® tube. Other veins may be used as well, depending on the comfort level and experience of the practitioner.

• Swab the venipuncture site with 70% alcohol and identify the vein between the bicep and triceps muscles.
• A 3ml syringe with a 25g needle is commonly used to collect blood. In some instances, a TB syringe may be used. Chicken skin is very thin, and the needle should be inserted bevel up almost parallel to the vein. Small hematomas may form in the process, and it is important to apply pressure to the vein after collection to ensure bleeding has stopped.
• When the blood is placed in the red top tube, label it with the sample number, species, owner last name, and date. Lay the tube on its side and allow the serum to form.
• In the meantime, download and fill out the Accession Form For Avian Diagnostics found at https://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/avian. Complete the appropriate information, and select “Blood” under Specimens Submitted and “S. pullorum typhoid” serology under Test Requested. Reason for submission can be “PT testing required for exhibition at the fair” or something similar. Only ONE accession form per owner is necessary, as individual birds can be listed in the history section or on a separate piece of paper. Contact the laboratory or visit the Avian Health and Food Safety (AHFSL) website for current prices.
• The blood tubes should be individually wrapped in an absorbent material and placed in a Ziploc® bag. It is best to use an insulated shipping container with a small cool pack for overnight mailing (avoid placing the specimen directly on the cool pack to prevent freezing). Please contact the laboratory if you expect specimens to arrive outside of normal business hours Monday through Friday (please avoid this if possible).
• Place the samples and the accession form (in its own Ziploc® bag) into the shipping container and mail to:

Avian Health and Food Safety Laboratory

2607 West Pioneer Puyallup, WA 98371 (253) 445-4537

If there are any further questions, please contact your WSDA regional field veterinarian for assistance.

Poultry Biosecurity Resources and Recommendations

Brochure: Keep Your Animals Healthy at the Fair

Poster: Clean up Your Act

Poultry Diseases of Concern

Here are some diseases of concern by species to watch out for at the fair:

Fairs and Exhibitions | Washington State Department of Agriculture

Poultry and Infectious Laryngotracheitis (ILT)

Fair Animal Health Requirements

The mandatory import and livestock inspection requirements and recommended animal health inspection regulations for entry to Washington fairs can be found here. Because individual fairs may apply more stringent regulations, exhibitors should contact fair management well in advance of an event for details regarding deadlines, required paperwork, fees, rules, and so on.

Requirements for Out-of-State Entries

The mandatory import and livestock inspection requirements for entry to Washington fairs can be found here. If you are traveling out of state for exhibition, you can find State specific requirements here at InterstateLivestock.com

If you have any questions, please call the State Veterinarians Office.