Three New Bacterial Species Pathogenic for the Domestic Birds1

Abstract

In studies on the etiology of typhoid-like diseases in birds covering a number of years, and reported in detail in another place, 2the present writer has come upon three bacterial species which differ in important respects from the causative agent of fowl typhoid (B. gallinarum Klein), from the causative agent of fowl cholera (B. avisepticus) and from all other at present recognized bacterial types. It is the aim of the present note briefly to introduce these three new species.

1. Bacterium jeffersonii N. Sp.

This organism was isolated by the writer in 1909 from an extensive epidemic occurring among poultry in a southern Massachusetts town. During the progress of the epidemic about four thousand birds died on a single plant, causing the owner a total loss of about ten thousand dollars in stock and trade. The clinical features of the disease, as well as the post-mortem findings suggested fowl cohlera, …