Bacillary White Diarrhea (BWD), now formally known as , is a highly contagious bacterial infection caused by Salmonella pullorum . Historically a devastating "silent killer" in the poultry industry, it primarily strikes young chicks under three weeks of age, often resulting in mortality rates as high as 100% in susceptible flocks. Etiology and History
Within a brooder or hatchery, the disease spreads rapidly through contact with infected droppings, contaminated feed, water, or even through the air in forced-draft incubators. Clinical Signs and Diagnosis Bacillary White Diarrhea - ScienceDirect bacillary white diarrhea
A defining feature of BWD is its ability to transmit both horizontally and vertically: Bacillary White Diarrhea (BWD), now formally known as
The disease was first described in 1900 by investigator Rettger, who isolated the organism from infected chicks and named it Bacillus pullorum . It is caused by Salmonella enterica serovar Gallinarum biovar Pullorum, a gram-negative, non-motile bacterium. While it has been largely eradicated from commercial poultry in many developed countries through rigorous testing and culling programs, it remains a significant threat in backyard flocks and some developing regions. Transmission: The Cycle of Infection Clinical Signs and Diagnosis Bacillary White Diarrhea -