An Apparent Lack of Salmonella in Liver and Spleens of Greater Prairie Chickens in Kansas

Abstract

The spleen and liver of 71 greater prairie chickens (Tympanuchus cupido pinnatus) collected in Kansas during 1965 were tested for the presence of Salmonella spp. and other pathogenic bacteria. All tested samples were negative for Salmonella and other pathogenic bacteria. Cultures did yield growths of Aerobacter aerogenes (12), Escherichia coli (5), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1), Proteus morganii (1), and Proteus sp. (1). Even though changes in habitat appear to have a more serious impact on greater prairie chicken populations than do diseases (Yeatter 1963: 753), diseases can still pose a threat to populations (Edminster 1954:184, Herman 1963:854). No studies have been conducted on losses due to diseases in large stable populations of greater prairie chickens (Herman 1963:850). Because greater prairie chickens in Kansas have relatively large home ranges (Cebula 1966, Viers 1967), the possibility of birds becoming infected with and spreading pathogenic organisms is greater than for more sedentary species. Greater prairie chickens often feed among domestic poultry, especially during severe winter conditions (Schwartz 1945:72). This behavior favors the transmission of pathogens between domestic poultry and greater prairie chickens. Since domestic poultry constitute the largest single source of Salmonella existing in nature (Hull 1963:214, Williams 1965:260) and salmonellosis is not uncommon in Galliformes (Halloran 1955:360), one would expect greater prairie chickens might also harbor this highly pathogenic group. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of Salmonella in the viscera of greater prairie chickens in Kansas. The genus Salmonella is composed of approximately 800 serological types belonging to the paratyphoid group in the large family Enterobacteriaceae except for S. pullorum and S. gallinarum (Williams 1965:260261). Salmonella infections cause enteritis in birds and can result in Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science, Vol. 70, No. 3, 1967. Published January 12, 1968. 1 Contribution No. 445 Department of Bacteriology, Contribution No. 399 Department of Zoology, and the Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station and Serial No. 343, Department of Zoology, Kansas State University, Manhattan.